The Miller High Life Professional Tarpon Tournament Series presented by Century Boats held Week #4 of its five week regular series events this past weekend in Boca Grande Pass, FL. A sold out field of fifty, four person teams competed in the three hour event that was delayed one hour from the scheduled start time of 0630.
A low pressure system in the eastern Gulf of Mexico produced morning Thunderstorms and strong winds out of the West. Combined with already tough full moon fishing conditions, the outlook for good fishing for the Week #4 event was bleak.
Team Miller's Ale House led by Capt. Artie Price, New Port Richey, FL, started of the day by weighing in a 157 LB Tarpon. Heading in to the event, Price and crew were a top the Yamaha Team of the Year Race leaderboard with a near insurmountable lead.
"We knew it was a good one." said Price "We thought fishing was going to be tough, and knew whether or not the fish won, it would give us more points to help secure the Team of the Year win."
Team Ale House would see their fish fall shortly after their weigh in. Team Samon Group/Outta Line led by John McLay, St. Petersburg, FL, landed a fish that tipped the Tires Plus scale at 188 lbs.
"She was a monster." remarked McClay, whose crew is in their second season fishing the PTTS. "We got bumped during Week #2, and so we knew we needed to weigh a big one."
Not many anglers thought a fish that big would be landed based on the tough conditions, even fewer thought there would be two 180 lb plus fish caught until Capt. Bob McGuire and Team Pro Marine made it to the Miller's Ale House weighboat.
McGuire and crew hooked a fish early in the tournament. Battling the large female Tarpon that took them West of Boca Grande Pass, through waves in excess of four feet was not easy.
"She never jumped, which we knew was a good sign." said McGuire, a full time charterboat captain from Tarpon Springs, FL. "We got her boatside, and saw that she was a good one, and decided to take her to the scale."
Cheers erupted from the beach of Gasparilla Island State Park when the weight of 189 lbs. was announced from the Ale House weighboat. The fish narrowly beating out Team Samon Group/Outta Lines 188 lb fish.
This was the first PTTS win for Team Pro Marine and Capt. Bob McGuire, who have competed in the past six PTTS seasons. It was extra special for the 29 year old, McGuire who recently completed Chemotherapy and is battling cancer for the second time.
"It means a lot." McGuire said. "The team and I have overcome a lot of challenges this year to be able to compete, and to win an event, is a sweet reward."
The end of Week #4 means the Yamaha Team of the Year Race headed in to the final stretch. Artie Price and his Team Miller's Ale House enter the PTTS final regular series event with a commanding 654 point lead over Capt. TJ Stewart's, MyELS.com. Miller's Ale House lead is nearly insurmountable, but the teams vying for 2nd place and a trip to the exclusive Crocodile Bay Lodge in Costa Rica is tight. The teams in 2nd through 15th place are separated by 150 points at most.
The exciting action from the Miller High Life PTTS 2009 season continues later today with Week #5, the second in a double header event. The action begins at 11:30 AM.
The Miller High Life PTTS presented by Century Boats is the largest and richest live-release tarpon tournament in the world, featuring five regular season events and one championship event all held in Boca Grande Pass, Fla. Teams may weigh one fish daily and obtain points towards the Yamaha Team of the Year Race by releasing placing, weighing and releasing fish. Camera crews are on hand during the PTTS to capture the action for a 13-week television series that airs on Sun Sports Network and World Fishing Network. This year the show will be available in over 37 million households nationwide and in Canada.
For more information and pictures please visit, www.TarponAnglersClub.com
NOTE: Fans are encouraged to watch the PTTS Tarpon fishing action and weigh in live. The weigh in is held on the beach at Gasparilla Island State Park, Boca Grande, FL. In addition downtown Boca Grande offers numerous family friendly restaurants and shops, as well as other historical sites.
####
Top Five Week #3
1ST PLACE: Pro Marine, Capt. Bob McGuire, Tarpon Springs, FL: 189 LB
2ND PLACE: Samon Group/Outta Line, John McClay, St. Petersburg, FL: 188 LB
3RD PLACE FloridaDefense.com, Capt. Mark Crawford, Tarpon Springs, FL; 175 LB
4TH PLACE: Salt Rock Grill/Salt Life, Cody Chivas, Bellair, FL 165 LB
5TH PLACE: Miller's Ale House, Capt. Artie Price, New Port Richey, FL: 157 LB
Yamaha Team of the Year Standings (Top 5)- Week 3
Captain Name Team Name PTS
Price, Artie Miller's Ale House 1804
Stewart, TJ MyELS.com/Castaway Charters 1150
Jacobson, Derrick Famouscraft Boats 1100
Mannino, Eric Reel Time Productions 1098
Chivas, Cody Salt Rock Grill/Salt Life 1090
