MERCURY CHEECA REDBONE TOURNAMENT RESULTS
See Tournament Results
One hundred and thirty-four anglers caught and released 173 redfish and 68 bonefish in the two day Mercury Outboard's Cheeca/Redbone Tournament. Mo Smith took eight bonefish on Day One and then five reds on Day Two, all on bait, to pile up 1,850 points and the victory with Capt. Mark Krowka. George Proenza finished up second, picking off 6 reds on jigs and 4 bones on bait for 1,450 points. Capt. Brian Helms, recent winner of the Baybone guided Proenza. Capt. Rich Tudor assisted Troy Pruitt from Naples to 6 bones and 2 reds for 925 points and third.
Other highlights of the Redbone were: Celebrity Grand Champion Angler, brilliant artist Jorge Martinez with Capt. Bou Bousso (ironically, Martinez won back his own artwork). Grand Champion Lady Angler was Linda Denkert poled by husband Capt. Dave Denkert. Team Grand Champions were John Timura and George Proenza and Capt. Brian Helms. Adam Vasquez won the Spin/Plug Division Title with Capt. Chris Jones. Fly Division Winner was Bob Rich and Capt. Rusty Albury. Most Redfish Releases went to IGFA's Mike Myatt and Capt. Larry Sydnor. Mo Smith claimed Most Bonefish Releases.
Stiff North/Northeast breezes at 20 miles per hour plus, kept fish numbers down for most of the field. The winds slightly subsided for the Florida Keys Outfitters Redbone Superfly, also combining redfish and bonefish but squeezing it into a one day fly only contest. Mo Smith again prevailed, whipping 5 bonefish while also having 5 others inexplicably fall off even after pulling drag. He was backed by Capt. Mark Krowka. The affable Joe Viar grabbed second with 3 redfish, teamed up with Capt. Andy Thompson.
The Sunday evening awards banquet quickly turned into the "Mo Smith Show". To celebrate the 20th anniversary of this charity event, Smith from Cordova, Tennessee, established some significant angling history. He became the first to win both the Superfly Series (which he also won last year) and the Redbone Celebrity Series in the same year. Each Series is made up of the SLAM in Key West, a tarpon, bonefish and permit shootout, The Baybone in Key Largo for bonefish and permit, then the finale, The Redbone for redfish and bonefish in Islamorada. Smith walked with eight trophies, including a pair of Rolexes (one stainless steel for Redbone itself and the other platinum for the Series win).
His road to the Winner's Circle was far from direct. He had been scheduled to back up primary angler Kal Blumberg, the 2004 Series Champ. Kal's brother, Joe became suddenly ill and desperately needed a liver transplant. Kal was a perfect match to give two-thirds of his liver, so life-saving surgery was performed. Happily, both the Blumberg's are recovering perfectly. On short notice, Smith enlisted the help of Frank Delucas, a former Superfly Series Champion himself.
Kals' liver was not the only organ donated by a Redbone participant. Over the past 20 years, countless anglers, guides, sponsors and volunteers have contributed their hearts to help find the cure for Cystic Fibrosis. The directors of the Redbone, Gary and Susan Ellis have a beautiful daughter, Nicole now 23, who has CF. When they began their quest to help Nicole, the life expectancy of a CF child was 13 years old. It is now 37! That' still not good enough. While there are over 27 Redbone affiliated tournaments per year throughout the continents, the millions of dollars that have been raised by these events, still has not brought a cure. The money has aided the CF Foundation to produce 30 drugs to help treat the disease (more than any drug company). For more information please contact Gary or Susan Ellis at 305-664-2002 or e-mail WWW.REDBONE.ORG.
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| Redbone Celebrity, Miami Dolphin quarterback, John Beck releasing a redfish |
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(L-R) Guide to Grand Champion Angler, Capt. Mark Krowka
Scott Beatie of Mercury Marine
Grand Champion Angler, Mo Smith receiving his rolex watch
Tournament Founder, Gary Ellis |
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