If Head Judge Woody Billings could change one thing about this year’s tournament, it would have been more fish during the fourth session. But other than the weather, he wouldn’t change a thing.
“I’ve been doing this for 24 years and I have a great time doing it,” said Billings. The “friendly, colorful” people that come back year after year, as well as the local participants and sponsors, make it exceptional." He pointed out the excellent eats provided by Hank Edwards and the Carolina Boys, who not only make dinner for the entire community, but provide breakfast sausages for the teams Friday morning.
At this year’s captain’s meeting, as he briefed the group on stations and rules, Woody asked for a show of hands of who’s never “done this before.” Only one hand went up.
With that, he welcomed the new team, Ocracoke Island Realty. Six Ocracoke homeowners were selected to fish the newly-formed team, who’d been on a waiting list to enter the tournament for well over a decade.
The new team didn’t get skunked, as they managed to score one point overall. But there were a few who entered the big zero for a final score. Like the Fish Lips, who claim to participate in the tournament just for the good times.
Among the 80 teams, fishers often call OISFT the most fun surf fishing tournament on the Outer Banks. Teams decorate hotel doors, fly beach flags and then wander out in the community to patronize local businesses and share stories about tournaments past.
“It’s the camaraderie. Always the camaraderie,” said Billings.
But OISFT gives even more to Ocracoke Island. Proceeds from souvenir and raffle ticket sales are invested in worthy causes in the community. Last year, OISFT gave back $7,500 to local organizations, including Ocracoke Child Care, the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department, Ocracats, Ocracoke Youth Center, Ocracoke School’s Sigma Willis Memorial Scholarship, Ocracoke Girl and Boy Scouts, Ocracoke Athletic Booster Club, Ocracoke United Methodist Church and Ocracoke Assembly of God.
Results are as follows:
First place overall - Delaware Mobile Surf Fishermen, 89 points
Team members Keith Schmierer, John Meade, Tim Wallace, Steve Merrick, Andy Twardus and Barry Brittingham.
Second place overall - North Carolina Beach Buggy Association, 60 points
Team members: Harry Nash, Pam Smith, Frances Kennedy, Al Adams, Jeff Lukens and Bill Smith.
Third place overall - Team Advanced Fishing, 51 points
Team Members: Ryan White, Stanley Steeley, Gale Johnson, Scott Miller, Rolland Johnson, Tony Chirio
First place female team - Showstoppers, 51 points
Hazel Basnight, Judy Mullen, Karen Graf, Virginia Perlot, Karen Busciglio and Anne Greene
Second place female team - Fish Tales, 20 points
Team members: Dawn Fenyak, Cheryl Boyd, Jayne Loesch, Jan Woolridge, Kathy Stowe and Summer Bracher
Third place female team - Sam & Omie’s Different Drummers, 19 points
Team members: Shelley Rollison, Bess Pace, Joni M Idgett, Ruth Arnold, Terry Brown, Debbie Harrison, Judy Waitts.
Largest Fish
Male - Bill SMith, 30 ¼ - inch red drum, NC Beach Buggy Association, caught at station 68
Female, Karen Busciglio, 18 ¾ - inch bluefish, Showstoppers, station 53
Most Fish
Male: Stan Steeley, Team Advanced Fishing, 10 fish
Female: Virginia Perlot, Showstoppers, 3 fish (ten points)
Session winners
First: Merchantville Fishing Club, 19 points
Second: Delaware Mobile Surf Fishing, 77 points
Third: Showstoppers, 40 points
Fourth: NC Beach Buggy Association, 47 points
Total fish
Thursday morning: 69 fish, 220 points scored
Thursday afternoon: 81 fish, 262 points
Friday morning: 113 fish, 440 points
Friday afternoon: 40 fish, 113 points
Total: 303 fish, 1,035 points