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 Gary Hurley

Barta Billfish Tournament

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Hunter and Capt. Shane Brafford, Mark Chambers, and Megan, Laurel, and Steven Matthews–the “Carolina Time” crew–with a host of trophies they earned on their way to victory in the 2013 Barta Boys and Girls Club Billfish Tournament.

After sustaining a broken wrist on the event’s first day, Capt. Shane Brafford was undeterred, guiding the crew of the Morehead City-based “Carolina Time” to a sailfish and four white marlin releases over two fishing days the Barta Boys and Girls Club Billfish Tournament to earn 2000 points and the top spot on the event’s leaderboard.

With his son Hunter and Mark Chambers mating and boat owner Steven Matthews and daughters Laurel and Megan Matthews aboard the 55’ Gwaltney sportfishermen, Brafford took advantage of Thursday, June 18, an extra fishing day added to the beginning of the tournament in anticipation of strong winds that weekend.

“I found some real pretty water down way south,” Brafford explained, “so we headed down there Thursday.”

The anglers found the water they were looking for around the Swansboro Hole and set lines out. Trolling a spread of dredge and daisy chain teasers and dink ballyhoo in 130 fathoms, the “Carolina Time” crew got confirmation they were in a good spot at 10:30 that morning when a pair of white marlin rose into their spread.

The anglers hooked both fish, and Laurel and Megan Matthews each scored a white marlin release shortly after the hookup.

Their next action came as a blue marlin grabbed a Squidnation/Blue Water Candy daisy chain teaser around 1:30. Trying to wrest the teaser from the marlin’s mouth, Brafford’s hand got caught in the teaser reel and he broke his wrist.

Dealing with the injury ate up the rest of the fishing day, but Brafford didn’t even consider staying at the dock Friday, as the crew were tied for the lead on points.

“There was no laying Friday,” he explained. “We had to go.”

The billfish encounters led the crew to seek the same patch of water on Friday, and they found it had moved offshore of the Big Rock.

Trolling further offshore in 200 fathoms, the anglers found their next 400 release points early that morning.

“We hooked a sail at 8:30,” Brafford reported.

Hunter Brafford was on the rod for the sailfish, and the crew quickly secured the release and took the lead on the event’s second fishing day.

They never looked back, maintaining the top spot until they furthered their lead around 1:45, as another pair of white marlin appeared to check out the dredges and baits in the wake of “Carolina Time.” The crew was again able to hook both fish, and Hunter Brafford and Laurel Matthews made quick work of the angling, adding 800 points to the team’s total and extending their lead over the competition.

Though Saturday remained as a fishing day in the event, the weather deteriorated and few boats fished, leaving “Carolina Time” 800 points in the lead for the win.

Fellow Morehead charter boat “Bill Collector” and Capt. Stephen Draughon secured 1200 points to take home second place in the tournament, and Capt. Cameron Guthrie on “Marlin Fever” posted 800 points to earn third.

The Barta Boys and Girls Club Billfish Tournament serves as a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of Coastal Carolina. More information on the event and a full leaderboard are available at www.bartabillfish.com.