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A stubborn low-pressure system set the tone early at the 6th Annual Chub Cay Invitational, sidelining part of the fleet with heavy winds and rough seas. But once the front pushed through, the bite came alive—and those who stuck it out were rewarded.
When the dust settled, No Le Hace, a 57 Spencer captained by Freddy Vicens, rose to the top. Anchored by a standout performance from Denise McMahan—who released three sailfish and a blue marlin—the team secured first place and Top Lady Angler honors. With blues worth 500 points, whites 200 and sails 100, consistency proved key in a bite that built as conditions improved.
Second place went to Invicta, the 44 Contender run by Michael Buxton, which stayed in contention with a blue marlin on Day One followed by an early white marlin release on Day Two. Sempre Dura, a 68 Ricky Scarborough owned by Chris Stavola, rounded out the podium with a sailfish in the morning and a blue marlin in the afternoon.
Beyond the billfish leaderboard, one of the week’s most talked-about moments came aboard Waterline. Angler Rob McCall battled a 140-pound yellowfin tuna for five hours and 20 minutes on light tackle—ultimately boating the fish just in time to weigh. The catch not only earned top gamefish honors but also set a new benchmark as the largest gamefish ever recorded in Chub Cay tournament history.
Despite challenging weather, the Invitational once again delivered memorable moments—and a reminder that persistence often pays in the Bahamas.
