Over the weekend of July 29 and 30th, Monroe County Firefighters Local 3909 held their 3rd Annual Dolphin Fishing Tournament. Scott McIntyre and Joe McCluan with Vince Easevoli captaining the boat, have fished the tournament since it's inception. This year our crew expanded to include Jereme Cadorette and Pat Kelly.

We all went down for the Captains dinner the night before the tournament and cleaned house on the raffles which thoroughly annoyed the local fisherman who fully expected to walk away with the tournament. The next morning we all got up well before dawn eager to start our hunt for those elusive Bull dolphin. The seas were angry that day my friends. They were breaking 4 to 6 feet with the occasional 8 footer. Needless to say we were taking a beating out there, but we forged on out to the deep water.

Our spirts were quickly broken after the first days catch landed only a small tuna and no dolphin. To add insult to injury we pulled into the weigh station and see "Team Yamaha" with their fancy boat and matching uniforms, unloading 2 dolphin well over 30 lbs each and having 12 in their boat all over 20 lbs. Things were looking pretty grim for us. We went home with our heads hung low and contemplated accepting defeat.

The forecast didn't look good for the next day. Seas were going to be rough again and now there was a chance of thunderstorms. That night we all had our doubts, but decided to give it one more try the next morning. We decided to go out for a few hours and if things were going well we would continue but if not we would head home. The first few hours was a lot like the first day, getting pounded by the waves and not much luck with the fish. We finally hooked up our first dolphin around 10 and spirts started to rise. It was a small peanut but there was some hope.

After another hour or so the rumblings started and we were close to throwing in the towel when Joe spotted a lone bird flying low across the horizon. The bird made a sudden stop and dived down to the ocean. We made a hard turn in the boat and trolled by when all of a sudden the outrigger popped and the Penn International was screaming! FISH ON!!!! As Joe started to fight the fish the excitement grew. Everyone scrambled for a spinning reel with a chunk of ballyhoo waiting to see if any other dolphin were in the area.

Just then along the back of the boat he came, the Bull! Scooter McIntyre was in place ready to cast his bait when out of no where Jereme swiftly flipped his bait right underneath him and dropped it perfectly in front of the hungry fish. The spinner screamed as he took the bait and ran, the fight was on! After 20 minutes we landed the 25 lb. cow Joe was fighting and spirits were soaring. Now if we could land Jereme's bull we could win this thing. The fight was long and hard, but Jereme stuck with it. Thirty minutes later we brought the biggest dolphin any of us had ever seen into the boat. We could not have been happier!

Later that day we pulled back into the weigh station again to find "Team Yamaha" proudly strutting around the dock with their catch of the day. They asked if we needed to weigh any fish and quite humbly we said maybe one. Then we opened the fish box and all they could see was the tail.

Gas for boat: $170
Tournament fee: $400
Bait: $50
Ice: $30
Defeated look on Team Yamaha's face: PRICELESS!!

Jereme's bull toped the scale at 55 lbs. WINNER!! The firefighter's from Monroe County's local were so happy to see firemen come in and win the tournament instead of a group a of professional fishermen. We all couldn't stop smiling when we went up to pick up our 1st Place plaque and $1500 prize money. We are all looking forward to next years fish tale and anyone who wants to sponsor the 2006 reigning champions please let us know!