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O

riental Rotary Tarpon Tournament director John Mitchell says the tarpon gave the ‘greatest cooperation’ this year. Over the weekend, 28 tarpon were caught (and then released). That was the second highest number in the 16 year history of the scholarship fundraising tournament.

The fish were especially out in force on Saturday, when 21 were caught. Less so on Sunday when there were only 7.

The top tarpon captain this year was Gene Wooster (who also won the tournament three years ago). Gene took home a check for $3,060 for his first place finish.

First Place and top tarpon-getting team, headed by Gene Wooster of Mobile East Marine in Alliance. They caught 6 tarpon and had three others jump off From left to right: Ed Braun, president of the Rotary, Gene Wooster, his son James, and John Deaton with Tarpon Tournament director John Mitchell. (Not present at the awards ceremony was fellow team member, Michael Boone.)

49 teams took part in the competition which had fishermen out at first light on Saturday and Sunday in waters of the river, the sound and near the inlets to the Atlantic (that’s as specific as most boat crews would get about their fishing areas). The tournament was based at Whittaker Pointe Marina in Oriental.

Second Place team of Buddy Laws, Mike Noel and brothers Jimmy and Michael Goodmon. They caught three tarpon.

Third Place award went to Derek Jordan shown here with his daughter Claire and son, Michael and the rest of his team. They caught three tarpon

The second and third place winners had three tarpon each. The tie was broken by the clock — which team caught their first tarpon first. It was an intra-family competition. Brothers-in-law Derek Jordan and Jimmy Goodmon shake hands.
Alternative caption: Tied at three fish each, brothers-in-law Jordan and Goodmon determined the outcome by the ancient Rotary ritual of “Death Grip Handshake”.

The Standings

The first 8 boats were “in the money.” No less than 6 boats tied with 2 tarpon each – the final order being determined by the clock.

1. Gene Wooster, 6 tarpon, $3,060
2. Jimmy Goodmon, 3 tarpon, $1,530
3. Derek Jordan, 3 tarpon, $765
4. Phil Ambler, 2 tarpon, $612
5. Harry Ireland, 2 tarpon, $535.50
6. Dan Roberts, 2 tarpon, $459
7. Matt Deaton, 2 tarpon, $382.50
8. Doug Sulc, 2 tarpon, $306
9. Len Banks, 2 tarpon
10. George Beckwith, 1 tarpon
11. Charles Gryb, 1 tarpon
12. Henry Mallard, 1 tarpon
13. Scott Price, 1 tarpon

The highest money earner for the weekend was actually the second place boat. Jimmy Goodmon won the “Tournament Within A Tournament”, adding $1,725 to his winnings for a total of $3,255.

How hard are tarpon to catch? On the same weekend that saw the second highest number of tarpon caught, 36 of the 49 boats that competed caught none.

These boots were made for skating. The award for most skate caught went to….

George Beckwith has now won the Pancake Tarpon award for two years running. This year he had 40. 443 skate were caught altogether.

Aside from the fishermen, the weekend long event drew hundreds to a BBQ dinner on Saturday and awards ceremony on Sunday at Whittaker Pointe Marina. Lots of photos follow:

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Posted Monday July 28, 2008 by Melinda Penkava

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