No strangers to the marlin-rich waters surrounding Bermuda, Capt. Bull Tolson once again led the Sea Toy team to great fishing and a big win in the 2022 Bermuda Big Game Classic, the second leg of the Bermuda Triple Crown. Fishing aboard the 59-foot Spencer, Tolson, mate Catlin Peele and anglers Mark Frazier, Craig Johnson, Gene Brown and Paul Milde had two strong days of fishing, then had to await the outcome on the third and final day. In the end, their five blue marlin releases proved enough to give them the win with 2,500 points and a total of $113,600. The team is also invited to fish in the 2023 Costa Offshore World Championship.
Paradise One, a 54-foot G&S Custom Cat based in Somerset, Bermuda, with Capt. Allan Bean and mate Delvin Bean released two blue marlin for angler Mark Outerbridge on the final day and wowed the crowd with an impressive 713-blue at the scales to win the daily marlin jackpot and overall largest marlin jackpot, good for a total of $125,400. The angler on the fish was Cooper Simpson, who is an avid Bermuda tuna and wahoo angler, but this was his first blue marlin catch.
Plane Simple, a 77-foot Spencer from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with Capt. Chris Weeks and mate Derek Scherz made up ground quickly after going scoreless on Day One, releasing two blues on the second day of fishing to get within striking distance of the leaders. The final day of fishing saw them zoom to the top of the leaderboard, releasing two blues and a white to tally 2,100 points and second place. Sixteen-year-old angler Manny Pereira caught all of the fish to win Top Angler and Top Junior Angler honors.
Gladys Fox, a 42-foot Wilson based in Somerset, Bermuda, caught four blue marlin in the tournament to win third place with 2,000 points. Top Lady Angler Honors went to Maria Smith catching two blues and a white fishing aboard Uno Mas with her husband, Brooks Smith, at the helm. The 39-team field of 288 anglers caught 88 billfish including 67 blues and 21 whites over the three days of fishing.
In the race for the 2022 Bermuda Triple Crown, Sea Striker holds a scant 100-point lead over Sea Toy. The third and final leg is the Sea Horse Anglers Club Billfish Tournament slated for July 21-25. The event also recognizes and thanks its sponsors, including Bermuda Tourism.
