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View Full Version : Tournament report - St. Pete Open 2007

SpearMax
08-19-2007, 05:12 PM
Wow, wow and more wow!...........This year's St. Pete OPen tournament was simply great fun! I had a wonderful time as I have in the past times I have competed in the this legendary tournament for several years. I have lots of friends in the St. Pete Underwater Club which is the organization that puts on the SPO. It was great to see these good people face-to-face instead of communicating behind keyboards. A highlight for me was being invited to join some of the SPUC leaders for dinner Satuday night by Denny O'Hern, Scott Hooker, Scott Weber and their wives and some of their friends. We in the Spearfishing community need to share good conversation in relaxed social settings more often. It really is "chicken soup for the soul." Thanks for that special time Denny, Scott and Scott.

Now, on to the tournament report. The SPO 2007 attracted shooters from all over and a good time was had by all. There were no incidents, accidents, or controversies that I heard about. I wish to congratulate out-going SPUC president Scott Hooker and his team for a very smoothly run event that was most enjoyable. Good job guys and ladies who helped make the event so successful!

The top 21 winners are shown below. The SPO is "Big Fish" tournament, so a contestant's trip to the prize table is determined by fish size in the various fish categories. There were 196 shooters who weighed in fish (after subtracting 34 mystery tickets on the shooter ranking list). That is a great turnout and everyone was able to make it to the massive prize table. Some people made it up there many times. Even the guy in last place named Robert Barnes in the bottom of the list shown below got a great prize!

I won a valuable speargun and a lobster bag myself. At the SPO, everyone gets prizes and the top 3 winners in each fish category get trophies. I was able to get second place in the grouper category which surprised me. I am so happy for the great guy that edged me out named Jason DeLaCruz. It was definitely stimulating watching that Billy Howell Ford leaderboard for hours on Saturday night!

NOTE - if I missed someone's photo, please accept my apology as I was not at the camera at all times. This is the best I could do for this field report. Thanks.
SpearMax
08-19-2007, 05:34 PM
Here are some crowd shots at the awards ceremony:
SpearMax
08-19-2007, 05:38 PM
Here are the first place winners in the fish categories in a group shot.
SpearMax
08-19-2007, 05:43 PM
Here is the top winner of the whole tournament Jason Delacruz who weighed in a 63 pound grouper that beat my 59.85 pound grouper leaving me in second place for that fish category. SPUC President Scott Hooker is shown presenting Jason his trophy. Congratulations again Jason! You do good work to preserve spearfishing. I am happy for you man!
SpearMax
08-19-2007, 05:47 PM
Here are more fish category winners.
SpearMax
08-19-2007, 05:52 PM
Trophies galore!
SpearMax
08-19-2007, 06:00 PM
More Glass!
SpearMax
08-19-2007, 06:03 PM
Congratulations to all the trophy winners!
SpearMax
08-19-2007, 06:06 PM
The following won special prizes sponsored by specific companies for women and junior shooters.
SpearMax
08-19-2007, 06:11 PM
This group of big prizes given out near the end of the awards ceremony were drawn from special tickets given for fish categories weighed-in.
SpearMax
08-19-2007, 06:14 PM
More
SpearMax
08-19-2007, 06:25 PM
Lastly, one of the best moments for me was watching this young lady who is an SPO volunteer donate the speargun she won to a live on-the-spot auction called out by Denny O'Hern. She is not a spearfisher woman and wanted to sell the gun and give the proceeds to the REEF Foundation as I recall. They are the group that has the "fish counters" program I often run into on charter boats. The young man in the photo who won the bidding paid over $300 for the gun which will find its way to this worthwhile charity involved in preserving the ocean we all love. Other beneficiaries of the spearfishing community's generosity included the FRA who generated over $1,000 through the raffle of one of Ken Jones "Death Stick" spearguns. Good on everyone that participated!
diverlen
08-20-2007, 05:26 AM
Tony, I cannot give you enough accolades for your efforts in reporting the SPO results. And of course, super congratulations of your 2nd place in the grouper category. And lastly but not leastly, always being the gentleman that you are.
Old Bateman
08-20-2007, 05:39 AM
Great report Tony! I felt like I was there. Congrats to you and all the other contestants.
HeadHunter
08-20-2007, 06:43 AM
Nice report Tony. Congrats to JBY for the overall win, sweet fish. Congrats to you also Tony....a 59 LB Warsaw ain't too bad at all!
Denny
08-20-2007, 08:25 AM
Great report, Tony!
And I truly enjoyed having dinner and conversation with you on Saturday night. People are always welcome to join us at the table and I guess I did not recognize the significance of asking you to join us, it just seemed like the thing to do.
I would have lovved to stay and party with you all longer but, being an old man, I hit my wall a little earlier than I used to.
Mobile Diver
08-20-2007, 09:22 AM
Damn nice pics & report, Tony!! Congrats to all the winners!:thumps:
dagodiver
08-20-2007, 10:30 AM
Congrats everyone.!
Nice putting some faces to names.
Great talking with everyone.!


Dago.
mamulan
08-20-2007, 03:58 PM
Question: The pic of the guy who won the Riffe...what model Riffe gun is that? Kinda looks like a mid-handle Riffe Euro....?
SpearMax
08-20-2007, 04:22 PM
Question: The pic of the guy who won the Riffe...what model Riffe gun is that? Kinda looks like a mid-handle Riffe Euro....?

I think the gun you are referring to is in post #11 and has yellow line on a reel. I believe that gun is their Euro Series gun shown at this link:

http://www.speargun.com/spearguns.html

I believe Jay Riffe modified that particular gun for scuba style shooting prevalent in the Gulf of Mexico, but I could be wrong. You might want to contact Riffe directly.
Doc
08-20-2007, 06:36 PM
Congrads on the Warsaw Tony. Its not easy making IT happen on tourney day!
SpearMax
08-20-2007, 08:14 PM
Congrads on the Warsaw Tony. Its not easy making IT happen on tourney day!

Thanks Doc! I wish these fish would behave and be there when all of us tell them to. LOL ;)

Oh well.........that's the story of the best laid plans for spearfishing!:slap:
mamulan
08-21-2007, 08:53 AM
I think the gun you are referring to is in post #11 and has yellow line on a reel. I believe that gun is their Euro Series gun shown at this link:

http://www.speargun.com/spearguns.html

I believe Jay Riffe modified that particular gun for scuba style shooting prevalent in the Gulf of Mexico, but I could be wrong. You might want to contact Riffe directly.

I think you're right about that gun's modification...pretty sure the mid-handle Euro style Riffe isn't on the market. Noticed the difference right away because I own a 110 Eurostyle & always thought that a 120 mid-handle would just about perfect that gun...and there it was!!! I WILL be contacting Riffe directly...that particular gun isn't on the site.

BTW, great pix & congrats on the warsaw! I just moved out here (Tarpon Springs) & hope to host some of the boys from back home's Marianas Underwater Fishing Federation in SPO '08. Looks like a great time! :thumps:
Chad Carney
08-21-2007, 10:52 AM
Congratulations Jason, and all the winners!

Chad
florfreediver
08-21-2007, 12:56 PM
I think you're right about that gun's modification...pretty sure the mid-handle Euro style Riffe isn't on the market.

Hi mamulan,
The extended Riffe Euro guns are available in the market place.

They are available in all sizes except for the Euro 120.

These guns use exactly the same part number as the standard Euros, except it has an X on the end. eg E-110X

The suggested retail price is $12 more than the standard model in the same length.

Regards,
Mike