$20,000 in Cash Prizes Were Awarded at the 10th Annual Blue Water Fishing Classic
$5,000 Grand Prize was awarded to Team Blue Time
Amateur, professional, and junior anglers competed for a chance to win up to $20,000 in cash prizes at the 10th Annual Blue Water Fishing Classic, Saturday, June 1, 2013. The tournament, hosted by Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces in partnership with generous sponsors and The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade, launched from all six Miami-Dade Parks marinas.
The $5,000 Grand Prize was awarded to Team Blue Time, pictured above, for a total combined weight of 83.2 lbs. Winners were determined by the combined weight of the three largest fish within the species of dolphin, wahoo, blackfin tuna, and kingfish.
Thirty-six boats entered and competed in the competition, and 23 boats weighed-in their catch for a chance to win. There were 12 Lady Anglers who competed, and four Junior Anglers weighed in. Six county departments were represented by county employees for a chance at the Mayor's Challenge Award. Departments included Animal Services, Cultural Affairs, Fire Rescue, Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces, Police, and Transit.
The three-day event kicked off on Thursday, May 30, at 7:30 p.m. with dinner, open bar and silent auction at the Captain's Party at Fairways on the Key at Crandon Golf Course, where anglers received instructions, the rules and regulations, a Captain's Bag with tournament t-shirts and souvenirs, and their boat entry numbers. The event concluded on Sunday, June 2, when anglers returned to Crandon Golf for the awards ceremony and celebration where winners received a trophy and their cash prizes.
Net proceeds of the tournament will provide after-school and summer camp scholarships to children in Miami-Dade.
The winners of 10th Annual Blue Water Fishing Classic are as follows:
$5,000 Grand Prize Winner:
From Crandon Marina, Blue Time at a combined weight of 83.2 lbs. Team was comprised of Benjamin Leon III, Lisa Leon, Israel Ibanez, Matthew Wieteha, & Capt. Bill Wieteha.
$1,500 Lady Angler Grand Prize Winner:
From Black Point Marina, Denise Armesto of the Rising Sun at a combined weight of 28.25 lbs.
$1,000 Mayor's Grand Prize Winner for County employee participants:
From Black Point Marina, the Rising Sun at a combined weight of 75.05 lbs. Team was comprised of John Buhrmaster, Jay Bogaards, Denise Armesto, Zachary Armesto (Junior) & Capt. Rene Armesto. Department represented was Parks.
$1,500 Dolphins Challenge 1st Place Winner for the Largest Dolphin:
From Matheson Hammock, David Greenwell from team Greenwell at a combined weight of 26.95 lbs.
Bill Bird Marina at Haulover Park:
$1,500 First place: Team - No Worries at a combined weight of 54 lbs. Team was comprised of Adam Cohen, Adam Tannen, Ken Cohen, and Vincent Griffeth.
$750 Second place: Team - RAAM PROS at a combined weight of 51.5 lbs. Team was comprised of David Cardenas, Jorge Cardenas, Miguel Estevil, and Michael Estevil.
$250 Third place: Team - Mad Gaffers at a combined weight of 43.95 lbs. Team was comprised of Chris Gaffney, John Gaffney, Dean Gaffney, and Tony Norelli.
$100 Junior Angler: Team - Kelley Fleet. Junior angler Jarvis Wright at a combined weight of 9 lbs.
Black Point Marina:
$1,500 First place: Team - Rising Sun at a combined weight of 75.05 lbs. Team was comprised of John Buhrmaster, Jay Bogaards, Denise Armesto, Zachary Armesto (Junior) & Capt. Rene Armesto.
$750 Second place: Team - SeaWalker at a combined weight of 69.80 lbs. Team was comprised of Mickey Walker, and Mike Walker.
$250 Third place: Team - Noah's Ark at a combined weight of 30.75 lbs. Team was comprised of David Mijares, Ryan Vespe, Hector Fernandez, and Alex Sanchez.
$100 Junior Angler: Team - Rising Sun. Junior angler Zachary Armesto at a combined weight of 21.9 lbs.
Crandon Marina:
$1,500 First place: Team - Blue Time at a combined weight of 83.2 lbs. Team was comprised of Benjamin Leon III, Lisa Leon, Israel Ibanez, Matthew Wieteha, & Capt. Bill Wieteha.
$750 Second place: Team - Sugar Rush at a combined weight of 70.2 lbs. Team was comprised of Russel Firtel, Drew Davis, Sage Rubinstein, and Dan Reilly.
$250 Third place: Team - Westrec at a combined weight of 68.3 lbs. Team was comprised of Jorge Amores, Angel Pineiro, James Suro, & Capt. Frank Cardenas.
$100 Junior Angler: None
Matheson Hammock Marina:
$1,500 First place: Team - VooDoo Child at a combined weight of 77.85 lbs. Team was comprised of Winifred Fili, Michael Fili, Bernie Perez, and Frank Romero.
$750 Second place: Team - Never Better at a combined weight of 73.75 lbs. Team was comprised of Warren Tranzenfeld, Tim La Macchia, Aron Nusbaum, and Joshua Humback.
$250 Third place: Team - Greenwell at a combined weight of 57.15 lbs. Team was comprised of David Greenwell, Thomas Bogaards, Sr., Thomas Bogaards, Jr., and Mark Richards.
$100 Junior Angler: None
Boats were allowed to check in and launch out of Herbert Hoover Marina at Homestead Bayfront Park and at Pelican Harbor Marina, but these sites did not have weigh-in available so there were no winners from these sites. Boats that launched out of these marinas were to return and weigh in at a different site.
Sponsors of the tournament included Westrec Marinas, our presenting sponsor, Shoreline Foundation, Inc., River Marine Supply, Kiewit, IAFF Local 1403, Sea Tow, Captain Harry's Fishing Supply, Blue Time, Kelley Fleet, Loggerhead Marina, Therapy IV, Marini and Associates, PA Tax Attorneys, Awesome Boat Service, Southeast Total Marine, The Miracle League of Miami-Dade, Fish Florida, The International Game Fish Association, NOAA Fisheries, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission..
About the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department:
Nationally accredited, a three-time winner of the NRPA National Gold Medal Award and winner of the 2009 Florida Governor's Sterling Award for excellence in management and operations, Miami-Dade County Parks is the third largest county park system in the United States, consisting of 260 parks and 12,825 acres of land. It is one of the most unique park and recreation systems in the world. Made up of more than just playgrounds and athletic fields, it also comprises out-of-school, sports-development, and summer-camp programs; programs for seniors and people with disabilities; educational nature centers and nature preserves; environmental restoration efforts; arts and culture programs and events; the renowned Zoo Miami and the Deering Estate at Cutler; the Crandon Tennis Center, home of the Sony Open; golf courses; beaches; marinas; campgrounds; pools; and more. For information about Miami-Dade County Parks call 3-1-1, or visit www.miamidade.gov/parks/.
Miami-Dade County Parks is supported by The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade a non-profit 501(c)3 organization supporting the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department's efforts to further develop Miami-Dade County's world-class parks system for residents and visitors. Its mission is to create a healthier, more livable and sustainable Miami community by ensuring the implementation of the Parks Open Space Master Plan and the development of year-round park and recreation programs for local children, adults and people with disabilities. For more information on the Parks Foundation, please visit www.miamidade.gov/parks_foundation.
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