Tournament Insider: Fly-Fishing for Sharks

Across two tough, windblown April days, Keys’ anglers went all-in on the hunt for big bull sharks.

“The flats lit up with lemon sharks, blacktips, and even a hammerhead or two. But bull sharks? Almost nonexistent,” said Krissy Wejebe, tournament director and daughter of the late Jose Wejebe, one host of the popular TV series, Spanish Fly. “We learned that pressure systems can drive them deep and change their feeding behavior. Who knew?”

Only bull sharks qualified for release points during the 2nd Annual Spanish Fly Shark Tournament. Teams were required to clearly photograph catches for identification before releasing them.

“Spirits were high despite a tough forecast of 20- to 25-knot winds for both fishing days,” Wejebe said. “Mother Nature didn’t make it easy, but the camaraderie and love for Jose were strong as ever.”

As an inshore tarpon guide, Capt. Steve Hancock knows where big bull sharks lurk. His familiarity with their travels around the tangle of islands and sandbars led his team to first place and 12 releases during the two-day tournament.

“It was rough and the water was milky, definitely not ideal,” said Hancock, who operates Key West Fly and Spin Charters out of Cudjoe Gardens Marina. “I figured the offshore guys would crush it. We had all the odds stacked against us, but that made it exciting.”

Hancock hosted brothers Tim and Dan Buzza, along with long-time Key West musician Terry Cassidy. The stories about Wejebe flew around the boat, and the sharks started biting. “We fished in deep cuts near my tarpon spots,” said Hancock. “They’ll come in shallow and chase the tarpon, then sit in those channels where they’re rarely seen.”

Hancock’s crew employed a variety of live baits and fresh bonito steaks to lure in bulls. Heavy conventional tackle, braided line, and mono-to-steel leaders with circle hooks helped them quickly land and release the 300- to 600-pound sharks. In the Offshore Division, Team Nothing Better Rentals led by Captain Mitch Mitchell took first.

To participate in the tournament, teams were required to take a NOAA shark endorsement course to accurately identify shark species. Besides their blunt snout and large triangular dorsal fin, bull sharks lack an interdorsal ridge present in other similar shark species. The tournament benefits the Jose Wejebe Spanish Fly Memorial Foundation.

Grouper Wows Bluewater

A lot of things must go right to catch a 50-pound grouper in a tournament. Despite sharks, slow fishing, and awful weather, the Reef Thief crew cranked up the largest gag grouper in the Sebastian Exchange Club Bluewater Open May 31.

“There was a big storm predicted, and we were hoping the tournament would be rescheduled,” said Hank Baron of Grant, FL, owner of the Reef Thief. “And sure enough, around mid-day the conditions got really bad. There were gusts to 50 miles per hour and the seas came up to five feet with some bigger swells, and all we could do for an hour was keep the bow pointed into the waves while two guys fished.”

During this squall, a grouper hit crewman Brandon Bossenberry’s line. The 50.88-pound gag, ate a live 6-inch reef fish caught on a sabiki that morning. “We usually use the largest pogies we can find or big live baits like grunts, so it was a surprise that big gag ate such a little bait,” said Baron. “A big sandbar shark was circling the boat while reeling it up, so we were furiously trying to get it in the boat before it got eaten. When the fish hit the deck we were screaming like high school girls. It was like winning the lottery.”

Also on board the Reef Thief were Baron’s sons, Jarrett and Craig, and his 9-year old grandson, Grant.

Among Sebastian’s bottom fishing circle, the Bluewater Open is the unspoken proving grounds for the top local grouper crews to show off their skills and knowledge of the area’s deep reefs. The second-place grouper went to the Signed In crew with their 40-pound gag. Third place went to Brent Oakley and team Rock Bottom with a 33-pounder.

In the amberjack division, Fish Reaper brought in a 64-pounder, followed by Warp Speed with a 52-pounder. No Bananas took third with a 48-pound AJ.

Breakthrough brought in the winning kingfish at 44 pounds, followed closely by Shot Caller with their 43-pounder. Shake Down brought in a 37-pounder for third. No big dolphin were brought in, but Fishmonger’s 17-pounder was enough to earn them first place. They also took third with a 15-pounder. The Self Made crew brought in a 16-pounder for second place.

Whopper King Weighs

In another east coast tournament held by the Central Florida Saltwater Anglers Offshore Tournament club, Glen Adams of Wedgefield and his crew on the G-Wagon nabbed the winning gag grouper, a 22-pounder.

“We almost didn’t weigh in,” said Adams, who owns Boat Max Worldwide. “We figured it would take a 50-pound fish to win.”

Also on board the G-Wagon were Adams’ son, James, along with friends Rami Qader, Jack Nasrallah, Tom Crumerine and Ruben Pino. Team Easy Drinkin’ iced down a 57-pound king which earned them a $10,000 calcutta prize and the tournament’s largest fish. The first place king went to Electrified Fishing for their 45.8-pounder.

Bad Attitude brought in a 23-pound dolphin for first place and Split Shot found a 61-pound amberjack. The top junior anglers were Ryan Beal Jr. and Colten Neese for their 31 and 29-pound king mackerels. Lady anglers Shari Eggen and Becca Spoerle brought in 46- and 27-pound kings to win the ladies division. No cobia or wahoo were weighed in.

Now in its 39th year, the CFSA tournament raises money for various charitable organizations, including the Space Coast Artificial Reef Advisory Board, or SCARAB. The Board was created to further efforts to grow the artificial reef system off of Brevard County to increase marine habitat to improve recreational fishing and diving opportunities. Future goals include the deployment of a new artificial reef within three miles of Port Canaveral. The club also supports New Swell Mangrove Restoration which aims to restore natural shorelines and share knowledge on the ecosystems on the Indian River Lagoon.

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