Anglers Club members win awards for the year’s biggest fish
Seven citation-size fish, including a 50-inch red drum and a 40-pound cobia were among the award-winning fish cited at the Cape Hatteras Anglers Club Members’ Surf Fishing Contest Awards banquet on Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Anglers Club in Buxton.
Close to 100 members attended the banquet to honor the 25 anglers who caught the biggest fish during 2015. The surf-fishing contest is open to all 740 current Anglers Club members and runs from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31 each year.
The North Carolina citation-size fish were the 50-inch red drum caught by Josh Howard, 40-pound cobia caught by Roy Kiser, 10-pound, 6-ounce sheepshead caught by Jeff Madre, 4-pound, 11-ounce pompano caught by Percy Houchens, and 1-pound, 13-oounce sea mullet caught by Clay Noble in the men’s division.
In the women’s division, the citation-size fish were a 3-pound, 10-ounce pompano caught by Thelma Noble, a 46.5-inch red drum caught by Ginger Knight, and a 1-pound, 15-ounce sea mullet caught by Emily Seibert.
Josh Howard’s name will go on the Bernice R. Ballance Memorial Trophy for the largest red drum caught in 2015. The trophy has been awarded every year since 1988.
Additional winners in the men’s division are: Jeff Madre, 24.5-inch albacore; Francis Kennedy, 9-pound, 8-ounce black drum; Kristian Ramkvist, 1-pound, 1-ounce blow toad; Darr Barshis, 34-inch bluefish; Kevin McCabe, 3-pound, 9-ounce flounder and a 2-pound, 9-ounce speckled trout; Lee Haller, 2-pound, 10-ounce gray trout, and Charles Durrer, 4-pound, 13 ounce Spanish mackerel.
Women’s division winners are: Robbin Curtis, 24-inch albacore; Thelma Noble, 7-pound, 2-ounce black drum; Ashley Bahen, 15-ounce blow road; Nancy Giannotti, 17-inch bluefish; Susan McClanahan, 1-pound, 8-ounce flounder; and Carla Meekins, 4-pound, 4-ounce Spanish mackerel.
Winners in the junior division for ages 13-16 are: Jake Worthington, 39-inch red drum and 1-pound, 9-ounce flounder; Jasmine Roller, 15-inch bluefish and 10-ounce pompano, and Caroline “Stretch” Gray, 13-ounce sea mullet.
Josh Kiser earned five winner’s plaques in the youth division for youngsters through age 12. Josh won for a 29-inch bluefish, 1-pound, 6-ounce gray trout, 1-pound, 6.5-ounce pompano, 1-pound, 1-ounce sea mullet and a 1-pound, 6-ounce Spanish mackerel. Reese Hubbard took home the award for a 31.5-inch red drum.
New members and volunteers are always welcome. Call the Anglers Club at 252-995-4253 to join.
