DAY 2
TEAM
|
CAPTAIN
|
TOTAL |
TROPIC TRAILER / ELECTROLUBE |
JESS MESSMER |
372 LBS |
| YAMAHA |
TROY SAPP |
283 LBS |
| YAMAHA F350 |
OZZIE FISCHER |
249 LBS |
| SUN TOYOTA/HUMANA |
STEVE BOWLER |
238 LBS |
| CHARLOTTE HONDA |
/MIKE MCDONALD |
226 LBS |
Miller High Life Professional tarpon Tournament Series Tarpon Cup Championship Day 2- Team Tropic Trailer/Electrolube crowned Tarpon Cup Champions
Boca Grande, Fla., June 15, 2008- The Miller High Life Professional Tarpon Tournament Series presented by Century Boats held Day 2 of the 2008 Tarpon Cup Championship Saturday, in Boca Grande Pass, FL. The event featured the Top 5 teams based on total weight of a two fish bag after Day 1 of the tournament. Teams were allowed to weigh in one Tarpon during Day 2 with the two day total of the 3 fish bag limit determining the winner.
At the end of Day 1, Team Yamaha led by Captain Troy Sapp fishing out of their Century 2202 was a top the leaderboard with a two fish combined weight of 283 lbs. With only 14 lbs. separating second place team Tropic Trailer/Electrolube from the lead they knew they were in the hunt.
“We knew 14lbs. could easily be made up, but we also knew the bite may be tough” said Jess Messmer, captain of the Tropic Trailer/Electrolube team and Lee County Fireman.
A tough bite was putting it lightly. Throughout the three hour event each team managed to only hook one or two fish, despite the number Tarpon that were present rolling on the surface and seen on the Humminbird sonar units.
Team Yamaha F350 led by Capt. Ozzie Fischer landed the first fish an hour in to the event. After looking at the fish the Captain and his team decided to release it.
“The fish was small. Maybe 80 lbs.” said Fischer. “We were fishing for the win, not second place, and we didn’t think that fish would hold up.”
The tough bite continued for the field up until the last ten minutes of the event when Team Tropic Trailer/Electrolube radioed a fish on. Eleven minutes later and with fishing time over, the team leadered and gaffed their fish and headed to the scale. With only 14 lbs separating them from 1st Place and with no other fished weighed during Day 2, the weigh in was a formality.
Ten minutes in to overtime Team Tropic Trailer/Electrolube reached the Winghouse Weighboat with a fish that tipped the Tires Plus Scale at 102 lbs. One of the smallest fish weighed during the entire 2008 PTTS season it was enough to give them the win.
“We couldn’t be happier.” Said Messmer, speaking for his team. “The is only our second season fishing the PTTS. Last year we struggled and were dealing with a learning curve. “This year we put our time in, pre fished, and it payed off.”
With the victory the team won a Century 2202 Inshore powered by a Yamaha F250 and Continental Aluminum trailer valued at $45,000. They also won the $1,000 Yamaha incentive bonus and each received Championship rings.
The Tarpon Cup Championship marks the end of the 2008 Miller High Life PTTS presented by Century boat season. The PTTS nationally broadcast television show begins airing on July 3rd and will run for 13 weeks, 4 times weekly. For additional information, pictures, and television schedule please visit, www.TarponAnglersClub.com
The Miller High Life PTTS presented by Century Boats is the largest and richest live-release tarpon tournament in the world, featuring five regular season events and one championship event all held in Boca Grande Pass, Fla. Teams may weigh one fish daily and obtain points towards the Yamaha Team of the Year Race by releasing placing, weighing and releasing fish. Camera crews are on hand during the PTTS to capture the action for a 13-week television series that airs on Sun Sports Network and World Fishing Network. This year the show will be available in over 37 million households nationwide and in Canada. |