The 2013 Custom Shootout was held May 15-18, 2013 out of Abaco Beach Hotel and Marina, Bahamas. Thirty nine custom built sportfishing yachts entered teams in the 12th annual fund-raising tournament.
There were 55 billfish released (16 blue marlin, 33 white marlin 5 sailfish and 1 spearfish) during the three days of fishing. REEL PUSHY, a 70’ SPENCER captured the overall title in the 2013 Custom Shootout. The race from the edge had four boats chasing the title this year. At the end, RAVAGANZA (Jarrett Bay) edged out the Hit & Run, the Reel Pushy and the Two Cats.
Everyone attending the tournament events had a great time. Abaco Beach Hotel and Boat Harbour Marina was an awesome host as they hosted the kickoff party, the Friday night “Honor the Boat Builder” party and then the Awards Party Saturday night. Sunset Marina, SatCom Direct, Coral Cadillac, Smith-Merritt Insurance and Florida Detroit Diesel were Platinum Sponsors for the tournament. Other major sponsors present were Travelers, Chantilly Air, MacGregor Yachts, ISR, COSTA, Shimano, CAT Pantropic, CAT Gregory Poole, CAT Ring Power, Alexseal, Tournament Yacht Sales, Pipewelders, Hi Seas Technology, P&R Canvas, Treasure Coast Prop, Livos Technologies, Diamond Fishing Line, Michigan Wheels, Phasor, Palm Beach Towers, Ocean Club and many others who offered financial support for the tournament. Among the custom builders attending and supporting the tournament were John Whiticar of Whiticar Boats, Michael Rybovich of Rybovich and sons, Paul Spencer of Spencer Yachts, Roy Merritt of Merritt Boats, Dominick LaCombe. of American Custom Yachts, Jim Floyd (F&S boats) and John Bayliss (Bayliss Boat works). According to Skip Smith, the tournament director, “The fishing was great, the weather was great and the food was great. The staff here at the Abaco Beach Resort did a great job. Combine that with these custom boat owners and their crews and we had one of the best tournaments in the world again this year.”
A stunning awards banquet, with a lot of really outstanding food, was held in the air-conditioned tent at the Abaco Beach Resort and Marina. The tournament coordinators gave commemorative plaques to each tournament sponsors in recognition for their support of the tournament. The REEL PUSHY team of ROBERT BAKER, JIMMY FIELDS, and DENNY DOYLE and accepted the 1ST Place trophy, a beautiful sculpture by Ken Ulberg. Top Captain and Crew on the REEL PUSHY consisted of CAPTAIN CHRIS WORKMON and crew ALEX, JOSH ARDIS, AND SCOTT JONES. The JICHI with owner LUIS ISAIAS, with CAPTAIN GENE LABRON and anglers ALBERT CASTRO, RICARDO QUEREJETA and JOHN BARBRA placed second as they released one blue marlin, two white marlin and a sailfish, along with their three day slam points. The ARC STRIKE with CAPTAIN MARK MCCARTHY with owner FRANK NOVAK and anglers FRANK NOVAK JR and EDDIE BECKER took third place, with three white marlin and one blue marlin released. WALLY WHITLEY, owner of QUE MAS, won the “Top Angler” trophy, a Kent Ullberg Marlin sculpture. SANDRA MACMILLAN on the SANDMAN won the Cheryl Roy Memorial trophy, as the “Top Women Angler”. HIT & RUN took home the Top Tag & Release award.
–– Source: Custom Shootout
