Charlie Fricke of Cudjoe Key, captain of the charter boat Squid Row, captured a 40.8-pound dolphin fish to win first place in the Cudjoe Gardens Dolphin Tournament that ended June 6.
Fricke caught the bull dolphin using a ballyhoo rig constructed by his own company, boating the fish after a 20-minute fight.
“I fish the contours, so we were at a 600-foot contour where the ocean drops off, where we’ve been successful many times,” said Fricke.
Second place in the open division went to Jimmy Johnson of Cudjoe Key for a 34.95-pound catch. He fished aboard the Double J.
Cudjoe Key angler Ernie Pennente took third place, scoring a 32.1-pound catch while fishing on the Fin Reaper.
Donna Hart of Cudjoe Key took first place in the women’s division, catching a 26.65-pound dolphin, while Cudjoe Key angler Dan Van Wormer led the senior division with a dolphin weighing 19.95 pounds.
Winner of the junior division was Alex Walker of Summerland Key, Fla., with a 23.3-pound catch.
Organized by Cudjoe Key’s Pirate Wellness Center, the tournament drew 104 anglers who fished from 24 boats and caught approximately 150 dolphin.By: Andy Newman/Carol Shaughnessy
