Oregon Tuna Classic
Five tuna caught by one of the teams in the Oregon Tuna Classic are ready to be weighed Saturday afternoon on the dock at The Mill Casino-Hotel. The teams fished off the coast from the Charleston Marina.
Thirty-seven teams caught 4,045 pounds of tuna last Saturday during the third leg of the tournament in Charleston, and food banks along the South Coast can also expect an additional 2,100 pounds of fish that were donated.
With great crowds and decent weather to greet the fishermen, Charleston Port Manager Jim Pex thought the tournament went well.
“Outstanding, actually. It was a pretty booming event,” he said. “There were people all up and down the boat basin.
“The weather wasn’t perfect, but it was fishable.”
He added that it was a great time for the fishermen, with some traveling from as far as Washington, Idaho and Utah to compete.
“They love coming to Charleston. They (spectators) treat them like little celebrities,” Pex said. “Fishermen love that.”
The winner last Saturday was team Wildcat, which reeled in 131.10 pounds of tuna, along with the biggest fish, which weighed in at 33 pounds. Chillabit came in second with 124.15 pounds, followed by Gales Creek Tuna Gafers with 118.45 pounds.
One local team has experienced great success throughout the three legs of the Oregon Tuna Classic. Green Lightning Laundry took eighth place with 115.5 pounds of tuna caught off the shores of Charleston, but they hold second place in the overall standings after second- and third-place finishes in Ilwaco, Wash., and Newport respectively.
“I decided well, it would be halfway decent if I sponsored a team and got my business name out there,” said Case Harris, the team’s captain and owner of Green Lightning Laundry, which is a newer local business.
“Having fun was always my first priority,” he said.
Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to fish as much as he hoped. He broke his arm while trying to get his boat fixed and didn’t get to take part in the tournament until the Charleston leg.
“I’m still in a bright green cast, fittingly enough,” Harris said.
He said the team went on without him for the first two weekends and have fared much better than expected.
“They went up and borrowed Don Hines’ big, beautiful boat, and all of a sudden we’re in third place,” Harris said, referring to the opening tournament in Newport.
Harris extended thanks for the help they’ve received from Captain Fred Archer.
“He’s developed some tackle,” Harris said. “I think it’s increased our chances.”
Harris’ team will head to Garibaldi next weekend to vie for the top prize, which has a lot riding on it this year. For the first time, the winner of the Oregon Tuna Classic will qualify for the 2011 International Game Fish Association Offshore World Championship – an esteemed tournament held in Los Cabos, Mexico.
But Green Lightning Laundry will have to beat out Just Keep Fishing, which holds the top spot in the standings, and hold off Gales Creek Tuna Gafers, which sits in third place after their podium finish in Charleston. Just Keep Fishing has 370 points as of this week, and Green Lightning Laundry is close behind with 350.
“One of these three or four teams will end up at the IGFA tournament,” Harris said. “I’m thrilled. Like I said, I’m just in it for the fun.”
Harris only hopes he can make the trip. He’s still waiting to see what his doctor wants to do about his broken arm.
“I’m still pretty limited. I can’t get the thing wet,” he said of his cast. “I’m definitely the first in line to hightail it up (U.S. Highway) 101,” he said.
Results:
Charleston
Saturday, Aug. 14
Total weight, in pounds:
1. Wildcat 131.10; 2. Chillabit 124.15; 3. Gales Creek Tuna Gafers 118.45; 4. See Ya 118.25; 5. Just Keep Fishing 118.05; 6. Bad To The Bone 117.5; 7. Bad Ass Tuna 116.3; 8. Green Lightning Laundry 115.5; 9. G-Loomis 115.2; 10. Eat Me Lures 114.45; 11. Tia Maria/Amtech 114.05; 12. Offshore Adventures 113.35; 13. Joe Joe 113.05; 14. Gangfishkhan 112.90; 15. Pro Fish N Sea 112.90; 16. Sea Wolf 111.45; 17. Sterling Bank/Time Out 110.95; 18. Allstate#2 110.55; 19. Ma’ Honey 110.25;
20. Tuna Jihad 109.9; 21. Albacore Section 109.5; 22. Tuna Tanglers 109.30; 23. Pera Linn 108.85; 24. Engage 108.75; 25. Tuna Tunite 108.3; 26. No Bail 106.85; 27. Dogs of War 106.60; 28. Crow 105.40; 29. Reel Crazy 103.75; 30. Pro Sport Center 101.45; 31. Sallysea 100.00; 32. Deuces Wild 99.55; 33. Black Bolt 99.30; 34. Federablies 98.25; 35. Allstate#1 97.10; 36. T-Acres 90.55; 37. Called In Sick 83.35.
Biggest fish — Wildcat 33.
Overall tournament results with IGFA points (top 10 only):
1. Just Keep Fishing 370; 2. Green Lightning Laundry 350; 3. Gales Creek Tuna Gaffers 271; 4. Chillabit 261; 5. Wildcat 239; 6. Diawa Bad To The Bone 200; 7. Engage 186; 8. G-Loomis 164; 9. Eat Me Lures 150; 10. See Ya 144.
How many teams where there in all four tournament’s combined ?
I was on the Eat Me Lures team.
Is it possible to still purchase tuna?
From Webmaster: Check with Chucks Seafood in Charleston or the Sportsman Cannery in Winchester bay.