Salt Life Bluewater Tournament Preview

The second stop of Sport Fishing Championship Series is set to be a thriller. Hosted by the
Northeast Florida Marlin Association (NEFMA) out of St. Augustine in Camachee Cove, the Salt
Life Blue Water Tournament will feature Atlantic Teams competing for a spot in the Zane Grey
Championship Playoffs. Pre-tournament events took place on Wednesday, May 8th, and the
action begins on May 9th, continuing on the 10th, 11th and 12th. Boats can launch out of St.
Augustine or Mayport Inlet and will fish two of the four days hunting Billfish and Meat Fish
(Mahi, Tuna, Wahoo).

After besting the other boats with the largest yellowfin tuna and claiming Gamefish Division
winner in 2023, Four Reels returns this year seeking another victory. Curt Englert runs a family
operation and is teamed up with his sons, Hayden and Harrison, and family friend, Hunter. These
four anglers expect to be standing on the podium again, and nothing less. But this year, they’ll be
chasing after blue marlin. Four Reels is a dangerous contender in this tournament.

Team Fullabull is another boat to keep an eye on this go around. Last year, they finished second
in the Gamefish Division with a mahi mahi. This boat is gunning hard for first place, so expect to
see them put up big numbers at the weigh-in.

The Salt Life Blue Water Tournament features a non-traditional competitive pool, as there are a
significantly higher number of center consoles that will be fishing, along with a solid mix of
sport fishers. Seeing so many center consoles release blue marlin while competing with the
larger vessels is truly going to be a special sight. A center console bringing home the biggest
blue marlin would be even more exceptional.

Fishing reports have been rolling in to the NEFMA club. In the last ten days, center consoles
caught and released five marlin. Sport fishers released five as well. Mahi mahi are showing up
early and in numbers, with 150 reported fish hitting the scales since April. Expect to see a solid
number of blue marlin and big mahi mahi on the scales this weekend.

Sunshine and warm temperatures are in the forecast and may seem appealing at first glance, but don’t be fooled. Reports show the offshore conditions are pretty sporty, and NOAA predicts wind speeds of 8 mph-16 mph with gusts up to 24 mph. Friday yields the risk of severe thunderstorms, so it’s likely that many boats will opt not to fish on May 10th.

As the Salt Life Blue Water Tournament unfolds in St. Augustine, anticipation is high for an epic
showdown. Seasoned contenders like Four Reels and Team Fullabull are vying for victory, and
the intriguing mix of center consoles in the competition promise excitement. Despite challenging
ocean conditions and the looming threat of severe weather, anglers remain undeterred in their
search for the big one. With the start of the tournament approaching, all eyes are on these
competitors, eagerly anticipating the weigh-ins as the action unfolds.

Media Contacts:
Courtney Hueston
Director of Marketing
305-335-2613
courtney@sportfishingchampionship.com