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

    Colombia To Ban Recreational Fishing

    On May 2, the Supreme Court of Colombia ruled that recreational fishing was unconstitutional. As a result, Colombians expect a ban on recreational fishing to take effect within one year. The decision comes after the Court’s 2019 ban on r … [Read More...]

    lines

    Superlines

    Modern dredge fishing has evolved tremendously, with multi-tiered teasers complementing intricate pulley systems mounted to towering outriggers. Mono has been a reliable choice for dredge line and outrigger halyards for years and is still popular … [Read More...]

    I Always Like A Red Head—Is Lure Color Important?

    By Peter B Wright How important is the color of a lure to a billfish, a tuna or any other large pelagic game fish? For many fish, including everything from small bait fish to giant marlin and tuna, color vision can be hugely … [Read More...]

    blue marlin fishing

    Blue Marlin Blast Fishing Tournament

    By Toine van Ierland, Tournament Director Cape Verde on fire! In both 2020 and 2021, we were forced to postpone the tournament thanks to COVID-19, but on the night of April 24, 2022, we finally kicked off the 2022 EFSA European Championship Big … [Read More...]

    New State Record for Dolphin Fish

    Georgia DNR, Brunswick, Ga., May 5, 2022—A 53-year-old Midway man is the new state record holder for dolphin fish (Coryphaena hippurus), also known as mahi mahi, after the Georgia Department of Natural Resources certified his catch Friday. James … [Read More...]

    Leave a Reply

    Connect With InTheBite

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Subscribe to InTheBite Magazine Today!

    InTheBite Magazine Current Cover

    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

    • Colombia To Ban Recreational Fishing

      Colombia To Ban Recreational Fishing

      On May 2, the Supreme Court of Colombia ruled that recreational fishing was unconstitutional. As a result, Colombians expect a ban on recreational fishing to take effect within one year. The decision comes after the Court’s 2019 ban on recreational hunting. Then, the Court held that recreational hunting was animal cruelty and a threat to the environment. It has made... [Read More...]

    • Blue Marlin Blast Fishing Tournament

      Blue Marlin Blast Fishing Tournament

      By Toine van Ierland, Tournament Director Cape Verde on fire! In both 2020 and 2021, we were forced to postpone the tournament thanks to COVID-19, but on the night of April 24, 2022, we finally kicked off the 2022 EFSA European Championship Big Game Fishing Tournament, AKA The PENN Challenge. And what a tournament it was. Expectations Two weeks prior... [Read More...]

    • New State Record for Dolphin Fish

      New State Record for Dolphin Fish

      Georgia DNR, Brunswick, Ga., May 5, 2022—A 53-year-old Midway man is the new state record holder for dolphin fish (Coryphaena hippurus), also known as mahi mahi, after the Georgia Department of Natural Resources certified his catch Friday. James Roberts of Midway landed the 68-pound, 1.6-ounce dolphin on April 26. He was fishing over Deli Ledge approximately 80 miles east of... [Read More...]

    • Capt. Patrick Price Memorial

      Capt. Patrick Price Memorial

      By Dave Powell, Captain Patrick Price Reef Project Manager On Sept. 6, 2021, Capt. Patrick Price passed away from COVID-19. Soon thereafter, a group of about 100 boat owners, captains, and fishermen, all friends of Pat’s, got together for afternoon beer in front of Fish Heads Tackle Shop. Their goal was to come up with a memorial to honor their good... [Read More...]

    • Contender One/Costa Wins the Quest For The Crest & Still Right Wins Final Sail

      Contender One/Costa Wins the Quest For The Crest & Still Right Wins Final Sail

      Bluewater Movements, April 14—Record Breaking. That’s the best way to describe the 2022 Final Sail tournament weekend in Miami on April 6-9, 2022. 479 releases across a 41 boat fleet and the top 5 teams combined released 121 fish! Going into Final Sail, all eyes were on the five teams in contention to win the coveted burgundy jacket and this... [Read More...]

    Search InTheBite

    Copyright © 2022 InTheBite, LLC · All Rights Reserved.

    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.