49 3/4-inch fish wins annual NCBBA Red Drum Tournament By IRENE NOLAN

The eighth annual North Carolina Beach Buggy Association Red Drum Tournament drew 279 anglers from 14 states who caught 50 red drum, including 15 citations — all released alive.

The winning red drum was caught by Tom Goode of Amelia, Va., who reeled in a 49.75-inch fish.  Second place went to David Griffith of Holly Springs, N.C., with a 49.50-inch drum.

Fishing started at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, and ended at noon on Saturday, Oct. 22, on beaches from Ramp 23 in Salvo to Ramp 38 in Avon that were patrolled by 36 volunteer judges who also fished.  Tournament headquarters was again at Frank and Fran’s tackle shop in Avon, and new owners Stephanie and Randy Ryals and Heather and Tim James hosted their first tournament.

Tournament participants competed for $8,500 in cash and prizes that were awarded at a banquet on Saturday at Cape Hatteras Secondary School.

The anglers included two juniors — under 16 — 28 women, and 69 male and female seniors — over 65.  Allan Maly of Dallas, Texas, once again traveled the farthest to fish in the tournament.

The tournament’s final results are:

The red drum trophies this year were made from recycled metal by Mike Boyce of Mike’s Art Werks in Elizabeth City.

Through the combined donations of NCBBA, Michael Jackson of the Fishin’ Hole, Friends of David and Joyce Joyner, and the generosity of the tournament anglers, the Hatteras Island Methodist Men received $4,640 to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. NCBBA also donated an additional $500 each to the volunteer fire departments from Hatteras and Frisco villages and to the United Methodist Church of Ocracoke Island. Before the storm, NCBBA had presented a check for $1,000 to the Hatteras Island Community Emergency Response Team.

For more information on NCBBA or the tournament, go to www.n cbba.org.