by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
There won’t be 980 boats in this year’s AT&T Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament. In fact, with just three days left until general tournament fishing begins, in all likelihood, there may only be about 600 boats looking for the elusive 50-plus pound kingfish.
However, tournament chair Sandy Lancaster says she and her staff will still put on a first-rate tournament complete with one of the area’s biggest annual parties. Lancaster says there is one benefit to fewer boats.
“The odds are better that you will win something,” said Lancaster, who is in her 12th year as a formal volunteer for the tournament that’s in its 28th year.
Lancaster says fuel prices are directly to blame for this year’s relatively low turnout.
“It think it is a huge factor,” said Lancaster, who is the manager of corporate external affairs for AT&T and will celebrate 30 years with the company in October. “I am hearing that many folks who fish in the tournament every year are doubling up and even tripling up on the same boat.”
While many of the captains may be joining forces to save money on fuel and the other costs associated with two days of trolling, others are fishing anyway.
“I am also hearing that this tournament is a tradition. Some are saying they are not fishing for the prizes,” she said. “The crown jewel of the tournament is the junior angler. Last year, we had a record number of entries in the junior angler and this year they are pouring in as well.”
Lancaster says 500 boats leaving the dock at 6:30 for two days of fishing will still be an impressive sight as they head through the jetty and into the Atlantic Ocean. Lancaster also thinks many of this year’s captains will forego runs to areas such as Daytona Beach and Brunswick, Ga.
“The kings are closer to the beach right now, so the smaller boats won’t have to run as far,” said Lancaster, who said she and her staff have been planning this week’s tournament since September. She also said she took last week and this week off work.
The tournament has become one of the area’s biggest draws and the impact is felt all over, not just at Sister’s Creek Boat Ramp. Between hotel rooms and other expenses, Lancaster said the 2005 tournament had a $14 million economic impact on the area.
The biggest change to this year’s event is the move to fishing Friday and Saturday. Traditionally, the fishing was on Thursday and Friday with the big after-tournament fish fry and party Saturday.
Fishing begins each day 6:30 a.m., the weigh-in starts at 2 p.m. and ends at 4 p.m.
Last year’s winner was James Croft, who weighed a 48.6-pound kingfish.
2008 prize structure
The following are the general tournament prizes based on 800 paid entries. The cash prizes may be adjusted according to the final number of entries.
1st place largest
Contender 25 Open, Twin Yamaha 200HP Engines & Loadmaster Trailer
1st place aggregate
Sea Chaser 210LX BayRunner, 150HP Yamaha Engine & Loadmater Trailer
2nd place largest
Key West 2020CC, Mercury 135HP Engine & Loadmaster Trailer
2nd place aggregate:
Carolina Skiff 198DLV Elite & Loadmaster Trailer
1st place 23 class:
Key West 176CC, Mercury 115HP Engine & Loadmaster Trailer
356-2466