Bodacious Team Wins Cheeca Presidential Sailfish Tournament

[Fishing Report]

Bodacious Team Wins Cheeca Presidential Sailfish Tournament

ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys - Fishing aboard the Bodacious, Islamorada skipper Taylor Walsh guided anglers Henry Danzig, Nick Stanczyk, Topher "Chris" Wightman and Allen Wood to eight sailfish releases to win the two-day Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament that ended Saturday, Jan. 22, in the Florida Keys.

It was the first tournament victory for Walsh, 25, in his role as a boat captain.

"It's pretty exciting, but it's still a team sport and you're only as good as your anglers and mates," said Walsh of his team, all Islamorada residents.

The entourage, including mate Shay Danzig, began the second and final day of the tournament in the lead with six releases. They quickly caught a double-header, but didn't see another fish the rest of the day.

"Toward the end we were pretty nervous," said Wood, who was named grand champion angler for his four releases. "We were holding our breath for the last 15 minutes."

Walsh said live goggle eyes and threadfin herring were the team's bait of choice for the tournament.

In second place with seven releases was, Wound Up, with Miami anglers Warren Sands, Brett Dudas and Rob Ramirez, as well as Bill Danko from Cincinnati. John Dudas was the skipper.

Captain Mel Walker, in the Gotcha, scored six releases with anglers Les Dunson of Winter Haven, Fla., and John Reynolds of Homestead, Fla. The team took third place.

Tournament coordinator Liz Hill reported 96 releases among 112 anglers that fished on 31 boats.

Hosted at the posh Cheeca Lodge Resort & Spa, the 21st Presidential was leg two of the Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship, a series of three light tackle tournaments held in Islamorada that also include the Islamorada Sailfish Tournament, staged in December, and the Islamorada Fishing Club Sailfish Tournament set for Jan. 26-27.

The Cheeca event is also one of 60 billfish tournaments worldwide that are sanctioned by the World Billfish Series. Top scoring Presidential anglers are to receive an invitation to the WBS grand championship.

[LuckyLady]

Congrats heard the bite has been pretty good but a few bad days here and there, Ray Rosher was said to have 12 12 on sat and most boats went for 1-2