We mentioned in our January 10th update that we had boats in the water for the Fish for Holly Sailfish Tournament, and we promised to keep you in the loop. Well, here is that update!
On the morning of January 10th, our 43’ Torres Main Attraction was locked, loaded, and ready for battle. Captain Alex Lewis led the team, supported by his crew, First Mate Harris, alongside AJ, Robbie, and Russell. They welcomed the Anderson group aboard at the Marathon Sailfish Marina, anxious to get the day started.
The Main Attraction team had spent the prior week preparing leaders, assessing kite reels, and catching plenty of live bait—so when they headed toward the Islamorada boundary, they knew they were ready for whatever the ocean threw at them.
The Main Attraction wasn’t the only boat representing us that morning. Captain Marty Lewis was back in the captain’s chair, running the 66’ Viking, Headin’ South. You might recognize the name from last month’s update, where the team took home 3rd Place Overall and the Top Junior Angler award in their very first tournament aboard the new vessel. Captain Marty, First Mate Mike, and mates Ben and Ariel welcomed the vessel’s owner and family aboard, with the whole crew eager for another shot at a title. Departing from the Key Colony Beach cut, they pointed the bow toward the Islamorada boundary, ready to join the fray.
When 8:00 AM finally rolled around, the “Lines In” call crackled over the radio, and the tournament was officially on. Even with 81 boats making for a crowded boundary line, the teams were mindful of one another, and everything ran smoothly. It’s always a plus to see such a strong sense of sportsmanship and respect between crews during a big tournament.
Team Headin’ South wasted no time getting in on the action. Savannah proved why she was last month’s top Junior Angler by securing an early release, putting the team at 1-for-2 by 8:48 AM. Captain Marty kept finding several more fish that morning with several more hook-ups, but lady luck wasn’t on their side, and those catches managed to slip away.
At 9:35AM, Captain Alex called in a release for his angler Joe. Team Main Attraction was on the board and hoping to keep the pace up. Alongside the main event, there was a hilarious Father/Son battle brewing between Captain Marty and his son, Captain Alex. In reality, Captain Marty wants to see his son succeed more than anyone, so the rivalry just adds a degree of fun banter to the day.
Shortly after, the weather turned, and it began to rain. But that didn’t last for too long, and before they knew it , it was sunny, then cloudy, then cold, then hot! It was a very bizarre weather day, and a tough fishing day to match. It seemed like, for those who managed to catch sailfish that day, kite fishing was the method that was working.
At 11:30AM, Captain Alex reported his angler, Steve, had released the second sailfish of the day, and now he was officially beating Dad! Unfortunately, there wasn’t much more action that day for the Main Attraction crews. It was a grinder of a day for most teams that day. Out of 81 teams, only 36 caught any fish at all! While neither of our teams placed in the top 3, we are proud of them for working hard and doing their best.
Captain Alex could at least say he won the side tournament against Dad! Team Main Attraction also caught the second-biggest kingfish of the tournament, so that was pretty cool.
All in all, despite the tough fishing, it was a wonderful day spent with great friends and clients. Most importantly, they were all out there for a bigger purpose: to honor the memory of Holly Givens and raise awareness for victims of domestic abuse. If you’re looking for a nail-biting sailfish tournament story, tune in next week. We’re busy editing the video and writing the full story now, so get ready. You are definitely in for a treat!
After a good night’s sleep, the Headin’ South and Main Attraction families headed back offshore around 2 PM on Sunday, January 11th. The plan was simple: some fun fishing and sunset grilling. They looked for sailfish and found a few, pitching baits right in front of them, but the stubborn fish just wouldn’t eat.
As the sun began to set, the crew switched gears to target wahoo. They caught some live bait and got to work. Almost immediately, they had a bite and saw a wahoo explode out of the water, but unfortunately, the line was cut. Undeterred, they re-baited the hook while grilling burgers and hotdogs.
Suddenly, the reel went off—it was him! They saw a huge slash as the wahoo leaped from the water, and the fight was on. With the sun setting, visibility was low, so First Mate Mike kept shouting updates to Captain Marty to let him know exactly how far away the fish was. When it finally got into range, Mike took his shot, and a huge Wahoo hit the deck. What a fun way to end the weekend!
Ready for your own adventure? If you are interested in hiring the Main Attraction crew for your own adventure on the water, give us a call at 305-289-0071 or visit our contact page for more ways to connect!
