MBARA tourney lands a record 

The open division winners were Team Salty Dawg. [ MBARA Kingfish Tournament ]

Team Never Satisfied was the target weight king winner, 9.8 pounds on the button, for a payoff of $1,975. [ MBARA Kingfish Tournament ]

Bobby Everett, left, has fished the MBARA Kingfish Tournament every year it has been in existence and this year took fifth in the rec division. David Payne donated the artwork Friday night of a king that looked a lot like this one. [ MBARA Kingfish Tournament ]

Hard Tale with third in the open division. [ MBARA Kingfish Tournament ]

Royal Flush was third in the rec division. [ MBARA Kingfish Tournament ]

Team Sapp (Catch U Later) was second in the rec division. [ MBARA Kingfish Tournament ]

The 28th annual MBARA Kingfish Tournament the last weekend of July was the most successful fundraiser ever, with net income of just over $71,000.

Mitch Coleman, a spokesman for the Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association, which sponsors the tourney, said it drew the biggest crowd ever, over 1,000 people, with raffle tickets netting $5,000. On Friday night, 61 entries won over $6,500 in door prizes.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office cooking team prepared 1,500 dogs and sausages, and two were left. Over $850 filled the tip jar to go to the BCSO youth program.

Fishing partners, composed of 119 total boats, included 87 in the open division, with 29 weighed; and 32 in the recreational division, with 14 weighed. 

Twenty-eight ladies and 28 youth took part, with the young people’s division showing off with the first place youth also taking first in the rec division, the second place youth taking second in the open division and the third place place youth taking third in the rec division.

Team Triumph’s Charles Howe was the big winner with a first place in rec and first place youth with 29.36 pounds, and a big Spanish mackerel, 5.08, good enough for first. 

Catch U Later was second in rec king with 24.65 pounds, Royal Flush third with 20, Early Morning Shakes fourth with 11.40 and Reel Fun fifth with 11.29 pounds.

In the youth king, Band Width was second with 27.71 pounds, and Royal Flush third with 20.

Grey Olives took home the pelagic purse with a 46.64-pound wahoo which was also the largest fish weighed. Team Flippin Out’s aggregate total was 66.56 pounds.

In the open division for king, Salty Dawg was tops with 35.10, Band Width second with 27.71 and Hard Tale third with 25.07 pounds. The top ladies king was Team Chaos with 13.79.

As for bonus fish, the best target king was Never Satisfied, who landed a 9.80 pounder. The largest red snapper was a 25.12 red snapper brought in by Fish Commander and the largest gray snapper was a 5.54-pounder on a reel from Royal Flush.

Business partners contributed $37,700 led by Diamond partner Gulf Coast Custom Carts; Platinum partners Bluewater Outriggers, Mexico Beach Marina, Infinity Custom Flooring and Yamaha Marine; Gold partners Marsayl Media, Reefmaker, Centennial Bank, Mexico Beach Liquor and Market, and Mexico Beach TDC; Silver partners 98 Real Estate Group, Waves and Woods Realty, GollyWhopper Classic, KC Sportfishing, Tod Krause, Salt Lick Sausages Jackson Krause; and Bronze partners Kristi Johnson Purcell andMexico Beach Sweets.

“And add our great group of volunteers and the support of our city workers that is the backbone of any successful tournament.

Next year’s tournament is slated for July 25 and 26, 2025.