Fishing for Miracles King Mackerel Tournament Recap

It was an incredible turnout for the 25th — and final — Fishing for Miracles King Mackerel Tournament. Hosted at the Ripley Light Yacht Club, this event welcomed more than 115 skilled fishing enthusiasts from all around the Lowcountry.

The winners of the tournament were the members of the Phat Kat team, which included Captain Chad Shores, Trey Sires and Mike Hardee, who brought in a fish that weighed 40.3 pounds and beat out the first-day leaders Reel Nice, which finished second overall with a 40.1-pound king mackerel from the opening day. Team Net Profit, captained by Bryan Baxter, bettered its opening-day catch with a 38.5-pound king mackerel Saturday and held its position, finishing third.

Phat Kat pocketed a total of $36,150 – $13,200 for the big fish, $16,200 for the Super TWT (tournament within a tournament), $4,320 for the Largest King TWT and $2,430 for finishing second in the Aggregate Weight TWT with a total of 70.0 pounds.

Reel Nice earned $8,400 with $5,808 from the Grand Prize division and $2,592 for second place in the Largest King TWT.

Net Profit won $9,650 with $3,872 for its third-place overall finish in the Grand Prize division, $4,050 for winning the Aggregate Weight TWT with a total of 74.4 pounds and $1,728 from a third-place finish in the Largest King TWT.

But the true winners at the tournament was the Medical University of South Carolina’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Coastal Conservation Association South Carolina, which has received donations from the tournament’s raised funds over the past 25 years.

We were so glad that we could help support this event in its final year! A huge thank you to everyone who participated or were involved.

Grand Prize Results
1. Phat Kat, Chad Shores, 40.3; 2. Reel Nice, Brien Bethards, 40.1; 3. Net Profit, Bryan Baxter, 38.5; 4. Whippin’ Post, Louie McMichael, 38.2; 5. Wide Spread, Jeffrey Mitchell, 37.1; 6. Sea Scaper, Dennis Hensley, 36.2; 7. Saltshaker, Curt Warrington, 35.6; 8. Knot @ Work, Robert Olsen, 33.8; 9. In 2 Deep, Kevin O’Neale, 33.2; 10. Wide Open, T.J. Britt, 33.2; 11. Yates Sea, David Yates, 33.1; 12. Pole Dancer, David Hartness, 33.0; 13. Momma’s Money, Jimbo Warner, 32.6; 14. Lil’ Looer, Maci Dean, 32.2; 15. Rock Doc, Bob Wiggins, 32.0; 16. Reelin’, Marc Pincus, 31.9; 17. Bushwacker, Pete Ferrara, 31.8; 18. Reelist, Jody Teague, 31.6; 19. Flash Point, Trae Everett, 31.6; 20. Miss Emily, Gregg Newman, 31.1.

TWT: Wahoo – Miss Sophie, Robert Mayer, 52.3. Super – Phat Kat, Chad Shores, 40.3. Aggregate – Net Profit, Bryan Baxter, 74.4; Phat Kat, Chad Shores, 70.0; Wide Spread, Jeffrey Mitchell, 69.9. Largest – Phat Kat, Chad Shores, 40.3; Reel Nice, Brien Bethards, 40.1; Net Profit, Bryan Baxter, 38.5.

BONUSES: Yamaha – Wide Spread, Jeffrey Mitchell, 37.1. Hanckel – Half Mine II, Preston Knight, 26.2. Sponsor – Sea Scaper, Dennis Hensley, 36.2. Youth – Momma’s Money, Jimbo Warner, 32.6. Lady – Sea Scaper, Dennis Hensley, 36.2. SOBE (single outboard engine) – Wide Open, T.J. Britt, 33.2.