FINAL RESULTS
Builder’s Choice Wins 35th Annual Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament
with 911-Pound Blue Marlin, White Marlin Release
Manteo, North Carolina: Builder’s Choice definitely made a lasting impression in the 35th annual Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament. Angler Harris Huddle and his team put a 911-pound blue marlin on the dock on Tuesday, the first day of fishing, and never looked back. That blue, combined with a white marlin release the same day, vaulted the New Bern crew into the lead, which they never relinquished.
Huddle, Capt. Brent Gaskill, mate Alan “Big Country” Scibal, Meredith Huddle, John Rhodes, Tricia Stagner, Anthony Floars, Jack Huddle, Catherine Rhodes and Jobal Stagman took Top Boat honors, overall points, the blue marlin category, plus daily jackpots for a payout of $347,302 from the tournament. The team also pocketed an extra $2,000 from sponsor Gregory Poole/Caterpillar.
The fish ate a blue/green Head Sea Lure and was boated after 30 short minutes on 100-pound test line. Two gaffs were broken in the process of hefting the giant marlin aboard the 64 Jarrett Bay.
“It really hasn’t sunk in yet,” Huddle said at Friday night’s award ceremony. “I’m really proud of my captain, Brent, and the crew. We’ve fished eight tournaments this year and came in first in two, finished second in two more and had a third-place finish.
