InTheBite

  • Home
  • News
    • All News
    • Featured Stories
    • General News
    • Captain of the Year
    • Tournament Results
    • First Builds
    • Splash Reports
    • Old Salts Rule
    • Tackle Tips
    • Dock Talk
    • Crew Records
    • Conservation
  • Tournaments
    • Calendar
    • Captain of the Year
    • Champion’s Cup
  • Shop
    • All Products
    • Subscriptions
    • Back Issues
    • Shirts
    • Hats & Visors
    • Miscellaneous
    • Release Rulers
  • Classifieds
  • Job Board
  • Contact
    • Contact InTheBite
    • InTheBite Media Kit
  • Log in

Desperado Repeats as the Top Boat in the 37th Annual  Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament

August 17, 2020 By InTheBite Editor

Photo courtesy Randy Villalta

Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament won’t be forgotten any time soon. Against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, 83 boats competed for $852,950 in cash prizes. A total of 473 billfish were released during four days of fishing. But when the diesel smoke finally cleared, it was Desperado, the 2019 champion, atop the leaderboard once again. This marks the first time in eight years that a boat has won the PCBT two years in a row. Bi-Op-Sea was the last to accomplish that feat in 2011 and 2012.

Desperado, an Oregon Inlet-based charter boat owned and run by Capt. Rob Barker, released 16 white marlin to earn $158,278 for top boat, overall points (1,600) and second place in the Day Two daily honors. Jeff James and JT Roehrs are the mates aboard the 56-foot Taylor Harrison sportfisher. The team’s anglers included Mickey Carter, Brad Ward, Craig Sudbrink, Billy Carter, Andy Gay and Ron Wade.

Uno Mas, a 77 Mark Willis owned and run by Capt. Brooks Smith, is taking home a nice consolation purse. Also a previous PCBT winner, Uno Mas logged 14 billfish, good for 1,550 points and second place overall. The boat’s combined prize money is $162,193. Jeremy Cerdas and Eric Rojas Venegas are the mates on the Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based boat.

Sea Toy, a 59 Spencer Yachts (Capt. Bull Tolson) was the third-place team with 11 billfish and 1,250 points. Owner Jim Bayne, mates Timmy Kidwell and Catlin Peele plus the team are splitting $133,636 in prize money. Sea Toy’s home port is the Pirate’s Cove Marina in Manteo.

Sensation, a 52 Jarrett Bay with Capt. Dale Britt on the throttles, earned fourth place honors and Billfish Daily prize money after scoring 10 fish (1,150 points). Mama C, a 60 Bayliss run by Capt. Rob Mahoney, came in fifth place with 11 fish (1,100 points) and the $5,000 prize for the first fish on Day 3. The other first release daily prizes went to Point Runner, Kahuna and Waterman. Desperado (VA), Sea I Sea and Tenacity won billfish daily money, while Haulin’ Gas and Game Changer won extra in the blue marlin release division.

Frank Adams cranked in the heaviest wahoo aboard Ann Warrick (76 Paul Mann/Capt. Brad Diaz). Alex Peebles was on the rod for the biggest tuna, a 58.4-pounder, caught on Sea I Sea (72 Viking/Capt. Hunter Blount). Randy Crites scored the top dolphin at 20.1 pounds on Kahuna (54 Sculley Boat Builders/Capt. Reed Meredith). The winner-take-all prizes in the game fish categories were worth $11,475 per species.

Shelley Smith, competing on Triple ’S’ (60 Viking/Capt. Todd Smith), earned the Top Lady Angler trophy by releasing eight billfish. Twelve-year-old William Ramsey IV captured the Junior Angler honors with four billfish worth 700 points. Ramsey was fishing on Tail Gunner, a 52 Paul Mann (Capt. Gray Blount). Garrett Holden, competing aboard Uno Mas, was named the Top Angler for the week with six whites and one blue marlin release.

The combined fleet released 473 billfish overall. None were boated. The species breakdown included 398 white marlin, 31 blues, 42 sailfish and two spearfish. A total of 41 gamefish were brought to the scales, including 25 yellowfin tuna, 14 dolphin and two wahoo.

The 38th Annual Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament is scheduled for August 9-14, 2021.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Do you have any comments or questions for us? We’d love to hear from you.

    Filed Under: Captain of the Year, General News, News, Tournament Results Tagged With: 2020 pirates cove billfish tournament, billfish release, desperado, Pirates Cove Billfish Tournament

    Recent News

    Builder’s Choice Repeats as Marina Casa de Campo Open Champion

    Builder’s Choice, a 64-foot Jarrett Bay, hasn’t fished the Marina Casa de Campo Open for two years, but the team never missed a beat. The boat led the field of 14 boats from the start to win the 2023 Marina Casa de Campo Open, which concluded last wee … [Read More...]

    Mission and Purpose

    By Ken Kreisler “To be or not to be.” While this well-known Shakespearean quote is not associated with the boating experience, if we filter it through our marine sensibilities, it just might be coaxed into reading this way: Walkaround, express or con … [Read More...]

    2023 Chub Cay Classic Won by Following Seas

    Following Seas, a 58-foot Viking run by Capt. Charlie Vanderbeck, claimed top honors at the 2023 Chub Cay Classic billfish tournament. The third annual event was held March 9-11 at the Chub Cay Resort and Marina. Following Seas released a blue and … [Read More...]

    Weathering the Storm

    While nasty conditions offshore are generally unpleasant for anyone on any vessel, offshore fishing on an outboard-powered center console typically means that the captain and crew will be more exposed to the wind and seas than the crew of a larger … [Read More...]

    Massive Sargassum Weed Line Approaches Florida

    If you’ve ever headed offshore in search of dolphin under patches or lines of sargassum weed, you know the weed can be difficult to find at times. That seems to happen every time I fish a dolphin tournament at least! But all that may soon change. … [Read More...]

    Leave a Reply

    Connect With InTheBite

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Subscribe to InTheBite Magazine Today!

    InTheBite current cover image

    Our latest issue is hitting the docks now! Be sure to subscribe to the hottest bluewater mag on the market. Purchase or Subscribe »

    InTheBite Champion’s Cup

    InTheBite Champions Cup Logo

    New for 2022, the Champion’s Cup is an optional paid entry with a winner-takes-all prize format for teams who want to up the stakes in each division utilizing our longstanding tournament scoring formula.

    Captain of the Year Cup Standings

    COTY / ITB Cup Logo

    News

    • Builder’s Choice Repeats as Marina Casa de Campo Open Champion

      Builder’s Choice Repeats as Marina Casa de Campo Open Champion

      Builder’s Choice, a 64-foot Jarrett Bay, hasn’t fished the Marina Casa de Campo Open for two years, but the team never missed a beat. The boat led the field of 14 boats from the start to win the 2023 Marina Casa de Campo Open, which concluded last weekend in the Dominican Republic. With Capt. Brent Gaskill at the helm, the... [Read More...]

    • 2023 Chub Cay Classic Won by Following Seas

      2023 Chub Cay Classic Won by Following Seas

      Following Seas, a 58-foot Viking run by Capt. Charlie Vanderbeck, claimed top honors at the 2023 Chub Cay Classic billfish tournament. The third annual event was held March 9-11 at the Chub Cay Resort and Marina. Following Seas released a blue and white marlin to earn 700 points to top the field. Under the all-billfish release format, blue marlin scored... [Read More...]

    • Massive Sargassum Weed Line Approaches Florida

      Massive Sargassum Weed Line Approaches Florida

      If you’ve ever headed offshore in search of dolphin under patches or lines of sargassum weed, you know the weed can be difficult to find at times. That seems to happen every time I fish a dolphin tournament at least! But all that may soon change. Sargassum, an algae that’s commonly mislabeled as a “weed,” is headed toward the U.S.... [Read More...]

    • InTheBite Hires Industry Veteran John Brownlee as Editor-in-Chief

      InTheBite Hires Industry Veteran John Brownlee as Editor-in-Chief

      Dale Wills, Founder and President of InTheBite, has announced the hiring of marine industry veteran, John Brownlee, as ITB’s new Editor-in-Chief. “Under Brownlee’s leadership in editorial and digital media, his intelligent perspectives and vast industry knowledge will move the brand forward with his long list of proven skill sets,” Wills said. “It’s only fitting as we move past our 20th... [Read More...]

    • Proposed 10-Knot Restrictions

      Proposed 10-Knot Restrictions

      It’s Not Over! The Viking Yacht Company and the marine industry’s grassroots campaign to stop the advancement of a proposed 10-knot restriction along the Eastern Seaboard continues into 2023. And now, thanks to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), we have a tool at our disposal that makes it super easy to make your voice heard. In one click, send a pre-written letter... [Read More...]

    Search InTheBite

    Copyright © 2023 InTheBite, LLC · All Rights Reserved.