Big Bend Saltwater Classic a Family Affair

The 20th annual Big Bend Saltwater Classic last weekend was an exciting event this year. Dicey weather and high fuel prices did little to dampen the spirits of the participating anglers.

"We had 875 fishing this year, which was a little down from last year," said Tournament Chairman Michelle Clark. "We were a little worried a month ago, but it looks like some of the anglers kind of planned ahead, as they told us they would do, and they came out in support of the tournament."

In addition to $130,000 in prizes, Clark said this year's tournament paid out jackpots totaling $22,957. The "Big Ass Fish Contest," sponsored by the Skybox Sports Bars, paid Bryan Love $5,000 for his 63.9 pound cobia. The new Seatow Record Breaker Award, sponsored by Seatow of Port St. Joe and Apalachicola, paid Josh Grantham $1,500 for his 22.75 pound snapper, which beat the existing tournament record by 31 percent. Century Boats provided a 2008 2001 Center Console Boat, worth $40,000, as prize for the anglers' raffle.

The big winners were Team Iron Duke, of Thomasville, GA, as Tom Perry, Bird McBride and Bill Connelly took first, second and fourth, respectively, in the dolphin competition and won the jackpot. They also took fifth place for recreational teams and won the drawing for the Century 2001 boat.

"I'm kind of overwhelmed," said Connelly, who held the winning ticket for the boat. "I just made the statement that I've never won a raffle in my life."

Perry's wife, Toni, said, "They're going to share the boat. They always fish together. Everything they did in the tournament was a group effort."

Connelly said the tournament was quite an adventure for the trio.

"We probably went further out than anybody," he said. "We went 100 miles due south. We saw a waterspout as big as a tornado and caught a 38-pound wahoo that got washed overboard by the storm. At the end of the day, we limped back into port with just 10 gallons of gas left."

Team Iron Duke has fished the Saltwater Classic for the last 12 years and won the 2004 grouper jackpot.

A Surprise Proposal

After presenting the junior division with their trophies, Clark announced that there would now be a special family award. She called Bob Holland, Budweiser sales rep, to the stage, along with his partner, Lisa Baxley, Baxley's daughter Crystal, and Hudson's son Holland, who worked as a volunteer dockmaster at the tourney.

Without a word, Clark handed the microphone to Hudson, who dropped to one knee, whipping a small box from his pocket.

"Will you marry me?" he asked before the entire audience.

Baxley broke into tears of joy and had to be asked again, before she responded yes, throwing her arms around Hudson's neck to wild applause.

"We've been together for about two years," said Hudson. "It occurred to me about a week ago that this would be a unique way to ask her."

Family Accomplishments

There were several other notable family accomplishments and upsets at this year's tournament. Grandfather, son and grandson David, John and Travis Vatter, of Medart, all placed in the recreational division. David caught the fourth place cobia. John's 14.2-pound snapper came in fourth and grandson Travis took third place for his 5.35-pound Spanish mackerel, and won the $1,800 jackpot, which he said he plans to put in the bank with his other prize money.

First place in the flounder division went to Captain Marilyn Lawhon, of Lanark Village, who told the crowd, "On my husband Gary's shirt it says first mate, but that's not quite right. Really, he's my soulmate. I want to wish him a happy Father's Day and I want everyone to know he's been smoke-free for a year today."

Bryan Love, who won the "Big Ass Fish Contest," called his teammates to the stage to accept the check with him, saying "No big ass fish is caught by yourself. I want to thank my father and my best friend, David Lancashire."

Bob Hoelzle, who has won first place in the recreational Gafftopsail Cat division for the last three years, was deposed by son, Zach, who took the prize with a 6.6-pound fish. Hoelzle took fifth place with a six-pound fish.

Although she didn't catch a prizewinning fish, Ann Marie Russell, of Peachtree City, GA, who fished with Team Girl Power, proved she was a winner on Saturday. When the weight for her dad's grouper was incorrectly written on her scorecard making her the winner of the junior division, she noticed the mistake and asked the judges to correct it. Even though she did not win a prize, she was called on stage to be honored for her honesty.

In recognition of the Big Bend Saltwater Classic's 20th year, tournament chairman Clark presented four "founding fathers of the tournament," - Dr. Quill Turk, Frank Stevenson, Steve Leukanech and Shawn Abbott - with plaques commemorating their role in the making what started as a dream in 1982 a reality.