Kingfish trail steers ahead without ‘Isles’

July 17--The Southern Kingfish Association makes its first 2014 stop in Georgia this weekend with the annual Sapelo Open King Mackerel Tournament in McIntosh County.

Based at the Sapelo Saltwater Fishing Clubhouse in Shellman Bluff, the 34th Sapelo Open will kick off with its captains meeting at 7 p.m. Friday at the clubhouse, followed by a complete day of fishing beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday, with weigh-in set for 3 p.m. at Contentment Bluff Fish Camp.

The Sapelo Open tournament is one of four SKA events scheduled in Georgia waters in 2014. In 2013, the Golden Isles Kingfish Classic kicked off the Georgia trail, but this year's Classic was not held after SKA founder and CEO Jack Holmes -- who planned to assume management of the Golden Isles tournament -- closed the doors of the longtime kingfish organization after 22 years in business.

That decision to cease operations occurred in late March. Three weeks later, the SKA was back in business when the National Boat Owners Association Marine Insurance purchased the SKA outright and promised to honor current memberships as well as commitments to existing tournament schedules in the SKA's nine existing divisions.

With no true management team in place, the Golden Isles tournament -- which was first held in 1995 and teamed with the SKA in 2001 -- has been left off the 2014 Georgia trail schedule.

"Talking to the NBOA a couple of weeks ago, they are not going to have time to put it together (in 2014)," said Howard Poe, the 2011 winner of the Golden Isles tournament and the host of his own Captain Hap's Kingfish Bash on the Bluff in Darien. "If somebody wanted to step in and do it, (they could). It would have to be in September sometime, and I don't think they'd have time to do it. I'm not the official word, but there is not going to be one this year.

"I do think the NBOA would want to have it next year, though."

Mamie Mason, tournament director of the Sapelo Open, said she planned to hold her tournament no matter the situation with the SKA, so it is status quo in Shellman Bluff.

"When (the SKA) closed the doors, none of us tournament directors knew what would happen," Mason said. "For three weeks there, there was not an SKA, but we were going ahead with our tournament regardless, SKA or not. We based our prize money on 60 boats, and I'm preparing captains buckets for 70 boats. We're like a mom-and-pop kind of tournament."

Mason said she was happy to see someone assume the reins after Holmes had to shut down.

"We were having tournaments long before they got involved, but they were real small and our prizes were small. The SKA definitely brought us in more fishermen. I'm really proud these new owners have taken over and are keeping it like it is. They were pushed this year, but they've got some good ideas that they're going to follow through with next year. I think it's going to be even better than it was."

Last year's Sapelo Open took to the water with 62 entries with Dean Hinely and the crew of Kavitator winning the open class division with a 41.90-pound king mackerel, and David Futch and A Salt Weapon winning the small boat class with a 38.22-pounder.

Kavitator, based in Bryan County, went on to win the SKA's Georgia division championship with a three-fish aggregate of 101.02 pounds.

Rick Smith's Two Way Sportfishing Club Kingfish Tournament follows Sapelo on this year's schedule. The 28th annual Two Way event -- originally scheduled for June 20-21 -- will be held Aug. 8-9 from Two Way Fish Camp and Marina in Brunswick.

Captain Hap's Kingfish Bash on the Bluff hits the waters the following week, Aug. 15-16, from Darien Waterfront Park, and the newest event on the Georgia trail, the third annual Coastal Empire Kingfish Classic, will wrap up the state schedule Sept. 5-6 from Fort McAllister Marina in Richmond Hill.

-- Sports Editor Dave Jordan writes about local sports. Contact him at [email protected], on Facebook or at 265-8320, ext. 319.

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