Nationals - Weigh In Photos

[kitefisherman]

Here's a short photo essay of the weigh in that ended about an hour ago.

Let me start first by saying that you won't be seeing these photos in any magazines. None of them were posed (for me anyway), and they may not be the most flattering of the contestant or the fish. All were caught on the fly in the hustle of the weigh in. I think that I can confidently say that better photos will follow. These are just posted in the interest of timeliness.

Leading off is Chad Palan with a nice stringer of jacks. I think that Chad only weighed about 5 fish, but I think that he scored pretty high. Speedy looking on in the background.

[deepdown]

Damn joh, that was quick... Just got home myself. I'm beat and my legs feel like noodles.

Congrats to Ryan Moore for kicking some SERIOUS ass!

Gerald

[kitefisherman]

Sheri and her stringer with Juan Cabrera who did a great job as weighmaster.

[kitefisherman]

Brandon with a nice stringer

[kitefisherman]

Stoker!

[kitefisherman]

Ryan Moore with a picture that doesn't do his stringer justice. I heard a rumor that this was Ryan's first nationals and that he finished 3rd overall.

[kitefisherman]

Ryan with his big carbo (I want to say 27 pounds, but it might have been more). This was the biggest fish of the National that I recall.

Ryan had a big day. I also heard that his team (with Brandon and Ritchie Zacker) finished first. Remember, this is all unofficial.

In any event, I am happy for Ryan. I had never met him before, but he is a real nice guy and immediately likeable. Way to go!

[kitefisherman]

Daryl with a nice black

[SpearMax]

Thanks Kite! Boarders in Cali have been asking what happened. I was there for the launch early this morning, but could not make the weigh-in. I realize your report is unofficial. ;)

[kitefisherman]

JC (Spearooo) with his stringer that appears to include a nice hog. Everytime that I called his name to face me, he would look directly at me and then swing his fish to the side. :D This was a shot in frustration. I almost threw my camera at him. If this is a bad picture - then good! :D

Deepdown looking on over the MC's head in the background.

[deepdown]

Here are a few from my camera...

[kitefisherman]

Gerald: I looked for you after the weigh in, but you were gone. Maybe I'll see you at the Expo tomorrow?

[kitefisherman]

Here's a two part photo of John Bettua. The crowd cheered when the old man finally managed to lift his stringer :D

[kitefisherman]

Speedy and his stringer

[kitefisherman]

A poor shot of a poor shot. This hog was shot awhile back and tore off the shaft - see the tear behind the dorsal fin (not my handiwork. :D). Any way the rather large wound completely healed. I'm sure that a better shot of this fish will be posted by someone else later.

That's all folks . . .

[deepdown]

Here one of bucket's, brando's and ryan's stringer on the deck.

Pretty impressive what they pulled of with a full 2 days of scouting.

[kitefisherman]

Pretty impressive what they pulled of with a full 2 days of scouting.

. . . and how many nights of drinking? :D

[deepdown]

I was one of the first weighed. After that I was behind the commision table... I'll see you tomorrow at the expo.

[Im1chunkymunky]

i observed brando's, ryan's, and ritchie's boat....what an awesome team of divers, as well as cool guys to spend the day with! capt. jason knows his shit too!! :P haha thats you JAW

[kitefisherman]

I wish that I could have posted a picture of me drinking a beer with G.R. Tarr. Unfortunately, G.R. is recovering from shoulder surgery and wasn't able to make it. I hope that his shoulder heals quickly and that he is back in the water soon. We missed you G.R. Also I hope the painkillers kick in soon . . .

[rigdvr]

heres a pic of GR right after surgery...

Get well soon.

So far it sounds as if we might have a controversy free nationals!

[JAW]

It was closer to 5 or six total hours of scouting. We couldn't wake up before noon :toast:

JAson

[kitefisherman]

So far it sounds as if we might have a controversy free nationals!

The Longfins did a great job hosting this event! I think part of any potential controversy might have been avoided by their wise decision to not include grey triggerfish on the fish list. The size limit on grey triggers was increased to 12" fork as of 19 days ago (previously it was 12" overall). I would have hated to see what might have happened if a number of competitors had been DQed as a result of shooting fish that would have been legal last month.

Congratulations also to JAW also on captaining the unofficially winning boat. Jason, I'm sorry that we didn't get a chance to meet or talk. From what I've seen lately, you are an exceptional spearfisherman in your own right. Definitely a job well done!

[Hector]

Great post Kite, I was wondering what had gone on with nationals. Hope to see and meet a bunch of you guys tommorow. Congrats guys
Hector

[fish til udrown]

Ryan with his big carbo (I want to say 27 pounds, but it might have been more). This was the biggest fish of the National that I recall.

Ryan had a big day. I also heard that his team (with Brandon and Ritchie Zacker) finished first. Remember, this is all unofficial.

In any event, I am happy for Ryan. I had never met him before, but he is a real nice guy and immediately likeable. Way to go!

28.6 I believe, but it was a team effort in the end. I cant even begin to say how excited and shocked we are, for less then 8 hours of scouting we have no complaints! I'm tiered as hell so im gunna go relax for awhile see you all at the expo tomorrow!! :thumps:

-Ryan Moore

[Screen Name]

Congratulations also to JAW also on captaining the unofficially winning boat. Jason, I'm sorry that we didn't get a chance to meet or talk. From what I've seen lately, you are an exceptional spearfisherman in your own right. Definitely a job well done!

You got a big Roj on that, John. Jason is an outstanding diver, outstanding boatman, outstanding fisherman, and outstanding individual.

Congrats to all the participants. We are anxious to hear the official results.

I think it is pretty awesome that team CaliFlorida did so well!

[Rolo]

No protests, no deaths and big fish...looks like everyone was a winner. Congrats to all who competited.

[RabiSpear]

Congrats, Ryan and Brandon! I'm glad to see that you picked up Ritchie's slack :) Ryan, one more to win next week!

[RichT]

Thanks for the Great pictures and commentary Kite!
Congratulations to Ryan, Brandon and My boy RZ for gittin er done!! :thumps:

[frogman]

Nice report, Kite!
I drove team Mass Freedivers boat (Geist, Turgeon, Bueno). The conditions were spectacular! You could see fish and reef at 60 fsw! FROM THE BOAT! It was killing me not to be able to grab the gun and dive (and DQ the team :D ). We did pretty well as a team with Andrew Geist scoring highest. We will see the official results tonight!
I believe Mike Hickey (a local spearo with Palm Beach Freedivers originally from S. Africa) won first (unofficially). Mike is a great guy who has three kids and a "fourth one in the oven" :beer: waiting for him at the weigh-in. Congratulations, Mike!!! :thumps:
Congratulations to Bucket's team. Rich is a super nice guy that I met yesterday (I don't care what the rest of you say :D )! Awesome job for the first place team. :thumps:
"Team Extreme" did very well too. May be 2nd or 3rd. I am not sure. A lot of quality fish (blacks, big hogs, snappers, etc.) :thumps:
Finally, even if Mike got first, Ryan had the most "quality" stringer with the big black, some big snappers and hogs. Great job. Ryan! The future is WIDE open for you!!!

[fish til udrown]

You got a big Roj on that, John. Jason is an outstanding diver, outstanding boatman, outstanding fisherman, and outstanding individual.

Congrats to all the participants. We are anxious to hear the official results.

I think it is pretty awesome that team CaliFlorida did so well!


JASON IS THE MAN!! (not to mention the guy hasn't slept in 3 days and weve been draging him around for the last 2 days anyways) we couldnt have done as well with any other boatman, he was right on top of the situation dropping us the right spots in the current and not wasting any time when we had fish on, not to mention our observer Justin is an awesome kid and while doing his job was alot of fun to have on the boat!

Congrats to all and I look forward to seeing you all at the expo and banquet!

-Ryan Moore

[apexpredator]

My wife Mandy (Schoolie) and I dove the nationals as well and had a great time. We brought two GPS units with us and somehow we left them both in the car. We were limited to spots that we knew how to navigate to using only landmarks. In the end I managed a pretty respectable stringer although several fish that day were granted amnesty due to my less than perfect aim. Mandy managed a very nice cero a good hog and a chunky black margate. Being that this was her first competition and one of her few open ocean dives I was very proud of her efforts and results. It seems that we may have either won or placed in the mixed team division. Our goals that day were to enjoy ourselves, spend some time together, meet some of the people we read about, be safe and take home some memories. To add a trophy to all of that is more than we could have hoped for. Thanks to the longfins for putting together such a great event. Congratulations to all of the divers and see you guys at the banquet.

PS if anyone got any pictures of Mandy and me please forward them to me if you could. The GPS is not the only thing we left in the car and it would be nice to have a few images as a keepsake of our participation in the event. Thanks in advance

[primalpete]

did anyone get an cobia?

[FISH_KILLER]

I have a bunch of pics, not many good ones though. They are on my Photobucket account. http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n58/ExtremeDivers/

I got some pictures in the begining and started getting some at the end, I never thought to take many while we were on the boat.

[westpalmspearo]

how did you like that start apex.. we were right behind ya in the walkaround video tapin carlos-the observer- holdin on for his life

[sbh]

Sort of a repeat post from another thread, but thanks for everyone posting to keep those of us who couln't be there informed. Great Job Extremedivers! I gott say I'm impressed John and Speedy! Wish I could have made it down there.
Brent Harris
Port Saint Lucie Extremediver

[Spearo_Fla]

Cobia are pretty rare in the summer in Ft. Lauderdale waters primal.

I finished 5th and Extreme Team finished 5th.

[apexpredator]

how did you like that start apex.. we were right behind ya in the walkaround video tapin carlos-the observer- holdin on for his life
That was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. It was like a washing machine in there with waves coming from every direction. Most of them were four with the ocassional six footer mixed in to keep us on our toes. Funniest part was that we were in the front of the pack when the horn sounded and as soon as the go-fast boats got cranked up their wake made us reconsider our foolhearty aspirations of being one of the first ones out of the port. If you have a copy of that vid I would love to see it or get a copy from you. BTW if you (or anyone else) have Carlos' phone number please send it to me in a PM. Carlos was a pleasure to have on the boat and we spoke about getting out sometime soon and poking a few fish. Somehow my cell did not take the entry and I lost the number. Thanks in advance to anyone that can help with that. Also my quest for good weigh in pics or the pics Carlos got of us on the boat goes on. The longfins got one of my stringer but half of the fish were cropped out.

[deepdown]

yeah, I hear you on the stringer shot, my stringer looked lame, but it was pretty phat... Oh well, shit happens.

[westpalmspearo]

I Need His Number To I Was Just To Busy With Shootin Video When I Was There And Didnt Even Think About It

[spearfishkingPV]

YEA, THOSE ARE MY BOYS!!!! BRANDON AND RYAN, TEAM BLUE WATER MILITIA BITCHES!!!WOWOOWWOO!!! LA Fathomier Locals!!Cant wait till you guys come back home. I owe you guys a beer, CONGRAGULATION TO ALL!!...Alright!

[Spearooo]

The level of competition was freaking insane. Congratulations to all the competitors on a job well done. In my book going out and entering even 1 fish means that person made the effort. The tournament zone was in my opinion not the most productive of areas by any strech. Bone days are not uncommon. The whole tournament was almost magical. From the start, the water was cristal clear, and it seemed fishy. To see how everybody involved, stepped it up, by this I mean almost all fish brought to the scales were well beyond the rec limits, was inspiring. Law enforcement was also great. I think this type of event really migth sway public opinion, if even just a bit. Bottom line spearfishers know fish best, and it can involve all generations in good clean fun in a time when youth could use better pass times. Fishless areas are a reality and they got that way, not by us but by, lets see maybe Lobbiest and whack job Dr.s who represent big intrest like shimpers, long liners, purse netter, and big sugar to name a few migth have something to do w/it. Who do they blame, us. No hog fish? my fish seemed like guppies once the first competitor antied up. I was pretty happy w/the Hog hog that was pushing 7lbs and a punny 16lbs black.
Congrats to all involved especially.
Mike H. & Blue Water Militia. ( Brando, Bucket, Ryan)
You guys are Gorrillas theres nothing else to say. I bow down... :thumps:

[westpalmspearo]

yeah that was a nice big hog but there were deffinatley a couple brought to the weigh in
that shouldnt have. and congrats to the blue water militia because i know when we ran north we started on the same ledge and the vis was far from crystal and they still won it.

[NOTANX]

I think we may have gotten some video of the boats leaving down the inteercoastal in the begining. apex, were you in that little grey boat? i thought that boat was going down!
shane burns

[apexpredator]

apex, were you in that little grey boat? i thought that boat was going down!
shane burns
Yeah that was us in the 17ft boat. That same boat is Rolo's old boat "El Cometa" and now belongs to JC (Spearooo). I know what it might look like to others but it is quite the capable little craft. It has served several of us on this board as a understated yet quite capable diving platform. After its most recent rebuild it promises to provide its new owner (and several of his friends :D) in that same capacity for years to come. If you have footage of the start I would love to see it and get a copy. Unless someone saw what it was like it is hard to describe it.

[apexpredator]

yeah that was a nice big hog but there were deffinatley a couple brought to the weigh in
that shouldnt have.
I didn't see any illegal hogs brought in although Mandy did bring one in that was 13.75" and hence it did not count torwards her total. I did miss a few of the competitors weigh in so I must admit it is possible someone might have brought in a sub-legal hogfish. I will also qualify that statement with the fact that both Mandy and I spent much of the day passing up multitudes of fish we knew were legal but were either not eligible because of their exclusion from the species list or they were not large enough to meet the legal plus standards set up for many of the species included in that same list. I think most of the competitors showed tremendous restraint and selectivity in what they collected. Think about it just one more dinky 14" margate for any of the top 3 men teams would have made the difference between 5th and 3rd place in the final team standings...pretty awesome and a testament to the level of divers that participated in the event.

[Im1chunkymunky]

ryan moore <3 cobia HAHAHAHA

[Chad Carney]

Wow, lots of fine shooting in this years Nationals, and great looking fish! Congratulations to all the winners!

I'm sorry I missed the weigh-in, and I wished I had picked up a copy of the Sun-Sentinel or the Miami Herald, since they had all the results printed on Thursday morning. I could have personally congratulated many of you at the Blue Wild seminar.

Ryan, Brandon and Ritchie, way to go taking 1st team!

Outstanding shooting Ryan, winning 3rd individual and the big fish!
And Chad, John and Brandon for finishing right on his fin tips!

Just awesome Sheri... another 1st place! (Few would have even competed with all you had on your plate.)

Chad

[singlebreath]

sweet