With four blue marlin releases on the first day of fishing, the team aboard Blackhawk, a 76-foot Viking, needed just one additional fish to emerge victorious in the fourth-annual Casa de Campo Open in the Dominican Republic.
Mama Who, a 77-foot Jarrett Bay, also released five blues overall to place second on time. Princess Lily, a 66-foot Viking, released four blues to land in third place. Dawn Samuels on Princess Lily was the Top Lady Angler, boating a 130-pound yellowfin tuna to also win the top gamefish prize. During the tournament, Samuels was able to tag her 100th blue marlin with a TBF spaghetti tag.
“Mama Who was on fire the second day,” says tournament director Robert “Fly” Navarro. “They went 5-for-7 and were a consistent threat all day long. But Blackhawk was able to release their final fish first to earn the win.”
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Navarro says the weather and fishing conditions were very good and the bite was on. “The boats averaged between four and eight blue marlin bites during the two days,” he says. “Everyone had a great time, and we made sure to emphasize the positive benefits of tournament fishing.”
