Two-and-a-half year-old Grayson Gevelinger of Bulverde seals her dad John’s 15.5-pound red snapper with a kiss. Gevelinger caught the fish aboard Happy’s Pachanga on Saturday, July 9, during the Deep Sea Roundup. Results from the 86th Deep Sea Roundup are inside this edition on Pages 8A, 9A, 10A and 1B. Staff photo by Murray Judson
Scores of anglers showed up to participate in the 86th edition of the Deep Sea Roundup held Thursday through Sunday, July 7 through 10.
“The weather was great, there was a nice breeze to keep everyone cool and offshore conditions were ideal,” said Michelle Sowers, Roundup co-chairman.
She said that there were more than 500 registered participants this year.
“That’s about average for us and much better than last year due to the tropical system that kept many anglers off the water particularly the offshore division anglers,” Sowers said.
The Lily Beth III released the most tarpon by one boat, with eight released.
“Our release judge, Dee Wallace, said that in addition to the eight tarpon, 10 sailfish, five blue marlin and five white marlin were released during the tournament,” Sowers said.
Offshore grand champion was Sara Sutherland of Port Aransas aboard Happy’s Pachanga. The offshore grand champion runner-up was Jonathon Richter of Corpus Christi, who fished aboard the Reel Dreams II.
Bay/Surf Grand Champion With a stringer weighing 24.3 pounds, Mitchell Collins of Port Aransas was the 2022 Bay/Surf Grand Champion. He caught the first-place flounder along with a redfish, speckled sea trout, black drum and a gafftop to fill out the stringer.
The Top Woman Angler was Sutherland.
In the bay/surf division, Mitchell Collins of Port Aransas was the grand champion. The grand champion runner-up in the division was E.E. Buster Williams of San Antonio.
The family tradition of the Deep Sea Roundup is illustrated this year in the Junior Bay-Surf champion and runner-up.
In the junior bay/surf division, Kate Zahn of Austin was the grand champion. Zahn, 11, is the daughter of Jessica and Trey Zahn of Austin. Her aunt, Kimberley Zahn Winton of Port Aransas, is co-chairman of the 86th Deep Sea Roundup. Kate comes by her fishing chops naturally. Her dad and aunt grew up fishing with their parents, Linda and Charlie Zahn of Port Aransas. Kate started the same way her dad and aunt did, in the Piggy Perch Contest, and has now worked her way up to the junior division.
The junior bay/surf division runner-up, Matthew Lopez, 6, also comes from a fishing family. His dad, Rene Lopez was the bay/surf champion in the adult division in 2012 and 2019. Matthew has been fishing since he was in diapers, and like Kate, he started fishing the Roundup in the Piggy Perch Contest.
Top Woman Angler Sara Sutherland of Port Aransas received the Top Woman Angler trophy from Roundup co-chair Kim Zahn Winton at the 86th Deep Sea Roundup awards ceremony on Sunday, July 10. Sutherland caught the first-place bonito and second-place jackfish. She also was the tournament Offshore Grand Champion.
In addition to the junior and adult divisions, the Roundup features a contest just for the small fry, the Piggy Perch Contest, held on both fishing days, Friday and Saturday. Kids are divided by age, five and under, and 6 and over, to fish.
“This year’s roundup could not have been better,” said Sowers. “We had a lot of kids turnout for the Piggy Perch Contest. It was standing room only for Saturday’s T-shirt handout and group picture.”
Sowers said that it was great being back at Robert’s Point Park Pavilion. “Being able to watch the kids in person is always exciting,” she said.
“It really was a great tournament,” Sowers said. “My co-chair Kim Winton and I were very happy with the tournament turnout. The awards ceremony at the Civic Center was to capacity, we could not be more proud of how things went.”
Roundup volunteers Volunteers at the 86th Deep Sea Roundup take a break in their duties to pose for a photo. The volunteers included folks from the University of Texas Marine Science institute who volunteer every year as weigh masters.
(Complete results of all divisions, with photos, are on this page and Pages 9-10A. Photos from the Piggy Perch Contest are featured on Page 1B.)
Contact staff writer Vivian Carlson at news@portasouthjetty.com.
Offshore champ Sara Sutherland of Port Aransas was the 2022 Offshore Grand Champion and Top Woman Angler at the Roundup. She was fishing aboard Happy’s Pachanga. Sutherland caught the first-place bonito and the second-place jackfish that she is showing the crowd.
Runner-up E.E. Buster Williams of San Antonio was the Grand Champion Runner-up in the bay/surf division of the 2022 Deep Sea Roundup. His catch of the second-place black drum, along with a stringer of redfish, spotted sea trout, flounder and gafftop for a total weight of 22.8 pounds won him the award.
Top mackerel Hefner Appling III of Port Aransas caught the first-place mackerel in the offshore division of the 2022 Roundup while fishing aboard the Chum Bucket. The fish weighed 2.5 pounds and was 20.5 inches long.
Junior bonito Kamden Reiter of Port Aransas shows off his first-place bonito at the 86th Roundup. His fish weighed 6.8 pounds and was 22.75 inches long. He was fishing in the junior offshore division aboard the Quitin’ Time.
Blackfin tuna Bringing in the first-place blackfin tuna was Maddy Kleck of San Antonio. The fish weighed 26.3 pounds and was 42.5 inches long. Kleck was fishing the offshore division aboard the Reel Fisher.
First wahoo The first-place wahoo was caught by Jonathon Richter of Corpus Christi. The fish weighed 50.6 pounds and was 58.13 inches long. Richter was fishing on the Reel Dreams 2 in the offshore division.
First-place jackfish John Gevelinger of Bulverde shows off the first-place jackfish in the offshore division at the 2022 Roundup. He was fishing aboard Happy’s Pachanga when he caught the 26.9-pound, 36.25-inch fish.
2022 Bay/Surf Champions
2022 Flyfishing Winners
2022 Top Jr. Offshore Angler
2022 Tarpon Catch & Release Boat Champion
2022 Junior Bay/Surf Champions
2022 Billfish Catch and Release Boat Champions
Junior Bay/Surf Champ Kate Zahn of Austin was the Junior Offshore Bay/Surf Champion at the 2022 Deep Sea Roundup. She caught the fist- and second-pace black drum, the first-place redfish and the first-place speckled trout to secure the win. In the photo with Kate are her dad, Trey Zahn and her aunt, Kim Zahn Winton, who was the co-chairperson at the Roundup. Staff photo by Murray Judson
First-place tuna Mike Mendicino of Austin caught the first-place yellowfin tuna in the offshore division at the 2022 Roundup. He was fishing aboard the Cino when he caught the 42.1-pound, 40.13- inch long fish.
Flyfishing winner Jeremiah Williams of Round Rock was the first-place winner in the flyfishing division of the 2022 Roundup. He caught the first-place 7.9-pound, 27.75-inch redfish.
Top Junior Offshore Angler The Top Junior Offshore Angler at the 2022 Roundup was Parker Meyer of Columbus. He caught the first-and second-place red snapper, first- and second-place kingfish, first-place dolphin, second-place bonito and first-place barracuda. He fished aboard the Stand a Man. Meyer also was the 2021 Junior Offshore top angler.
First-place ling Hefting up the first-place ling at the 2022 Roundup is Ryan Mercer of Schertz. The fish weighed 35.5 pounds and was 44.88 inches long. Mercer was fishing in the offshore division aboard the Volatile.
First-place black drum Murry Adams of Fort Worth lifts up his 11-pound 28.88-inch black drum, the first-place winner in the bay/surf division at the 2022 Roundup.
First-place dorado Bryce Ferguson of San Antonio caught the first-place dolphin (dorado) at the 2022 Roundup in the offshore division. The fish weighed in at 17.5 pounds and was 37.5 inches long.
Tarpon release winners Receiving the trophy for the most tarpon released were anglers aboard the Lilly Beth III. They caught and released eight tarpon.
First-place barracuda The first-place barracuda was brought to the weigh station by John David Kassal of Eutope. The fish weighed 22.6 pounds and was 44.5 inches long. Kassal was fishing aboard the Dirty Money in the offshore division of the 86th Roundup.
Redfish winner Adair Bates of Corpus Christi brought in the first-place redfish in the bay/ surf division of the 2022 Roundup. The fish weighed in at 8.7 pounds and was 26.5-inches long.
2022 Junior Offshore Winners
2022 Junior Bay/Surf Winners
2022 Bay/Surf Winners
2022 Offshore Winners
Boat brigade Boats back up to the dock to weigh in and present video of billfish releases during the 86th Deep Sea Roundup on Saturday, July 9. At left, the Walk West out of Port Aransas earned honors with the top blue marlin in the tournament. At right, the Sashimi, also out of Port Aransas, won for the sailfish it released. Complete results from the tournament are inside on Pages 8A, 9A and 1B. Staff photo by Murray Judson
Piggy Perch anglers Participants in the 2022 Piggy Perch Contest gathered on Saturday, July 9, for a group photo, T-shirts and snacks. The group of the youngest anglers at the 2022 Deep Sea Roundup took part in the long-standing family tradition of introducing and/or keeping kids of all ages fishing. The contest was held at the Dennis Dreyer Municipal Harbor again this year. Photo by Leslie Willie JR.
First-place pompano Bringing in the first-place 1.4-pound, 12-inch pompano in the bay/surf division at the 86th Deep Sea Roundup was Bob Gross of Austin.
And the winners are . . . Winners of the 2022 Piggy Perch Contest were presented awards following the Bill and Bo Horn Memorial Fish Fry at the Civic Center on Sunday, July 10. With the winners is Sharon Scott, right, a sponsor of the contest. Standing at left are junior bay-surf champion Kate Zahn and her dad Trey Zahn of Austin. The contest is part of the Deep Sea Roundup, in its 86th year. The fishing competition in the Piggy Perch Contest as well as adult and junior bay-surf and offshore divisions was Friday and Saturday, July 8 and 9. All awards were presented Sunday. Photo by Leslie Willie JR.
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