b"'Old No. 7' Notches Derby Victory in Rough SeasS ome traditions comeleasing 9 sailfish aboard their and go, while others42 Invincible. Angler Rudy last a lifetime. FishingEspinosa of Miami posted in the Silver Sailfish Derby5 of those releases, grabbing at the height of the sailfishTop Daily Angler honors on season in early January isDay 2.This brought team a tradition the sport fishing'Remix to a 12 fish tourna-community has not let wane.ment total and an honorable The 83 rdrunning of the Derby4 thplace finish overall.Capt. sold out with 50 boats regis- Paul Sabayrac of Jupiter, tered. Strong easterly windsand his team aboard 'Goin produced extremely roughRaptor', would also post 9 sea conditions that tested thereleases Day 2. They toughed fleets resilience. Seasoned an- out the wintertime conditions glers, crews and professionalin a 34 Venture center console captains cleared Palm Beachto become the Top Small Boat, Inlet with high hopes and full foul weather gear to competea noteworthy title in angry white capping seas, finish-for some of the most highly coveted awards in tournamenting up with 11 releases overall. The 'Goin Raptor' crew sailfishing.It would be an epic experience for the teammanaged to tag 8 of their 11 fish to claim Top Tag Team aboard the 'Old No. 7'. honors as well.The first day of fishing in the 2020 Silver Sailfish DerbyCapt. Jamie Ralph and the 'Old No. 7' bested the fleet started off with a triple header on the 'Southern Ground',with 11 releases on the last day to claim Top Daily Boat; with angler Callum Parrott releasing the first sailfishthe crews tournament accolades would not stop there. In of the tournament. Capt. Art Sapp and the 'Native Son'the last 2 hours of fishing, they were neck and neck with team released 9 sails to take Top Daily Boat honors. Capt.Native Son and the Day Sea at 13 releases, until a pod of Wink Doerzbacher of the 'Tangled', andsails swam into their four-line spread. Capt. Ben Sharpe of the 'Day Sea', both2020 Rea Trophy winner Capt. Jamie, Austin Musselman, John posted 7 releases to fill in the 2 ndand 3 rd Robert Desmond Duval, Billy Bryan, Dane Ralph, Nick place spots on the leaderboard. The biteCardella, Chris Hayward and Travis started strong for a few participants, diedMcMillan would capitalize on the op-out a bit, and turned back on again in theportunity and put their collective skills to afternoon before lines out at 4pm. Robertgood use. Four fish were leadered by the Desmond of Palm Beach, fishing aboardcrew, successfully releasing a quad when the 'Day Sea', a 48 Viking, had 5 releasesit mattered most. Having posted 6 fish on on Day 1 to claim the Top Daily AnglerDay 1, they totaled 17 releases overall to trophy. Angling skill was truly tested onclaim their spot in the sailfishing history the sporty waters. At the tournament'sbooks as the winners of the 83 rdannual conclusion, Capt. Ben and crew would tallySilver Sailfish Derby. The win was espe-13 releases, finishing 3rd overall, and thecially momentous for Capt. Jamie Ralph 'Native Son'would claim 2nd place overalland John Duval, who together have been with 14 releases. chasing a Derby victory for over a dozen The second and final day of the Derbyyears. The crew celebrated with a cham-would produce 20 morepagne shower after back-fish than the previous day,2020 Derby by the Numbers: ing their 62 Titan into as the fleet recorded 132the slip at Sailfish Marina. sails.Another howlingNumber of Boats Registered for Derby = 50 Fellow participants, fam-morning with persistentSea Condition = 8 to 12 foot seas (occasionally higher) ily members and marina east winds would greetNumbers of boats that Fished Day 1 = 45 guests gathered to con-crews headed out, fortu- Number of boats that fished Day 2 = 40 gratulate the crew on their nately, during an incom- Total Sailfish Released = 244 esteemed accomplishment.ing tide. Capt. JC CleareTotal Sailfish Tagged = 31 The Derbys top angler and the Pelagic team onAnglers Releasing One or More Sailfish = 113 award is the coveted Mrs. the 'Remix' would catchFleet Catch Per Unit of Effort = 2.87 Sailfish per boat/day Henry R. Rea trophy, a three times as many fishNumber of donuts consumed during Derby = 168 magnificent silver sailfish as they did on Day 1, re- Rum Drinks Ordered at Sailfish Marina Tiki = Too Many to Count sculpture that dates back 26 W estP almB eachF ishingc luB"