A record 958 sailfish were caught during the West Palm Beach Fishing Club’s 2006 Silver Sailfish Derby. Given the warm winter we’ve had, no one expected to come close to that number in 2007. The fish just aren’t in South Florida in droves yet. So anglers that competed in the 2007 Derby knew that to win they’d have to capitalize on every opportunity.

Throughout the three-day event, anglers were lucky to average one or two fish per day. But two boats quickly emerged as the main contenders. One team, Team Sandman out of Fort Lauderdale, probably covered more water than anyone in the tournament’s 73-year history. Frustrated by the slow, random bite on Thursday, Team Sandman team ran their 61-foot Viking 80 miles to Miami, and released eight sailfish.

But on Saturday, off of Hobe Sound, Capt. Tore Turney and his crew on Reel Lucky Too called in a triple, a double and single release, boosting their score to 11 releases. Although the tournament ended a numerical tie between Team Sandman and Team Reel Lucky, Team Reel Lucky took the cup because they caught their eleventh fish first. This is the second time Reel Lucky has won top boat in the Derby twice in four years.

2007 West Palm Beach Fishing Club Results:

Total Releases: 148
Total Tagged Sailfish: 13
Number of Boats: 54

Top Boat
11 releases by West Palm Beach’s Reel Lucky Too, Captained by Tore Turney.

Top Angler
Jupiter’s Art Frigo, Reel Lucky Too, 7 releases

Top Tag Team
Three tagged fish by Singer Island’s Mark Wodlinger, aboard the Catch One

Grand Champion Weight Fish
35-pound dolphin, by West Palm Beach’s Paul Sachse, aboard the Sea Hunter

Special Sailfish Award
Art Frigo

Louis S. Boski Trophy
(for most outstanding catch) Delray Beach’s Steve Alexander, aboard the Dos Amigos, caught a sail on dead bait. The Dos Amigos is 23-foot craft, and seas were 6 to 8 feet.