Edge Team Takes $50K Top Prize at Hawks Cay Sailfish Open

MARATHON, Florida Keys — A Lighthouse Point, Fla., angling team released 16 sailfish to take top honors and $50,000 at the two-day Hawks Cay Sailfish Open Tournament that ended Saturday, Feb. 12, in the Florida Keys.

Led by Captain Scott Leon aboard the Edge, the team included Greg Braswell, Fred David, Brian Buckley, Mike Reisert and Mike Tarmey.

“We went 16 for 18 bites,” said Leon, whose team started Day Two leading with eight sails after Friday's fishing. “You can usually win tournaments with that kind of consistency.”

Second place, based on time of the last release, went to Viva La Vida, led by Nick Ewald of Islamorada, Fla. Islamorada anglers Wayne King and James Fickling and Erick Darvill of Cutler Ridge, Fla,, fished with boat owner John P. Cole of Alpharetta, Ga., to release nine sails.

The Keys Dizeaze contingent landed third place with nine fish. Anglers included Ben Zdan and Cody Darby, both of Marathon; Orlando's Rebekka Gilbreath; Fort Lauderdale, Fla., resident Sef Stupakofs; Kyle Weaver of Merritt Island, Fla.; Tommy Houchin of Naples, Fla., and Clermont, Fla., resident Billy Thomas. The boat was skippered by William Wagner IV of Islamorada.

Tournament organizer Katy Newton reported the event attracted 170 anglers aboard 27 boats. Releases totaled 143 sailfish.

The Sailfish Open was the second of four point-earning tournaments in the Sailfish Pro Series set to conclude April 30.

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