The Cape Hatteras Anglers Club 64th Annual Invitational Surf Fishing Tournament was held November 2-5, 2022. 118 teams participated in this year’s tournament and caught a total of 1,155 fish. This tournament is the largest of its kind in the world, with 120 teams and 720 anglers participating. It attracts over 800 visitors to Hatteras Island for the week.
Results
Surfside Anglers, of Kill Devil Hills, took first place men and overall, with 56 fish totaling 160 points. The team Captain was Kevin Jacobs, with members Casey Copeland, Brad Harrall, Jake Sanders, Danny Jacobs, and Jeff Hitt. The Surfside Anglers scored 120 of their 160 points in the first session, in spite of rain and thunder.
Placing second men was Fish Hoggs Eastern Shore VA Anglers of Parksley, VA with 48 fish and 109 points. Captain Marty Bull lead his teammates Brian Hill, Ray Willett, Clark Crocket, Jamie Logan, and Dean Carroll to a second-place men’s finish with consistent scoring of fish each session.
Placing third men was Ocean City Fishing Club of NJ with 35 fish and 98 points. Captain Bob Dever rallied his teammates Tyler Daley, Ed Parkinson, Sami Catalano, Augie Conte III, and Drew Furst with an impressive fourth session.
First Place Women was Queen Mackerels, of Kill Devil Hills, with 13 fish for 38 points. Captain Maggie Garris and her teammates Peggy Byrd, Linda Donningan, Linda Harper, Dee Deaton Jones, and Wendy Hall took the lead in the Women’s Division from the first session and held it for the remainder of the tournament.
Placing second women, (the first time awarded in this tournament), was Showstoppers of Kill Devil Hills with 15 fish and 35 points. Captain Hazel Basnight and her teammates Karen Graf, Anne Smith, Vicki Basnight, Annah Petty, and Virginia Perlot landed 11 fish for 28 points in the first session.
Placing third women, also first time awarded at this tournament, was Island Girls of Buxton with 10 fish for 31 points. Captain Nancy Giannotti lead her teammates Kitty Squire, Kathy Walke, Iris Long, Michelle VanWagner, and Carla Meekins with the first and last scoring fish of the tournament. Nags Head Surf Fishing Club tied for third in points, but claimed fourth place women by tiebreaker rules.
Largest Fish Category Results
MEN
Largest Red Drum
- 32” caught by Kevin Zasdel of Black Lick Township Anglers
Largest Bluefish
- 19-1/2” caught by Gerald Head of the Cock Island Anglers
Largest Fish Overall (other than a bluefish or red drum)
- 16 1/4” Gray Trout caught by Andy Martz of Island Life Realty Fishing Team
WOMEN
Largest Red Drum
- 18” caught by Sue Yamool of South Jersey Squid Hounds
Largest Bluefish
- 18” caught by Betsy Smock of the Hatteras Sea Witches
Largest Other Fish
- 16 ¼”” Gray Trout caught by Nancy Giannotti of Island Girls
Session Winners
FIRST SESSION
- Surfside Anglers with 37 fish scoring 120 points
SECOND SESSION (TIE)
- Inland Anglers with 6 fish scoring 49 points (won by tiebreaker rules)
- SCABS (Surf Casters and Bull Shooters) with 16 fish scoring 49 points
THIRD SESSION
- The McClammers with 17 fish scoring 70 points
FOURTH SESSION
- Matey’s Marauders with 21 fish for 53 points
Congratulations to ALL of our winners!
CHAC would like to extend a HUGE thank you to all of the 58 volunteers who served as judges over the two days, and to the many volunteers and sponsors who helped to make all of the tournament events a success.
