Oriental Tarpon Tournament
The Down East Guide Service crew accepts the award for first place at the Oriental Rotary Tarpon tournament. Photo courtesy of Ashley and Carol Erwin from the Whittaker Pointe Marina.
The Oriental Rotary held its 17th Annual Tarpon Tournament at Whittaker Pointe Marina in Oriental, NC, on July 24, 25, and 26. The proceeds from the catch and release tournament are applied to college scholarships for Pamlico High School seniors, and over the past 17 years, the Oriental Rotary has awarded about $250,000 in scholarships as a direct result of these tournaments.
This year, although the tarpon were in the area, they played hard to get for the 48 participating boats. Only three tarpon were caught, and they had a total of four jump-offs. The top three winners of the tournament each caught one tarpon, and the placing was based on the earliest time of the catch.
This year’s winner was George Beckwith. In second place was Harry Ireland. Third place went to Gene Wooster, who was last year’s first place winner. Additional prizes went to Frank Fitzpartick (4th), Jesse Schumucker (5th), Kandice Kelley (6th), Brynn Thomas (7th), and Harold Aaron (8th). In addition to trophies, $11,745 was awarded in prize money.
Along with the main tournament, there is also a Sportsman TWT in which eligibility is based on no one in the boat having caught a tarpon in a previous Oriental Rotary Tarpon Tournament. The winners were Kandice Kelley (1st), Brynn Thomas (2nd), Don Callahan (3rd tie), and Brad Haley (3rd tie).
When fishing for tarpon, quite a few skates are often hooked. The Rotary Tarpon Tournament offers a special trophy for the highest number of skates caught. This year’s winner was Sandy Winfrey whose boat hooked 47 skates.
The Oriental Rotary thanks all of the fishermen, observers, and sponsors for a very successful 17th annual event.
