Youth score big at sheriff's fishing tourney

The sheriff’s office hosted is second annual saltwater inshore and offshore fishing tournament on Saturday, and the youth were the big winners.

Because of choppy seas, the offshore tourney had lackluster participation, and in the end, only one team, JP’s Cleaning, came in to claim the $500 grand prize. They had caught a 23.2-lb amberjack and a 5.75-lb. grouper.

“That was all they had and they won the tournament,” said Sgt. John Solomon. “One other boat, all they caught was sailfish

But the big action was with the inshore and youth tourneys. The inshore event drew 13 teams, while 15 young people view for prizes in that tourney.

The inshore tourney, which covers all inshore waters from Apalachicola Bay to Alligator Point, was won by Papa Joe’s I, for a $300 grand prize. The highest weight totals in each category won $150.

The inshore tourney winners and weights were:

Redfish: 1st) Papa Joe’s I, 10.0 lbs. 2nd) Team Brock and Galloway 7.90 lbs. and 3rd) Team Papa Joe’s II 7.85 lbs.

Trout: 1st) Papa Joe’s I, 8.85 lbs. 2nd) Gander’s Distributors, 7.75 lbs. and 3rd) Team Brock and Galloway 5.70 lbs.

Triple Tail: 1st) Jeannie’s Journey’s 3.1 lbs.

Flounder: 1st) Earl Solomon 11.35 lbs. 2nd) Team Miss Carrie 3.0 lbs. and 3rd) Skeeter Deleter 2.2 lbs.

The youth tournament, which awarded trophies and rods-and-reels, were as follows:

Redfish: 1st) Drake Stanley 2.75 lbs.

Trout: 1st) Rob Leach 1.25 lbs.

Catfish: 1st) Nicholas Clark 5.4 lbs. 2nd) Clark Sullivan 4.9 lbs. and 3rd) Chase Watkins 3.30 lbs.

Flounder: 1st) Drake Stanley 1.61 lbs.

Croaker: 1st) Chance White 0.45 lbs. 2nd) Cameron White, Duncan Whaley and Brock Shiver, each 0.40 lbs. and 3rd) Brayden McCall 0.35 lbs.

All money raised went to the sheriff’s youth programs.