By Bryan Rose

Professional Division

First Place - Bad Company: 9 releases - $11,750

Second Place - Gambler: 7 releases - $5,875

Third Place – Ruckus: 5 releases - $1,985

Daily Pool Winner - Bad Company - $17,900 (day 1 and 2)

Amateur Division

First Place - Aly Cat: 3 releases - $4,314

Second Place - Quality Time: 1 release - $2,517

Third Place - Exta Sea: 1 release - $719

Daily Pool Winner – Aly Cat - $3,400 (day 1 and 2)

The second day of the Yamaha Contender Avalon Billfish Classic Marlin Tournament started out on a slow note after another exciting shotgun start. After the first three hours only one boat had gotten a confirmed release, that being the “Aly Cat” who put up the first release from the “No Fear” amateur division left vacant after day 1. The “Quality Time” repeated the feat next with the second billfish released for the day at 10:19.

It was at about 10:30 that things blew wide open with the “Ruckus” pulling a marlin release that kicked off some hot action. The hot hand in the morning was the “Gambler” who got their first fish of the day at 10:35 after releasing two on Monday. They equaled their day one total soon after by releasing a second marlin at 10:51, and followed up with another at 11:40. This left them surging for the overall lead in the pro division but the day 1 daily prize winners Team Bad Company weren’t going down without a hard fight.

The “Bad Company” got their first fish to pull back into a tie on points, losing only by time with a billfish that was released at 11:27. They pulled off a second release within minutes when they let loose a fish at 11:30. This vaulted them back into the top spot, with the “Gambler” right at their heels. The “Gambler” answered back quickly by releasing the fish at 11:40 to draw back even in the number of releases for each boat. Another five minutes passed before the “Gambler” was back on the radio calling in their sixth fish of the event to retake the lead at 11:45, and just over half of the fishing day gone.

After the battle back and forth between the “Gambler” and the “Bad Company”, it was time for some fresh faces to get in on the action. The first to join the party was the “Pacific Edge” who put the screws to a billfish and got the release at 11:47. Next up was the “Reel Time” who put a clean release up at 12:09 for their second of the tournament. The “Ruckus” followed up just after noon with their second release of the day at 12:15. “Bad Company” meanwhile was still on the hunt and they pulled another fish at 12:17 to draw back even on the number of fish caught while the “Gambler” held the lead on time.

The “Pacific Edge” grabbed a marlin at 12:17, with the call coming in just 30 seconds after the “Bad Company” released their fish. The amateurs got back in the game after that, with the “Exta Sea” putting up a release at 12:41. “Aly Cat” still held the amateur division lead with their first fish of the day, but added a little insurance in the form of a second marlin which they released at 12:58. The “Reel Nice and Easy” added their name to the expanding list of successful crews at 1:17 with a clean release before things turned back into the “Bad Company” vs. “Gambler” show.

The first boat to their seventh marlin release was the “Bad Company” who got their points at 1:39. The “Gambler” answered right back at 1:51, with their seventh fish of the tournament and fifth of the day. The “Reel Nice and Easy” got their second release of the day at 2:28 as they got dialed in on the fish while the “Reel Time” repeated the feat at 2:46 with their second release on the day. The “Bad Dog II” was on a fish from just after 1:00, finally getting the clean release at 3:20. It was then back to the “Bad Company” as they added their eighth release of the tournament at 2:47 and drew even with the “Gambler” for the day.

At 3:17 the “Bad Company” released their ninth fish of the tournament and sealed the win, sweeping both the jackpot and both daily prizes to take all of the money in the pro division. The “Ruckus” added their fifth release of the tournament and third of the day at 3:19. “Aly Cat” also sealed up a win in the last hour with a final release at 3:36, their third of the day. This left “Aly Cat” to take the money in the amateur division, winning both the jackpot and the daily prize from both days. The last fish of the day went to the “Reel Time” who was hooked up at lines out and released their third marlin of the event at 4:01 to finish off the 2008 Yamaha Contender Avalon Billfish Classic Billfish Tournament.

The top catching crew in the pro division was Team Bad Company with 9 releases for the tournament. The Gambler fell just short with 7 releases in the tournament, “Ruckus” pulled 5 releases and “Reel Time”, “Reel Nice and Easy”, and “Pacific Edge” all ended up with 4 releases and the “Knot for Rent” had two. For the “No Fear” amateur division it was the “Aly Cat” that took the most points on three releases, while the “Quality Time”, “Bad Dog II” and “Exta Sea” contributed one release each.

Prize money for the Professional Division is $11,750, going to first place “Bad Company”, $5,875 for the “Gambler”, and $1,958 for third place ”Ruckus”. On the “No Fear” Amateur Division, “Aly Cat” takes home $4,314 for first, “Quality Time” takes $2,517 for second, and “Exta Sea” gets $719 for third place. Team Bad Company also gets the daily pools for both days, totaling $17,900 while in the amateur division “Aly Cat” gets $3,400 in daily prize money.