Advanced Roofing caught a total of 23 sailfish — 12 Friday and 11 Saturday — for 4,600 points to win the inaugural Operation Sailfish tournament out of Sailfish Marina in Palm Beach Shores.
Michael Kornahrens’ team won $43,000 for topping the 37-boat field in the first of three events in the Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series and took home another $129,625 in value-added division winnings for a total payday of $172,625 out of the $496,300 tournament purse.
Liquid Skillstorm had 21 sailfish releases — 11 of them Friday — and 4,200 points to win $15,500 for second and $49,830 overall. Swagger also had 21 releases — 11 on Saturday — to finish third on time, worth $11,000 and $47,875 overall.
Lights Out was fourth with 20 sailfish to win a total of $49,770. First-day leader Absolut Joy, which caught 14 sailfish Friday, was fifth with 18 releases and $71,300, followed by Miss Annie with 16 releases, Weez In The Keys with 15 and Double Diamond with 15. BAR South caught 12 sailfish Saturday to win two dailies worth a combined $64,800.
Daniel Hassan of Swagger was the top angler with nine releases and Susan McCart of Absolut Joy was the top female angler with seven. Silent Hunter caught the biggest fun fish of the tournament, a 45.8-pound cobia, to win the Big Fish Bonanza, worth $10,350. A total of 400 sailfish were released.