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Against the picturesque backdrop of the Miami Beach Marina, the fourth annual Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament of Champions returned to Miami Beach in early February.
Led by the team at Fish Hard Events, the same group behind pro football Hall of Fame coach Jimmy Johnson’s Championship Fishing Week tournaments, the Miami Billfish Tournament of Champions is a high-stakes, invitation-only event that offers an unparalleled VIP experience tailor-made to showcase competitive fishing. To qualify, participating teams must have triumphed in one of the various Jimmy Johnson Quest for the Ring tournaments from a previous season, making the Miami Billfish Tournament of Champions the culmination of hard work from the prior years.
In a down-to-the-wire finish, Capt. Chris Wood and the team aboard The Edge emerged victorious with eight sailfish releases overall, securing the coveted Championship Cup. By also clinching several optional jackpots, the team netted a total cash purse of more than $195,000. Trey Brown, the Texas-based owner of the 70-foot Spencer, and his team of Wood and anglers and mates Pete Ferlitto, Danny Kollwitz, Mike Tarmey, Wes Thompson, Joe Turner and Jake Wood worked hard and made every bite count.
Securing second place with seven releases was Triple Threat, the reigning 2022 tournament champions. With boat owner Peggy Johns of Cincinnati, Ohio, the Triple Threat team consisted of Capt. Matt Rabenstine and anglers Carol Andrews, Sam Baker, Tom Grote, Bryan Limsing, Justin Miller, Ridge Murphy, Jake Turik and Marissa Williams. In third with six releases overall was War Bird, owned by Roger Ward and skippered by Capt. Brett Dudas.
