Tournament champs crowned at Roundup






Left: The Got ‘M On was the boat named champion of the 81st annual Deep Sea Roundup’s offshore billfish release division. Above: Tommy Temple of Odem nabbed an 80.1-pound ling that was a new tournament record for that species. (The previous record of 74.2 pounds was set by Bobby Espinosa in 1995.) Temple caught the beast while fishing from his boat, the Dirty Deeds. Capt. Robert Elizondo of Corpus Christi is at left, and crew member Tom Peterson of Port Aransas stands at center.

Left: The Got ‘M On was the boat named champion of the 81st annual Deep Sea Roundup’s offshore billfish release division. Above: Tommy Temple of Odem nabbed an 80.1-pound ling that was a new tournament record for that species. (The previous record of 74.2 pounds was set by Bobby Espinosa in 1995.) Temple caught the beast while fishing from his boat, the Dirty Deeds. Capt. Robert Elizondo of Corpus Christi is at left, and crew member Tom Peterson of Port Aransas stands at center.

They came, they fished, they carried on the tradition.

Staff photos by Murray Judson

Staff photos by Murray Judson

The 81st Deep Sea Roundup, the longest-running saltwater fishing tournament on the Texas Gulf coast, chalked up another successful run July 7-10, albeit with a lower registration than is the norm.

Registration was down by about 150, according Harry Johnson, chairman of the tournament that is sponsored by the Port Aransas Boatmen, Inc.

The tournament features bay and offshore divisions, and the offshore division was hit hardest, according to Johnson.

2016 Bay/Surf Grand Champion Javier Castillo of Bishop was the bay/surf grand champion in the 81st Deep Sea Roundup. He is shown here with his first-place, 7-pound, 27.63 spotted sea trout and a flounder that he added to his stringer. He also caught a redfish, Spanish mackerel, black drum, gafftop and pompano.

2016 Bay/Surf Grand Champion Javier Castillo of Bishop was the bay/surf grand champion in the 81st Deep Sea Roundup. He is shown here with his first-place, 7-pound, 27.63 spotted sea trout and a flounder that he added to his stringer. He also caught a redfish, Spanish mackerel, black drum, gafftop and pompano.

“The way I see it, we had a triple whammy: the oil field is depressed, the reports of the flesh-eating bacteria and the wind,” Johnson said.

Junior Bay/Surf Grand Champion Carson Collins, right, of Port Aransas was the junior bay/surf division grand champion in the 81st Deep Sea Roundup. He caught the first-place, 7.6-pound redfish, first-place, 5.5-pound, spotted sea trout and first-place, 5.3-pound, gafftop. He also had a flounder, Spanish mackerel, black drum and pompano on his stringer.

Junior Bay/Surf Grand Champion Carson Collins, right, of Port Aransas was the junior bay/surf division grand champion in the 81st Deep Sea Roundup. He caught the first-place, 7.6-pound redfish, first-place, 5.5-pound, spotted sea trout and first-place, 5.3-pound, gafftop. He also had a flounder, Spanish mackerel, black drum and pompano on his stringer.

“With social media and the internet, things go around, (such as rumors of) 12-foot seas offshore. The same thing happened to the Poco Bueno a few years back,” he said, referring to the fishing tournament in Port O’Connor.

Top Woman Angler Carolyn Cantu of San Antonio was the top woman angler in the 81st Deep Sea Roundup. She is shown with her first-place, 4.5-pound, 22-inch flounder.

Top Woman Angler Carolyn Cantu of San Antonio was the top woman angler in the 81st Deep Sea Roundup. She is shown with her first-place, 4.5-pound, 22-inch flounder.

“Offshore was down the most. We had a lot of big boats fishing the bays,” Johnson said, suggesting that some of the larger offshore boats entered the bay/surf division rather than tackle high seas.

Reece Rockett of Flower Mound caught the first-place mackerel in the junior offshore division of the 2016 Roundup. Her fish was 3.7 pounds, 23.5 inches. She fished aboard the Bad Fish.

Reece Rockett of Flower Mound caught the first-place mackerel in the junior offshore division of the 2016 Roundup. Her fish was 3.7 pounds, 23.5 inches. She fished aboard the Bad Fish.

Seas were not, however, as high as originally forecast.

Johnson said pre-registration was higher than usual, “but there’s always a large group that hangs back waiting on the weather.”

Aside from that, “everything went smoothly. I didn’t have any major complaints — yet,” Johnson said.

One highlight of the Roundup was a new tournament record for ling. Tommy Temple of Odem reeled in an 80.10-pound ling (cobia) to break a 21-year-old record. The previous record was set by Bobby Espinosa with a 74.2-pound fish in 1995.

Charles Mills of Port Aransas caught this 10.2-pound, 26.13-inch bonito in the junior offshore division of the 2016 Roundup. He also caught the second place wahoo fishing aboard the Day Pay.

Charles Mills of Port Aransas caught this 10.2-pound, 26.13-inch bonito in the junior offshore division of the 2016 Roundup. He also caught the second place wahoo fishing aboard the Day Pay.

Taking the offshore championship was Reed Ruschhaupt of Dallas fishing on the Right Rigger. He had the second place sailfish (which was released) and the first and second place dolphin, weighing in at 22.30 and 17.40 pounds.

David George of Horseshoe Bay caught the first-place kingfish in the offshore division at the 2016 Roundup. His fish was 38.4 pounds and 49 inches. George fished aboard the Dirty Money.

David George of Horseshoe Bay caught the first-place kingfish in the offshore division at the 2016 Roundup. His fish was 38.4 pounds and 49 inches. George fished aboard the Dirty Money.

Offshore runner-up grand champion was James Thuleen of Granite Shoals who fished on the Backlash. He caught and released the second place blue marlin, and reeled in the first place blackfin tuna that tipped the scales at 19.20 pounds.

Javier Castillo of Bishop was declared the bay/surf grand champion. His stringer of redfish, speckled trout, flounder and black drum totaled 18.3 pounds. It included the first place speckled trout.

Buster Williams of San Antonio is smiling about his first-place redfish catch in the bay/surf division at the 81st Deep Sea Roundup. The fish weighed in at 8.3 pounds and was 28 inches long.

Buster Williams of San Antonio is smiling about his first-place redfish catch in the bay/surf division at the 81st Deep Sea Roundup. The fish weighed in at 8.3 pounds and was 28 inches long.

Bay/surf runner-up grand champion honors went to Nate Forbes of Aransas Pass. His stringer weighed in at 20 pounds and included a redfish, speckled trout, black drum and gafftop.

The billfish catch and release boat championship was won by the Got ‘M On out of Boerne with seven billfish released, including one blue marlin, three white marlin and three sailfish.

Adriane Reese of Atkins holds the first-place barracuda in the offshore division of the 81st Deep Sea Roundup. His catch weighed 22.4 pounds and was 49.63 inches long. Reese fished aboard the Fish Trips.com.

Adriane Reese of Atkins holds the first-place barracuda in the offshore division of the 81st Deep Sea Roundup. His catch weighed 22.4 pounds and was 49.63 inches long. Reese fished aboard the Fish Trips.com.

The runner-up was Doc Holiday out of Houston with one blue marlin released.

Top Woman Angler honors went to Carolyn Cantu of San Antonio who won a six-way tie determined by the record percentage. She had the first place flounder in the bay/surf division.

In the junior division for anglers up to age 17, Holden Ersch of San Antonio took the offshore grand championship. He had the first place ling, kingfish and jackfish and the second place ling. He fished on the Ambush.

Kolby Scott of Aransas Pass was the junior offshore grand champion runner-up in the 81st Deep Sea Roundup. Here he is holding his first-place dolphin, a 23.6-pound, 42.38-inch catch. He also caught the second-place dolphin, first-place white marlin, and second-place sailfish and blackfin tuna. He fished aboard the Vamonos.

Kolby Scott of Aransas Pass was the junior offshore grand champion runner-up in the 81st Deep Sea Roundup. Here he is holding his first-place dolphin, a 23.6-pound, 42.38-inch catch. He also caught the second-place dolphin, first-place white marlin, and second-place sailfish and blackfin tuna. He fished aboard the Vamonos.

Junior offshore runner-up was Kolby Scott of Aransas Pass who fished on Vamonos. He released the first place white marlin and the second place sailfish, and weighed in the first and second place dolphin and the second place blackfin tuna.

Troy Utz of Houston caught the first-place redfish in the flyfishing division of the 2016 Roundup. The fish was 5.3 pounds, 24.75 inches.

Troy Utz of Houston caught the first-place redfish in the flyfishing division of the 2016 Roundup. The fish was 5.3 pounds, 24.75 inches.

Carson Collins of Port Aransas repeated as junior bay/surf grand champion. He weighed in four species weighing a total of 23.40 pounds. The stringer included a redfish, speckled trout, black drum and gafftop.

Adair Bates of Corpus Christi was the bay/surf grand champion runner-up in the junior division in the 2016 Roundup. She is shown with her first-place flounder, weighing in at 2.7 pounds and 17.5 inches. and her second-place 3.2-pound, 19.88- inch spotted sea trout. She also caught a second-place redfish, a Spanish mackerel, black drum, gafftop and pompano to complete her stringer.

Adair Bates of Corpus Christi was the bay/surf grand champion runner-up in the junior division in the 2016 Roundup. She is shown with her first-place flounder, weighing in at 2.7 pounds and 17.5 inches. and her second-place 3.2-pound, 19.88- inch spotted sea trout. She also caught a second-place redfish, a Spanish mackerel, black drum, gafftop and pompano to complete her stringer.

Runner-up in the junior bay/ surf division was Adair Bates of Corpus Christi whose total fish weight was 16.10 pounds. She weighed in a redfish, speckled trout, flounder and a black drum.

Kendall Owens of Port Aransas brought in the first-place shark in the junior offshore division of the 81st Deep Sea Roundup. The shark was 171.4 pounds, 75.63 inches. Owens also caught the secondplace shark, second-place barracuda, second-place kingfish and first-place wahoo aboard the Tica Rica.

Kendall Owens of Port Aransas brought in the first-place shark in the junior offshore division of the 81st Deep Sea Roundup. The shark was 171.4 pounds, 75.63 inches. Owens also caught the secondplace shark, second-place barracuda, second-place kingfish and first-place wahoo aboard the Tica Rica.

See complete results, with photos on Pages 9, 10 and 11A.

Carson Rodgers of San Antonio brought in the first-place 18.2-pound, 45-inch barracuda, left, in the 81st Deep Sea Roundup junior offshore division.

Carson Rodgers of San Antonio brought in the first-place 18.2-pound, 45-inch barracuda, left, in the 81st Deep Sea Roundup junior offshore division.

Awards were presented following the Bill and Bo Horn Memorial Fish Fry on Sunday, July 10, at the Civic Center.


























2016 Offshore Grand Champion Reed Ruschhaupt of Dallas brought home the title of the 81st Deep Sea Roundup offshore grand champion. Fishing aboard the Right Rigger, he caught the first-place, 22.3-pound, 43-inch dolphin. He also caught the second place dolphin and caught and released the second-place sailfish.

2016 Offshore Grand Champion Reed Ruschhaupt of Dallas brought home the title of the 81st Deep Sea Roundup offshore grand champion. Fishing aboard the Right Rigger, he caught the first-place, 22.3-pound, 43-inch dolphin. He also caught the second place dolphin and caught and released the second-place sailfish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Junior Offshore Grand Champion Holden Ersch of San Antonio was the junior offshore champion in the 81st Deep Sea Roundup. He brought in the first-place 14.3-pound, 29.13-inch jackfish, first and second-place ling, and first-place kingfish. Ersch fished aboard the Ambush.

Junior Offshore Grand Champion Holden Ersch of San Antonio was the junior offshore champion in the 81st Deep Sea Roundup. He brought in the first-place 14.3-pound, 29.13-inch jackfish, first and second-place ling, and first-place kingfish. Ersch fished aboard the Ambush.

Audrey Bryant of Frisco caught the first-place blackfin tuna in junior offshore division in the 2016 Roundup. It was 12.4 pounds, 25 inches. She fished aboard the Fishy Business.

Audrey Bryant of Frisco caught the first-place blackfin tuna in junior offshore division in the 2016 Roundup. It was 12.4 pounds, 25 inches. She fished aboard the Fishy Business.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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