Red drum tournament was a success, despite the nasty weather
By JORDAN TOMBERLIN
“Our ninth year will be different than any in the past,” claimed the registration brochure for the 2008 Frank and Fran’s Annual Red Drum Tournament.
Indeed, the popular surf fishing tournament, which has been organized and hosted by Frank and Fran Folb of Frank and Fran’s tackle shop in Avon since 1999, faced unprecedented challenges this year.
Newly imposed legislation limiting off-road vehicle access to area beaches, as well as permit-only night driving, posed considerable logistical problems, and uncertainty about the status of beach access delayed organization of the tournament.
Fortunately, an early but successful end to this year’s sea turtle nesting season significantly reduced the number of beach closures. With access issues looking better, Frank Folb decided to go ahead with the tournament, but he was forced to implement a new rule requiring all participants to obtain a valid National Park Service permit to fish on the beaches from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m.
But, as the tournament weekend neared, the forecast turned ugly. Strong, gale-force winds threatened to bring cold temperatures, rough seas, and high tides. After finally getting everything organized, “we just about canceled it,” said Folb.
Friends and family convinced him not to cancel, and amazingly enough, in spite of all the challenges, the tournament went off without a hitch.
More than 300 anglers registered for the event, including 23 women, five kids, and 27 seniors. The diverse crowd represented 13 states and three countries, with folks hailing from as close as Buxton and as far away as England.
The tournament kicked off Wednesday evening, Oct. 22, with an informational meeting and hors d’oeuvres at the Cape Hatteras Elementary School. Fishing officially began at 12:01 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 23, and concluded at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25.
During that time, anglers could fish non-stop over 19 miles of beach, from just north of Ramp 23 at Salvo to just south of Ramp 38 in Avon. More than 30 judges, working in six-hour shifts, stationed at each ramp along the way, were ready to record any catches.
The weather, which had been one of Folb’s biggest concerns, did prove to be pretty nasty, but it didn’t stop the dedicated anglers.
Rob Alderman of the Hatteras Island Fish Militia, who served as a judge, said the conditions were the worst he had ever seen for a tournament and a challenge to the participants. It was rainy and blowing, with high tides and huge waves that made fishing difficult on the north facing beaches.
"That was tough fishing from the word go," said Alderman. "Those people had to earn it. Eight- to 12-ounces of weight wouldn't hold bottom. The people who caught fish are my heroes of the weekend."
And lots of people caught fish.
In fact, despite of all the obstacles they faced, this year’s participants yielded the largest number of fish ever caught in nine years of the tournament. More than 154 red drum were caught and released alive.
The tournament officially closed on Saturday with a banquet at the elementary school, where more than $12,000 in cash and prizes were awarded to the winners. Each participant received a gift bag with more than $75 worth of goodies, and proceeds from the tournament were donated to OBPA, Cape Hatteras Elementary School, and the Hatteras Island Food Pantry.
Results of Frank and Fran’s tackle shop annual red drum tournament
Longest red drum overall – first place – 49.25 inches caught by Matt Burleigh
Longest red drum overall – second place – 49 inches, caught by Greg Griffin
Largest red drum daily:
Day 1: Jim Davis, 47.75 inches
Day 2: Matt Burleigh, 48.25 inches
Day 3: David Griffin, 26.75 inches
Most drum registered overall in the tournament:
Greg Griffin: 8 red drum released
Longest bluefish overall
Greg Griffin: 18 inches
Longest striper overall
No winner
Biggest sea mullet overall by weight
Dough Clough: 17.25 inches, 2 pounds, three ounces
Longest red drum by a lady angler
Beth Barsalou: 28 inches
Longest red drum by a junior angler (under 16)
No winner
Longest red drum by a senior angler (65 or older)
Butch Miller: 26.25 inches.
source: http://www.islandfreepress.org/2008Archives/10.28.2008-RedDrumTournamentWasASuccessDespiteTheNastyWeather.html
