Long Bay ARA Club Challenge 2004
The Long Bay Artificial Reef Association just held their 7th annual Club Challenge on July 17. The S.A.L.T. fishing club of Southport was the host club this year, and the event attracted 31 boats representing 5 different clubs. The event also raised several thousands of dollars for the LBARA.
The Charlotte Offshore Fishing Club swept the event. They won the club overall for both flounder and king mackerel, and a Charlotte Offshore Fishing Club member was the top individual finisher in both flounder and king mackerel.
Andy Fisher, fishing on the “Spectator,” weighed in the heaviest flounder. Fisher, a Charlotte club member, caught a 5.24 lb. fish under the Oak Island Bridge on a mullet.
The second place flounder was brought in by Chris Jenkins, also of the Charlotte Offshore Fishing Club. Jenkins, fishing on the “School-N-Around,” caught a 5.02 lb. flounder on one of the artificial reefs with a pogey.
Tim Corn, fishing on “Special Ed,” took third place with a 4.30 lb. flounder. Corn is an Oak Island Fishing Club member. Corn caught his flounder fishing upriver of the Phizer Dock with a bucktail.
The heaviest king mackerel came from Rob Ferris on the “Mad Mouse.” Ferris and Brian Holt, both Charlotte members, caught a 29.28 lb. king at the “Not So Secret” hole.
Shane Holler, of the Winston Salem Saltwater Fishing Club, took second with a 19.66 lb. king caught at the Jungle.
Dieter Caldwell, also of the Winston Salem Club, took third with a 19.62 lb. king. Caldwell was fishing at the Jungle on his boat the “Tideline.”
The overall team winners were decided by weighing the five heaviest fish from each club in each division. Only three fish could come from any one boat.
Charlotte’s top five flounder weighed in at a first place total of 17.50 lbs. S.A.L.T. came in second with 11.88 lbs. Third place went to Oak Island Fishing Club. They weighed in a 5 heavy fish total of 10.38 lbs.
The king mackerel top five fish was also won by Charlotte. Their five heaviest kings weighed 90.90 lbs. Oak Island took second with a total of 77.84 lbs. Winston Salem came in third with a total of 76.90 lbs.
There were 5 clubs represented in this year’s Club Challenge: Charlotte, Winston Salem, Oak Island, S.A.L.T., and Sand Hills Saltwater Fishing Club out of Aberdeen. This was Sand Hills’ first appearance in the event.
