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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:Pete
Johnson, Johnson Communications, Inc.
Scottsdale, Ariz. 85267
480-951-3654
(phone) 480-951-0040 (fax)
johnsoncom@aol.com (e mail)
ATTN: Sports/Fishing/Outdoor Editors
Lopez widens lead in 35th Mercury Outboards Bonefishing
World Championship ###
Most bonefish caught Thursday in weeklong
fishingtournament
ISLAMORADA, In the Fla. Keys ---Miami™s Jose Pepe
Lopez widened his lead by 2300 points Thursday with one day remaining in the
35th Annual Mercury Outboards Bonefishing World Championship/Islamorada
All-TackleTournament.
Lopez, 40,
guided by Capt. Billy Knowles Jr., Islamorada, increased his margin to a
four-day total of 6185 points bringing his last weight fish (of over eight
pounds) of the five allowed to the scale. His weight fish at 10-lb.13-oz.
plus five release fish were good for 1019 points.
In second place still looking for one
their final big weight fish is Dan Zicari, Vero Beach, guided by Capt.
Mark Krowka, Davie. The team could only come up with three release fish
Thursday to add 300 points. Their four-day total is 3831 points.
We™re looking for one last fish in
the 12 or 13 pound range, then hoping to help it with a lot more release
fish, Zicari added.
We had a hard
day today and Pepe had another great one. Zicari said. We had a couple of
big fish eat the crabs but lost them both. We™re still going to try to go for
a nice weight fish Friday and at least preserve second place.
I™m happy to be where I™m at,
said Lopez who on Monday™s opening round helped his score by catching a
tournament record 14-lb.8-oz. bonefish good for 1724 points.
With a possible wire-to-wire run, Lopez
is hoping to capture his fourth championship. He previously won three grand
champion titles in ™93, ˜96 and ™98.
Lopez and Knowles hold the record
for the most points in the 35-year history of the tournament at 7212 set in1996.
If the team continues using bait they will need at least 11 release fish,
each worth 100 points, to break their record. Lopez said he plans to spend most
of his time fishing the Atlantic side on Friday.
The big highlight of
the day wasTom Siska, Saddle Brook, NJ, the only angler to complete the
all-tackle category by catching bonefish on bait, spin, plug and fly.
Guided by Capt. Duane Baker, Tavernier, the team is currently in sixth
place.
It™s been years since that
was accomplished in this tournament, said Zicari. We™re real happy for
Tom and glad to see someone skilled in that feat.
Weigh master/scorekeeper Capt. JimWilcox
said the slight improvement in the weather Thursday helped fishing conditions as
the stiff winds began diminishing. He said a total of 15 weight fish and
24 release fish were recorded Thursday for a four-day total of 41 weight fish
and 81 releasefish. All the fish were safely released.
All 19 teams (with anglers from
seven states) have caught fish but some have not gotten on the board with their
first required weight fish of eight pounds or better, Wilcox reported.
In third place with 3585 points is
Islamorada councilman Jim Mooney and his guide Capt. Rick Miller. They are
followed by Jim Trice and guide Capt. Mike Ehlers, both of Islamorda, at 2740.5
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.
19 angler/guide teams from seven states entered
1st
-- Jose Pepe Lopez, Miami guided by Capt.Billy Knowles Jr., Islamorada;
6185 pts.
2rd---Dan Zicari, Vero Beach, guided by Capt.Mark Krowka, Davie;
3831 pts.
3rd-- Jim Mooney, guided by Capt. Rick Miller, both of Islamorada;
3585 pts.
4th---Jim Trice, guided by Capt. Mike Ehlers, both of Islamorada;
2740.5 pts.
5th---Gary Merriman, Atlanta, Ga, guided by Capt.Tim Hoover,
Marathon; 2584 pts.
6th---Tom Siska, Saddle Brook, NJ, and Capt.Duane Baker,
Tavernier; 2462 pts.
7th---Carl Anderson, with Capt. George Wood, both of
Islamorada; 2376 pts.
8th---Moe Slayton, Avon, Conn., with Capt. Greg
Poland, Duck Key, Fla.; 2165.5 pts.
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