Bald Head Fishing Rodeo 2004
Weather and fishing conditions were not ideal for the 13th annual Bald Head Island Fishing Rodeo. Friday, June 4, was the first fishing day and seas were 3 to 4 foot in the morning and increased to 4 to 5 foot in the afternoon. By Friday afternoon, the wind was blowing 15 to 20 mph out of the southwest. On Saturday morning at 5:30 a.m., winds were 25 knots. The wind tapered off to 5 to 10 knots by the afternoon, but only 4 boats took on the hard morning conditions. A total of 22 boats entered the tournament. Only four boats fished on Saturday
The overall tournament winner was the “Musicman” with Captain Freddie Holland. He weighed in a total of 217.31 lbs. of qualifying fish. First place prize money this year was $5,610. Second place went to the “Rajin Regan” and Captain Dell Murphy. His two-day total was 210.69 lbs., and that won him $2,856. Captain Brian Peele and the “Marquesa” took third place with 173.54 lbs. Their efforts brought them $1,734.
Fourth place overall went to the “Wahoo Wagon” and Captain Elliot Koonce. The “Wahoo Wagon” had a total of 123.94 lbs. Captain Don Dry and the “Intimidator” finished in fifth place with 69.89 lbs.
The winner of the Lady Angler was Kimberly Jessen. Her winning fish was a 50.85 lbs. tuna. Jessen was fishing on the “Musicman.”
On Day 1, the daily winner of the Dolphin Category was Captain Robb Mothershed and the “Great Escape” with a 29.18 lb. fish. Captain Freddie Holland and the “Musicman” won both the Tuna and the Wahoo daily with a 52.06 lb. tuna and a 35.88 lb. wahoo.
On Day 2, the daily winner of the Dolphin was Captain Don Dry and the “Intimidator” with a 35.29 lb. dolphin. There wasn’t a wahoo weighed on Day 2, but Captain Brian Peele of the “Marquesa” won the Tuna Category with one weighing 38.02 lbs.
