Robin Hood VI Takes Tops at 16th Annual Bald Head Island Fishing Rodeo

"For generations, sport fishermen have found the waters in and around Bald Head Island rich with the bounties of the sea. In recent years, anglers competing in the Bald Head Island Fishing Rodeo have discovered that these waters seem to be regenerative. And this year's event promises some of the greatest fish tales ever." Those words come straight from the town of Bald Head Island.

This year marked the 16th annual Bald Head Island Fishing Rodeo, held May 31 through June 2 out of Bald Head Island Marina in North Carolina. The Bald Head Island Fishing Rodeo is a non-profit angling event whose proceeds go towards the Old Baldy Foundation, which works to keep-up the island's lighthouse - the oldest in the nation!

As stated in the Bald Head Island Rodeo flyer, prizes for the Rodeo tournament are awarded based on total weight of tuna, dolphin, and wahoo caught during the two days of fishing. A $500 prize is awarded for the largest tuna, dolphin, and wahoo catch of the day.

The winning team this year was aboard the Robin Hood VI, a 64' Viking owned by Captain Don Pierce out of Carolina Beach. In total, Robin Hood VI weighed in 270.19 lbs of fish Saturday afternoon. Just on Friday alone, this boat brought in 234.34 lbs! This first place team, composed of Bill Edwards, Sean Dooley, Stewart Smith, and David Dunn, won $11,640 and a nice trophy.

On Friday, these anglers boated their prize fish by trolling along the continental shelf area using skirted ballyhoo.

On Saturday, they headed back to the same area.

"We had to move around a little on Saturday," Pierce said in an interview with the Fisherman's Post Magazine. The fish bite was just not as good as Friday.

Second place in the Bald Head Island Fishing Rodeo was the Abigail II, a 35' Cabo boat from Whiteville, NC. Together, their fish catch weighed 215.92 lbs. Fishing aboard the Abigail II was owner Rick Edwards, Richard Edwards, Al Rippy, Lance Lomax, and Captain Chuck Williams.

"Friday we had more weight, but I'd say we had better overall fishing today," Captain Williams told the Fisherman's Post. "There were lots of tuna busting the water, but we only caught one."

The Abigail II chose to fish around the Nipple area using skirted ballyhoo.

For coming in second place, the Abigail II crew was handed a check for $5,820.

Fayetteville, NC team Reel Quick took third place with a total weight of 188.69 lbs. The Reel Quick is a 58' boat owned by Barry and Carol Thomas and captained by Chris Bailey.

This team fished around the Winyah Scarp on Friday and found lots of dolphin and wahoo. They were using skirted ballyhoo as well as squid. In coming in third, the Reel Quick team members were awarded $1,940.

The Bald Head Island Fishing Rodeo also features a billfish release Tournament Within a Tournament (TWT). Almost all the boats entered in this event chose to compete in the billfish category.

Captain Brian Peel and the boat Big Hunter won first place with their 30lb sailfish caught north of Frying Pan Shoals. The Sailfish won the team $3,024.

Congratulations to everyone who participated and supported Bald Head Island!