Black Cat hangs on for Miracles victory

  • Tommy Braswell
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  • Posted: Sunday, August 16, 2009 12:01 a.m.
    UPDATED: Monday, March 19, 2012 12:29 p.m.
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After grabbing the first-day lead with a 42.90-pound catch in the 16th annual Key West Boats Fishing for Miracles King Mackerel Tournament, Black Cat out of Georgetown felt pretty good about being the first boat back to the docks at Ripley Light Yacht Club on Saturday's final day of fishing. That's because if a boat has a big fish, they're usually at the weigh-in early.

"We're hopeful," Black Cat owner Jamey Stewart said as he nervously watched another boat pull in behind him.

The second boat was Dirty Work, a 34-foot Venture owned by Joe Wells of Charleston and the winner earlier this season of the Tailwalker Marine King Mackerel Tournament in Georgetown.

The Dirty Work crew managed to throw a big scare into Stewart and his crew as they walked to the scales with a trophy fish. But Dirty Work's fish came up just a little short, weighing 41.78 pounds to claim second place in the tournament. Although it didn't count for the tournament, Dirty Work had another fish that weighed in at just over 40 pounds.

Black Cat earned the top prize of a Key West boat, motor and trailer package valued at $32,000, plus another $23,740 in cash -- $11,250 for Tournament Within a Tournament (TWT) super division;

$7,000 TWT large fish; $3,990 TWT second place aggregate of 71.88; $1,000 lady angler; and $500 early entry.

"We had the same plan. We fished the same place. That was the only fish we caught today. We caught two yesterday," said Stewart, whose Saturday fish weighed 28.98 pounds. Stewart's wife Carlette was the angler and Kateland Todd and Clay Purifoy also fished with Black Cat.

Stewart said the 42.90-pound catch was their biggest ever, by more than four pounds. The Miracles victory topped a year in which the crew finished second in the Jolly Mon tournament, was 17th in Tailwalker and eighth at Sullivan's Island. Black Cat finished ninth in the 2005 Fishing for Miracles tournament.

Dirty Work's fish was caught by Amelia Wirth, the daughter of Joe and Paula Wells. Also on board were Wirth's husband, Randy, and the Wells' son, Logan.

The Dirty Work crew earned $7,500 for finishing second in the tournament, plus $4,200 for finishing second in the TWT largest fishing category; and $6,650 for first in TWT aggregate with a two-fish total of 72.78 pounds.

Wells said they initially thought the fish, caught on a blue runner, weighed 42 or 43 pounds. They fished in 80 feet of water.

"Two 40-pound fish in one day, that's pretty good," Wells said. "All four of our fish came before 8:30. We pretty much quit fishing after that."

This year's tournament drew 200 entries. It took a weight of 31 pounds to make the top 30 and finish in the money.

BIG FISH

(Boat, Captain, Weight)

1. Black Cat, Jamey Stewart, 42.90; 2. Dirty Work, Joe Wells, 41.78; 3. Cutting Crew, Kane Wright, 39.84; 4. Fish Hunter, Melvin Knight, 38.82; 5. Stretched Out, Tommy Penninger, 38.44; 6. Trophy Hunter, Mark Mitchell, 37.22; 7. Juggernaut, Bert Harvey, 37.04; 8. Whip Lash, Raymond Stivender, 36.96; 9. Kickback II, John Kicklighter, 36.80; 10. No Limit, Todd Murph, 36.54; 11. Mangler, Mo Manean, 36.34; 12. Momma's Money, Richard Warner, 36.34; 13. Last Minute, Anthone Porth III, 35.34; 14. Knot@Work, Robert Olsen, 34.26; 15. Double D2, Dennis Schafer Jr., 34.24.

16. Sunchaster Charters, Andy Winter, 34.22; 17. Reel Hot, David Carter, 33.92; 18. Rock Doc, Bob Wiggins, 33.82; 19. No Regrets, Bobby Streisel, 33.66; 20. Triple Gobble, Jeff Weathers, 33.00; 21. Capt. Jack, David Swanson, 32.80; 22. Stray Dog, Chris Rosengarten, 32.52; 23. Tailwalker, Stuart Ballard, 32.28; 24. Solid Surface, Andy Nettles, 31.98; 25. In 2 Deep, Kevin O'Neale, 31.82; 26. Lady M, Jamie Altman, 31.82; 27. My Last Boat, Jamey Kampmeyer, 31.58; 28. Adam's Eve, Adam Hempton, 31.26; 29. Reelin, Marc Pincus, 32.22; 30. Fin Stalker, Chris Chavis, 31.18.

23-UNDER CLASS

Cutting Crew, Kane Wright, 39.84, $3,000; Fish Hunter, Melvin Knight, 38.82; $2,000; Whip Lash, Raymond Stivender, 36.96, $1,000.

TOURNAMENT WITHIN A TOURNAMENT

(Largest Fish)

Black Cat, Jamey Stewart, 42.90, $7,000; Dirty Work, Joe Wells, 41.78, $4,200; Fish Hunter, Melvin Knight, 38.82, $2,800.

(Aggregate)

Dirty Work, Joe Wells, 72.78, $6,650; Black Cat, Jamey Stewart, 71.88, $3,990; Momma's Money, Richard Warner, 64.88.

SUPER TWT (Big Fish)

Black Cat, Jamey Stewart, 42.90, $11,250.

YOUTH ANGLER

Ryan McFadden, Kick Back II, 36.80, $1,000; Andrew Olsen, Knot@Work, 34.26, $500.

LADY ANGLER

Carlette Stewart, Black Cat, 42.90, $1,000.

EARLY ENTRY

Jamey Stewart, Black Cat, $500.

CCA AWARD

Momma's Money, Richard Warner, 35.92, $1,000.