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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications, Inc.
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ATTN: Sports/Fishing/Outdoor
Editors
Lopez still leads midway through 35th Mercury Outboards Bonefishing World Championship
High winds still affecting weeklong fishing tournament
ISLAMORADA, In the Fla. Keys ---Following Tuesday’s thunderstorms, tournament anglers saw the sun come out but the winds still blowing, at the midway point Wednesday in 35th Annual Mercury Outboards Bonefishing World Championship/Islamorada All-Tackle Tournament. They also saw Miami’s Pepe Lopez still in the lead with just two days of fishing left in the five-day event.
Lopez, 40, guided by Capt. Billy Knowles Jr., Islamorada, increased his lead to 5066 points weighing in a small 8-lb. 5-oz. bonefish along with three release fish for 666 points. It was his fourth of five weigh fish over eight pounds allowed for the week.
Lopez, broke into the lead on Monday, helped by his tournament record 14-lb. 8-oz. bonefish good for 1724 points. He’s hoping to capture his fourth championship having won three grand champion titles in ’93, ‘96 and ’98.
Weigh master/scorekeeper Capt. Jim Wilcox said the slight improvement in the weather Wednesday, also brought a few more weigh fish to the scales for the other competitors. A total of 12 weigh fish and 16 release fish were recorded.
“With the winds blowing steady at 30 mph and gusting to 40, it’s amazing they were able to catch anything,” said Wilcox. “They were severely limited in seeing any tailing bonefish or mudding fish.”
Seven of the 19 teams representing seven states, haven’t gotten on the board with their first required weigh fish of eight pounds or better, Wilcox reported.
Dan Zicari, Vero Beach, guided by Capt. Mark Krowka, Davie, jumped into second place at 3531 points catching two more weigh fish, one at 11-lb. 8-ozs., the other at 10-lb. 3-ozs.
“We’ve got to get a big fish,” Zicari said, “and we’ve just got two days to do it. We’re looking for one last fish in the high 12 or 13 pound range to help narrow the margin,” Zicari added.
Slipping to third place is Islamorada councilman Jim Mooney and his guide Capt. Rick Miller. Mooney had just one release fish for 100 points to boost his three-day total score to 2896 points.
The team of Carl Anderson and Capt. George Wood, both of Islamorada, are fourth with 2176 points.
The tournament, one of the oldest and most prestigious in the Florida Keys, finishes on Friday. The event is being held out of the Lorelei docks.
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Day 3 standings - 35th Mercury Outboards Bonefishing World Championship – Islamorada, Fla. Oct. 8 – 12
19 angler/guide teams from seven states
entered
1st -- Jose “Pepe” Lopez, Miami guided by Capt. Billy Knowles Jr., Islamorada; 5066 pts.
2rd---Dan Zicari, Vero Beach, guided by Capt. Mark Krowka, Davie; 3531 pts.
3rd-- Jim Mooney, guided by Capt. Rick Miller, both of Islamorada; 2896 pts.
4th---Carl Anderson, with Capt. George Wood, both of Islamorada, 2176 pts.
5th---Moe Slayton, Avon, Conn., with Capt. Greg Poland, Duck Key, Fla., 2165 pts.
6th---Tom Siska, Saddle Brook, NJ, and Capt. Duane Baker, Tavernier, 1706 pts.
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