The third and final leg of the 2017 Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown was highlighted by perfect weather and some of the best tournament competition found anywhere in the world. Every bite counts, and could mean the difference in tens of thousands of dollars in prize money at the end of the day. Sailfish are worth 100 points but any species of marlin earns a whopping 500 points, making them even more vital to a team’s potential chances at a top-three podium finish.
Experience also goes a long way. Having won a Signature Series tournament in the past means that you know what it takes to do it again. That was the case with the family-based team on Sea Angel. Capt. BC Angel runs the boat for his father Greg and younger brother Austin, who lead the angling team in the cockpit. They did not have a stellar tournament after the first two days, catching four sails and a marlin on Day One and five sails on Day Two. But knowing that slower-than-usual fishing was the case, they headed to sea on the third and final day and found the fish. Ten sailfish and one marlin release put them on top with 2,900 points, 19 total sails and two marlin releases for the event. They earned a check for $86,000.
In second was Capt. Corey Kennington and the First Light team. They too battled their way through the 50-boat fleet to finish the event with 17 sailfish and two marlin releases and 2,700 points. They had a nail-biter on the third day, with just one marlin and one sailfish, but they hung on to pocket $51,600.
Chris and Laura Jessen faced their share of difficulties this season but hung tough to place third in the final tournament on Fish Tank. They scored 2,500 points from five sailfish and four marlin releases, including a personal grand slam for Laura Jessen on the first day of fishing. They won $34,400 for their efforts, and Jessen was the top lady angler for the series. Scott Rickert from Reel Screamer was the top overall angler for the three events.
And for the second year in a row, Capt. Jon Duffie and the Agitator team dominated the overall standings, once again earning series champion honors and a $100,000 bonus for the win. They scored 15,000 points over the three tournaments.
In the third leg, there were 509 total billfish released: 462 sailfish and 47 marlin.
