WACHAPREAGUE -- The Katherine Jeanene won the 29th annual Billfish Release Tournament held during the weekend out of the port of Wachapreague.

The Katherine Jeanene was the top boat on the first day of the fishing competition with two white marlin releases by Mark St. Onge and Horace "Skip" Fairall. No other boat had more than two releases the rest of the three-day tourney so the Katherine Jeaneane with Capt. Paul Ebert, won top boat honors for the tournament, conducted by the Eastern Shore Marlin Club.

A total of 18 boats participated in the tournament. Winds off the coast caused problems for the anglers during the three days of the tournament.

The first day of the tournament was the best as far as the wind was concerned. But fish were caught on all three of the fishing days of the tourney.

The top boat Saturday was the Teaser where Jeff Lee had a white marlin release while fishing with Capt. Keith Neal.

The top boat Sunday was the Topless where Chad Lambertson had a blue marlin release while fishing with Capt. Perry Romig.

Top boat overall went to the Katherine Jeanene, while second boat overall went to the Fish Hunter. Tom Hastings had a white marlin release while fishing with Capt. Will Atkinson. It was the first release of the tournament on Friday.

Third overall boat was the Bluefin with Capt. Mark Quin.

The largest dolphin went to Rob Peuse on the Byte Me with Capt. Andy Lieberman. The male dolphin tipped the scales at 29.8 pounds. and was caught on Friday.

The largest wahoo was caught by Greg Breuker on the Reelentless with Capt. Mike Lewis. The wahoo weighed 39.1 pounds.

The largest tuna was caught by Greg Ford on Sunday. Ford was fishing aboard the White Bite with Capt. Wayne Evans. The tuna weighed 65.8 pounds.

Ford said he reeled in the tuna in 10 minutes. "It didn't take long," he said.

Awards were handed out at the Awards Banquet Monday night.

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