Fire department benefits from Outboard
Staff photos by Leslie Willey Jr. and Phil Reynolds

Really red Josh Garcia of Port Aransas nosed out the second-place finisher with this redfish that weighed in at 8 pounds even.

The crowd wasn't as big as last year, but the enthusiasm at this year's Outboard Fishing Tournament ran even higher.

With 182 anglers entered, the 2008 Outboard Tournament - the 34th in the series - had slightly fewer than last year's, but tournament chairman and Port Aransas Fire Auxiliary treasurer Kim Hill said that's to be expected.

"With the price of gas what it is, we believe this is an excellent turnout," Hill said.

She said she hadn't had a chance to total the proceeds from the tournament as of Tuesday, July 15.

The Fire Auxiliary sponsors the annual tournament, proceeds of which are used to buy equipment for the Port Aransas Volunteer Fire Department.

"Last year we bought bunker gear, the protective clothing the firfi.ghters wear," Hill said. "In the past, we've bought an infra-red camera that can locate things by their heat."

Hill said no decision had been made yet what to purchase this year.

Big gaff Don Almstead of San Antonio brought in the biggest gafftop at 5.8 pounds.

A brisk breeze the first day of the tournament, Saturday, July 12, had some anglers worried, but as things turned out, most of the first-place winners came in that day. Even though the wind died slightly on Sunday, only a handful of fish brought in that day displaced previous first-place holders on the leader board.

The results:

Spanish mackerel: First, Elan Arguindegui, Laredo, 3.7 pounds, 26 5/8 inches; second, Ricky Tuttle, Pleasanton, 3.1 pounds, 25 2/8 inches.

Redfish: First, Josh Garcia, Port Aransas, 8.0 pounds, 27 6/8 inches; second, Randall Moore, Port Aransas, 7.9 pounds, 27 6/8 inches.

Red snapper: First, Sydney Pearson, San Antonio, 11.3 pounds, 28 1/8 inches; second, Clyde Goodnough, San Antonio, 10.6 pounds, 26 inches.

Sheepshead: First, James Shodrok, San Antonio, 4.5 pounds, 20 3/8 inches; second, Rene Lopez, Port Aransas, 2.0 pounds, 15 4/8 inches.

Sure thing shark Craig Clark came down from San Antonio to take first place with this 84.2-pound shark.

Trout: First, Greg Hill, Port Aransas, 5.6 pounds, 26 inches; second, George Black, LaVernia, 5.0 pounds, 25 2/8 inches.

Amberjack: First, Randy Hibler, Marble Falls, 17.8 pounds, 36 6/8

inches; second, Steve Price, Hunt, 14.8 pounds, 35 1/8 inches.

Black drum: First, Mark Rochester, Port Aransas, 12.6 pounds, 29 7/8 inches; second, Andy Harvey, Port Aransas, 6.6 pounds, 24 inches.

Barracuda: First, Steve Price, Hunt, 31.1 pounds, 52 2/8 inches; second, Steve Price, Hunt, 30.6 pounds, 52 4/8 inches.

Dolphin: First, James Hardy, Leander, 18.7 pounds, 51 2/8 inches; second, Steve Bauer, Gonzales, 21.1 pounds, 41 1/8 inches.

Flounder: First, Ken Kubenka, San Antonio, 2.4 pounds, 17 2/8 inches; second, Daniel Johnson, Corpus Christi, 1.8 pounds, 16 1/8 inches.

Gafftop: First, Don Almstead, San Antonio, 5.8 pounds, 24 1/8 inches; second, Sydney Pearson, San Antonio, 5.5 pounds, 23 6/8 inches.

Tale of a trout Greg Hill of Port Aransas called ahead to say he had a 30-inchlong speckled trout. He didn't, but this 5.6-pound, 26-inch-long specimen took first place anyway.

Kingfish: First, Sam Marabito, Port Aransas, 55.8 pounds, 63 inches; second, Sydney Pearson, San Antonio, 34.8 pounds, 54 2/8 inches.

Ling: First, Patrick Taulbert, Elmendorf, 45.1 pounds, 55 inches; second, Matt Michulka, San Antonio, 38.2 pounds, 49 6/8 inches.

Shark: First, Craig Clark, San Antonio, 84.2 pounds, 72 7/8 inches; second, Patrick Taulbert, Elmendorf, 69.4 pounds, 76 6/8 inches.

Blackfin tuna: First, Taylor Nunley, Sabinal, 18.2 pounds, 33 3/8 inches; second (none).

Wahoo: First, Taylor Nunley, Sabinal, 39.3 pounds, 57 4/8 inches; second (none).

Most unusual fish: African pompano, Michelle Delmar, East Bernard.

Ling-a-ding Patrick Taulbert, of Elmendorf, is proud of this ling, which, at 45.1 pounds, brought home a first prize for him.

Hard luck story: Ed Zieglar Jr.

Sportsmanship award: Levi Guyer, who brought his boat in, trailered it to his home, washed it, and then - getting a call from a friend whose boat had broken down - put his boat back into the water to take the friend a fresh battery.

Double winner Taylor Nunley, of Sabinal, brought home first prize with this 18.2-pound blackfin tuna. He also won first with a 39.3 wahoo. Holy mackerel This nice Spanish mackerel was brought in by Elan Arguindegui of Laredo and weighed in at 3.7 pounds. Prize winning 'cuda This 31.1-pound, 52 1/4-inch barracuda took home first place for Steve Price of Hunt. King of kingfish Sam Marabito of Port Aransas brought in this 55.8-pound kingfish to take that species prize. Drum beater Mark Rochester III, of Port Aransas, won with this black drum, which tipped the scales at 12.6 pounds. Not quite twins Steve Price of Hunt, left, brought in a 14.8-pound amberjack, but Randy Hibler of Marble Falls, on the same boat, took first prize with this 17.8-pounder. Sheepshead prize James Shodrok of San Antonio pulled in this 4.5- pound sheepshead, which also pulled in first prize for him. Dolphin winner This 18.7-pound dolphin won the species for James Hardy, left, of Leander; Capt. Mike Rapovich is helping him hold it up. Double dose Sydney Pearson, left, of San Antonio, brought in a nice barracuda, but it was the red snapper that took home a prize for her. Capt. Ray Dunn, center, and dad Jace Pearson help hold up the fish.