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The 2025 Shootout: Production vs. Custom, held April 30–May 3 at Abaco Beach Resort & Boat Harbor Marina in Marsh Harbor, Bahamas, delivered what can only be described as a standout week of tournament fishing.
The northern Abacos have been on an absolute tear lately, with grand slams being reported online almost daily thanks to the banner showing of blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish, and even a few spearfish. The dry, sunny conditions in the region over the past several months have only helped the billfishing, but they have also sparked a series of large wildfires on Great Abaco, and smoke plumes were clearly visible south of Marsh Harbor throughout the tournament.
When the final lines-out was called, Viking 74 claimed the top spot with 3,000 points, thanks to a consistent three-day performance of five blue marlin, four white marlin, and four sailfish releases. Capt. Sean Dooley and angler Thomas Garmany were in top form, earning both Top Boat, Top Crew, and Top Angler honors, plus a well-deserved payout of $269,838.
Just behind them was Lunatico, the sleek new Titan 70’ captained by Corey Gillespie. Angler-owner Lance Converse weighed in a 468.8-pound blue marlin—the tournament’s largest—and helped propel the team to 2,918.8 points and a $254,065 payout. Catch 23, the 82’ Bayliss run by Capt. Stetson Turney, rounded out the top three with 2,550 points, releasing three blue marlin, three white marlin, and nine sailfish for $106,888.
In total, the 68-boat fleet (a new tournament record) released an impressive 265 billfish—88 blue marlin, 93 white marlin, 82 sailfish, and two spearfish—adding more heat to an already sizzling season in the Bahamas.
Top anglers included Nicole Scotti on Gina Lisa with 1,650 points for Top Lady Angler and Page Croll aboard Southern C’s, whose 1,550 points earned Top Junior Angler honors. On the meat fish leaderboard, David Garfinkle of Big Ben landed a 62.9-pound yellowfin to win the tuna division, Garett Guidrer of Knot on Call brought in a 30.9-pound mahi, and Nathan Albers aboard Sea Base secured the wahoo win with a 46-pound catch.
Throughout the tournament, Skip and the team at the Abaco Beach Resort rolled out a top-notch hospitality experience, especially for an area still very much rebuilding from Hurricane Dorian. Teams were overfed every evening – from beef brisket to seafood paella to prime rib, culminating in an awards dinner where each team’s table was graced with a tray of fresh stone crab claws.
The “Shootout” proved again why it’s one of the most beloved events on the tournament calendar. A friendly clash of custom and production builds, a fleet of highly competitive teams, great fishing, and a beloved destination that continues to rise from the ashes—sometimes quite literally—made 2025 one for the books.
