Ever wonder what it takes to keep a 61′ Garlington and a 77′ Bayliss running, looking, and fishing at peak performance? Few can offer more insight into the topic than Capt. Garrett Van Orman, the ship’s engineer on the Wave Paver Program. Enjoy the video walk through of one of the prettiest sportfishers you’ll ever see. Van Orman shares his perspective on being the man behind the scenes who keeps everything running smoothly.
Two-time Captain of the Year Glenn Cameron and his wife Jennifer proved that they are not only a formidable tournament team, but throw a great party as well. The Camerons hosted the 2017 Contender Florida Division Captain of the Year Party on Saturday March 10 at Fish Heads Marina in Stuart. What a party it was.
About a 150 people came out to celebrate Capt. Glenn’s 2017 Award. The party included an open bar, a live band, and two giant 5’ vats of paella cooked on-site by the fine folks at Paella Grill. The festivities were a who’s who of the Stuart fishing community and a really good time.
InTheBite would like to especially thank Jennifer Cameron, Glenn’s wife, whose expertise in throwing a party is only matched by her skill catching sailfish. Congratulations Capt. Glenn Cameron and Mate of the Year JJ Davidson and the whole Floridian team.
This year’s 55th Annual Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Release Tournament was definitely one for the books. Over the course of the two-day event, twenty-two of Florida’s top teams departed from Palm Beach, battling wind speeds up to 30 mph to release hundreds of sailfish. Despite the unruly conditions, the 2018 Buccaneer Cup presented great fishing!
The top finishing boats were Viking 68 taking first, Two Cats in second, and trailing in third, Sandman. The InTheBite Top Captain Trophy Cup was awarded to Captain Ryan Higgins, who lead the Viking 68 to victory.
The following photos show the action…
InTheBite’s Dale Wills and Elliott Stark were on hand at the awards ceremony of the Fish Heads Invitational Tournament in Stuart, Florida to present the 2016 Contender Florida Division Captain of the Year Award to Capt. Scotty Fawcett. Fawcett, who runs a 31′ Contender Off the Chain based out of Stuart, had a remarkable 2016 season. His 1,300 points were tallied on two different private boats on which he was hired to fish tournaments.
The event was a festive affair, full of many distinguished captains and crews. Just how distinguished? On hand were six InTheBite Captains of the Year. Joining Fawcett were Capt. Rob Moore of the Fa La Me, Capt. VJ Bell — the first Captain of the Year, Capt. Mike Brady of the Cowpoke, Capt. Glenn Cameron of the Floridian, and Capt. Wink Doerzbacher of the Showtime.
Congratulations to Capt. Fawcett on the award. For the up to date tally on this year’s highly competitive Florida Division, see the results.
Check out this list of the top 5 Blue Marlin weighed in so far in 2017 Captain of the Year Divisions. The IGY Marinas Int’l Division leads with team Flyer, led by Captain Bryce Garvey fishing the Bermuda Big Game Classic who harvested a 871 lbs. Blue Marlin. Pretty work crews!
IGY Marinas Intl’ Division
#1)Capt. Bryce Garvey, Flyer, 600 Points -Bermuda Big Game Classic, Largest Marlin, 500 Pts. 871 lbs.
Costa Sunglasses Gulf Division
#2)Capt. Scooter Porto and Reel Addiction team with 771lb Blue Marlin caught during the 46th Annual Pensacola International Billfish Tournament.
Release Ruler Hawaii Division
#3)Capt. McGrew Rice on the Ihu Nui II hit big and won the Skin’s Tournament with a 731.5-pound blue marlin and TR release points. Photo courtesy of the Honokohau Charter Desk.
Costa Sunglasses Gulf Division
#4) Capt. Jason Buck, Done Deal, 500 Points- Blue Marlin World Cup, Largest Marlin, 600 lbs.
Billfish Foundation East Coast Division
#5)Capt. Brian Harrington, Run Off, 500 Points -Big Rock, Heaviest Marlin, 533.8 lbs. , 500 Pts.
Captain Devin Potts is the Captain of the Year in the Costa Gulf Division. Potts, who runs the 66′ Spencer Sea Mixer, is based in Orange Beach, Alabama. Captain Devin received the award at the 2017 Orange Beach Billfish Classic. Potts and first mate Jared Quick weighed a 366-pound blue marlin in the tournament, taking second place in the tournament. The story leading up to how they caught the fish is a good one, which Potts was generous enough to relate in the video. Congratulations Capt. Devin.
The Sea Mixer in her shed in Orange Beach, Alabama. Awesome.
Devin and Lindsay Potts. A family affair.
Potts and first mate Jared Quick.
Hatteras Yachts Is Presenting Sponsor Of The 2017 InTheBite Captain Of The Year Cup
The World’s Foremost Competition for Professional Sportfishing Captains
NEW BERN, N.C. – MAY 11, 2017 – Hatteras/Cabo Yachts LLC (“Hatteras Yachts”), a global leader in the construction of luxury convertible sportfishing and motor yachts from 45 to 100 feet, is proud to announce that it is the presenting sponsor of the 2017 InTheBite Captain of the Year Cup, the world’s foremost competition for professional sportfishing captains.
Developed by InTheBite, the professionals’ sportfishing magazine, the InTheBite Captain of the Year Cup presented by Hatteras is the only objective, quantifiable metric for comparing the tournament success of sportfishing captains on an annual basis. The Cup is composed of five divisions that span the sportfishing world: East Coast, Florida, Gulf Coast, Hawaii and International, and includes 90 sanctioned tournaments. The scoring system is: 1st Place: 500 points, 2nd Place: 300 points, 3rd Place: 100 points. Heaviest Marlin: 500 points. Overall Championship: 250 points. There is a 12-boat tournament minimum for captains to earn points.
“It means quite a bit to InTheBite for a legendary builder like Hatteras to present the Captain of the Year Awards,” said InTheBite Publisher Dale Wills. “We’ve always strived to recognize the hard work and success of professional sportfishermen – that’s how the award was born. For a company with the tradition of Hatteras to present the awards illustrates their commitment to keeping on the cutting edge of innovation. Like any great partnership, this one really works well for InTheBite and Hatteras.”
“As a captain, I have always found IntheBite to be the go-to magazine for sportfishing, and I am honored that Hatteras is the presenting sponsor for these awards,” said Hatteras/CABO Yachts Director of Sales, Capt Jeff Donahue.
Hatteras/Cabo Yachts President and CEO Kelly Grindle commented, “With the high level of competition found on the world’s sportfishing tournament circuits today, winning an InTheBite Captain of the Year Award is truly a major achievement. We at Hatteras are proud to support hard-working sportfishing captains by sponsoring this prestigious award.”
For InTheBite Captain of the Year Cup rules, current standings, sanctioned tournaments and past winners, please visit http://www.inthebite.com/captain-of-the-year-cup-standings/
About Hatteras Yachts:
For over 58 years, Hatteras Yachts, has been recognized as a world leader in the construction of express boats, sportfishing convertibles and luxury motor yachts. Based in New Bern, NC, Hatteras has defined the industry and pioneered the production of large offshore fiberglass powerboats, starting with the introduction of its first model, Knit Wits, in 1959. Hatteras builds luxury motor yachts from 60 to 100 feet, sportfishing convertibles from 54 to 77 feet, and the 45 Express. For more information, visit www.hatterasyachts.com.
Capt. Glenn Cameron takes a minute to stop by our studio and enjoy a look back on 2011. #captoftheyear
Subscriber Christian Ostbye is the winner of the 2016 ITB Subscriber giveaway. Ostbye, a digital subscriber who lives in Colombia, wins a day of fishing on the Wave Paver, a 61′ Garlington with 2015 Captain of the Year Russell Sinclair. We’d also like to thank Donnetta Vanderhoeven and the Ocean Club of Port Canaveral, Florida for providing $500.00 in air fare to the winner.
Check out the Video for the winner drawing and BONUS Video from Captain Ed Dwyer on his 2017 tournament news.
Ed Dwyers Otherside Invitational Tournament April 21-23, 2017
Check out a word from our sponsor:
The World Wide Captain of the Year Rankings showcase the top tournament finishers in 2016. We’ve compiled the top 35 captains this year, each of whom scored more than 500 points (the equivalent of winning one tournament). To be featured on the list, captains must be skilled, consistent and dedicated. The 35 names below are as good a group of tournament captains as you will find anywhere. Congratulations to all.
The 2016 World Wide Captain Rankings featured three captains who separated themselves from the competition. Congratulations to Captain Jon Duffie of the Agitator/ Billfisher who compiled a total of 2,450 points in the East Coast and International Division to take home top honors.
Captain Jon Duffie, Agitator/ Billfisher, is the 2016 World Wide Ranking Champion with 2,450 points.
Second place was Captain Tommy Lynskey of the Uno Mas who tallied a total of 2,150 points winning tournaments on the east coast and throughout the Caribbean last year.
Captain Tommy Lynskey of the Uno Mas wins second place in the 2016 World Wide Ranking.
Here is the breakdown:
Captain Jon Duffie—1,550 points in the international division, 900 points in the east coast division. Captain Tommy Lynskey—1,650 points in the international division. 500 points in the east coast division. Finishing third with 2,100 points– and 2016 International Division Captain of the Year, was Captain Victor Julio Lopez of the Tranquilo. Incredible fishing, congratulations to Lynskey, Duffie, Lopez and all of the captains on the list. This is quite an achievement.
