RECORD ROUNDUP
Contestants, crowd kick in to support Boatmen's causes
BY MARY HENKEL JUDSON SOUTH JETTY EDITOR

Offshore Grand Champ John Doan, right; runner-up Greg Fratar, center, and Roundup chairman Mike Firestone, left.

Record rainfall came to an end just in time for the 72nd Deep Sea Roundup last weekend.

After raining all night on opening day, the skies cleared in time for registration on Thursday, July 5, and stayed that way throughout the event, the oldest and largest saltwater fishing tournament on the Texas Gulf Coast.

The only hint of rain came late Saturday afternoon, the final day of fishing, as offshore catches were being weighed in. A few sprinkles threatened, but never amounted to enough to stop the action.

Despite weeks of flooding rains throughout the state, especially in areas that are home to many of the regular tournament contestants, a record 807 paid contestants registered to fish. That total does not include complimentary registrations for major sponsors of the tournament.

"It was an incredible experience for me," said Roundup chairman Mike Firestone.

"We were extremely fortunate for the weather to break and stay nice for us. I think we had a record registration -- I'm really excited that we did that. For the most part, things went very smoothly," he added.

Billfish champion boat team Marlin Magic and runner-up Cat's Meow.

Another high point of the tournament was what Firestone called "a very competitive billfish division." As far as fish brought to the dock, Firestone said, "I thought a lot of really nice fish were brought in. The energy at the weigh in at the marina was really great. It was really exciting. That was the best part of the tournament."

The Piggy Perch Contest also was well attended, Firestone said, "and a lot of fun".

Contestants were here not only to fish, but to support the Port Aransas Boatmen, Inc., an organization dedicated to raising funds to support youth activities, including scholarships for graduating seniors. Toward that end, the 6,000 raffle tickets ordered for the occasion sold out by Saturday, setting another record.

In addition to raffle ticket sales, a silent auction loaded with fishing equipment, meals at local restaurants, merchandise from local retailers and more brought in more for the Boatmen's charitable causes.

Bay/Surf Grand Champion Eugene Moore Jr. of San Antonio with winning 10.2-pound, 26.75-inch black drum.

"It was extraordinary," Firestone said. "It was a great addition to the Roundup," he added, crediting the work of Linda Zahn and Dave and Amy Sullivan.

Merchandise sales (commemorative t-shirts, hats and drink holders ) went well, Firestone said. "It was particularly exciting to have Gina Burgess do the original art work for the tournament. I got a lot of pleasure out of seeing that," Firestone said.

Burgess, a 2007 graduate of Port Aransas High School, designed the artwork for the tournament t-shirts.

"My eyes were opened to how much work goes into the judging and weigh masters. I never knew how much was involved in that. They are a very professional group. I learned a hell of a lot, let me tell you. I've watched it before, but didn't focus on it until this year. That went very smoothly," Firestone said.

Top junior angler Austin Hagee

Volunteer scientists from The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas and from Texas A&M Corpus Christi serve as judges and weighmasters.

"Everybody in the community contributed, so it was definitely a community-wide effort," Firestone said.

Greg Fratar of Garland with winning 5.6-pound, 26-inch Spanish mackerel caught on Poseiden Diver. STAFF PHOTOS BY LESLIE WILLEY JR. These Port Aransas High School cheerleaders, with a little help from friends, tended to the board by writing weights and lengths of winning fish on the leader board.