2018 Texas Billfish Classic: “Draggin’ Up” Takes the Win

Draggin Up wins the 2018 Texas Billfish Classic!

The 3rd Annual Texas Billfish Billfish Classic (TBC), for the third year in a row, saw growth in participation and a substantial increase in prize money. The TBC fleet released eight Blue Marlin, one White Marlin and six Sailfish while weighing one Blue Marlin. The TBC is one of the fastest growing billfish tournaments in Texas and the only event to allow participants to leave at noon on Thursday and begin fishing right away the same day. Draggin Up, a 74′ Viking from Houston, TX was the only boat to weigh a Blue Marlin on Saturday to claim top honors in the Blue Marlin division. Angler Sam Rasberry 119.5 inch Blue Marlin topped the scales at 514 pounds. “We were having a slow first day with no bites so decided to make a move for second day. We got the bite shortly after 9am,” said Draggin Up Captain Kevin Deerman. “We definitely knew the fish was a keeper after second set of jumps and got the gaffs ready. Great tournament and worked out for us betting heavy in the Blue Marlin kill pots!” In the Catch and Release Division, Bimini Babe a 74 Viking, took home top honors with three Blue Marlin Releases and one Sailfish, while Tico Time, a 65 Hatteras released one Blue Marlin and two sailfish finishing in second place. Over-Ride, a 64 Titan finished in third place releasing one Blue Marlin and edging out High Noon on time. The Bimini Babe Team were also crowned Champions of the Billfish Classic Cup. This new event was developed to reward competitive teams fishing in both the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic and the Texas Billfish Classic. Owner Babe Appling, Captain Robert Jones and Team left with an extra $10,000 and custom art to commemorate the big win! The Tuna category was won by Clark Miller aboard Smoker II with a 93 pound Yellowfin. No stranger to the podium, Kurt Pantle on $ea Dollar$ came in second at 90 pounds followed by Lee Bull on the REHAB at 50 pounds. A nice summer Wahoo raised the bar pretty high as Jasen Gast and the REHAB crew pulled up his 51 pound fish, barely topping the second place fish brought in by Tiger Neal on the Smoker II. Brian Wood, Draggin Up, came in third at 29 pounds. The Dolphin category was taken with the only qualifying fish at 23 pounds by Chris Gavlick aboard the REHAB. The Top Lady Angler was Emma Griffith on Over-Ride and the Top Junior Angler Award was presented to Ethan Middleton on the Change Order. Official 2019 Texas Billfish Classic Results Blue Marlin 1st- 514.0 lbs. Draggin Up – Angler Sam Rasberry Catch and Release 1^st 2,000 pts – Bimini Babe Captain Robert Jones 2^nd 1,000 pts – Tico Time Captain Mike Hester 3^rd 600 pts Over-Ride Captain Jacob Dawson Tuna 1^st 93 lbs Smoker II Clark Miller 2^nd 90 lbs – $ea Dollar$ – Kurt Pantle 3^rd 50 lbs REHAB Lee Bull Wahoo 1^st 51 lbs REHAB Jasen Gast 2^nd 47 lbs Smoker II Tiger Neal 3^rd 29 lbs Draggin Up Brian Wood Dolphin 1^st 23 lbs REHAB Chris Gavlick Top Lady Angler Emma Griffith on the Over-Ride Top Junior Angler Ethan Middleton on the Change Order