Cataumet Boats held an owner appreciation party at their Outermost Harbor Marine location in Chatham, MA, on August 6. Nearly 300 people attended this year, the fifth year for the event. The kids in the crowd were treated to face painting and a huge blow-up slide, the adults to great music, and all enjoyed good food.

The Crocker's Marine Owners' Tournament out of Wrightsville Beach, NC, was yet another success. The July 30 competition was a casual event with no official start time; some set their alarms for 4:30 A.M. and others headed out at 9:00 A.M. No matter the amount of time spent on the water, spirits were high at the scales. Grady-White families claimed wins in several categories. In the adult categories, Christopher Carsick was first in blackfish on his Seafarer 226; Josh Outlaw placed second in dolphin aboard Doug Bevell's 226; Kemp Harris was awarded first and second place for spanish mackerel caught on John Burke's Tournament 225; Matt Thompson reeled in the winning flounder fishing on George Freeman's Marlin 280; and in the king mackerel category Bill Abercrombie, on John Phillips' Tournament 225, won first and Matt Church placed second aboard Ray Church's 225.

Over 50 boats registered for the Morehead Marine Owners' Tournament held July 16 at the Anchorage Marina in Atlantic Beach, NC. Twenty brought fish to the weigh-in after a sun-up to 3:00 P.M. window. The whoppers of the tournament were caught by young Melanie Ng who took the adult categories for both a 20.8-lb. amberjack and a 24.85-lb. barracuda caught on her family's Bimini 306, and by Marion Waters on an Express 330–a 43.25-lb. wahoo. Other winners, in the children's group: black fish, Melanie Ng, .61 lb.; bluefish, Jack Davis, 1.2 lb.; croaker, Ann Mazza on an Adventure 208, .5 lb.; hogfish, Logan Massengill on a Sailfish 272, .45 lb.; king mackerel, Georgie Blackerby on a 330, 7.1 lb.; pinfish, Melanie Ng, 1.25 lb.; spanish mackerel, Tommy Holder on a Seafarer 227, 1.55 lb.; and spot, Colton Massengill on a 272, .6 lb. In the adult group: flounder, Lynn Dickerson on a Tournament 223, 3.75 lb.; king mackerel, Danny McDonald, 16.6 lb.; dolphin, Billy Dixon, 10.3 lb.; gray trout, Jim Massengill on a 272, .75 lb.; porgy, Jim Byrum on a Seafarer 226, 1.25 lb.; spanish mackerel, Susan DeHart on a Seafarer 228, 3.75 lb.; and spot, Jim Massengill, .55 lb.

Nautica Marine out of Georgetown, SC, led a group of 80 for a Waccamaw River low-country plantation cruise on July 17, beginning at Prince George Landing. A lunch on the grounds under the oaks included fried chicken, corn on the cob, slaw, baked beans and plenty of cold beverages.

Norfolk Marine held its 2005 Owners' Tournament July 29-31 out of their newest location, Taylor's Landing in Norfolk, VA. Forty-five boats entered. Marlin 300 owner Tommy Childress was the big winner in the offshore category with a 33.9-lb. and a 29.5-lb. tuna, and also released a white marlin. Overall there were good catches of flounder, blues, croakers, dolphin and spadefish.

Port of Egypt Marine in Southold, NY, held its 15th Annual Grady-White Owners' Tournament July 23-24. Thirty boats competed. Thomas Quartararo caught a 3.55-lb. porgy on his Gulfstream 232; John Rueschle brought in a 27.3-lb. striped bass on Tom Cornell's Marlin 280; Michael Horvath won the fluke category with a 4.25-lb. fish caught on his Sailfish 272; and Ryan Stanevich brought in the largest bluefish at 8.6 lb. on Bob Stanevich's Sailfish 252. In the women's division, Anne Marie Guiliano brought in the largest fluke, 5 lb., on her Express 265; Marta Thomas won for a 25.95-lb. striped bass, also aboard Tom Cornell's Marlin 280; Diane Musumeci caught a 1.8-lb. porgy on Tony Musumeci's Sailfish 282; and Joan Shannon's 9.55-lb. bluefish was a winner, caught on brother Kevin Shannon's Fisherman 222. There were impressive catches in the youth division: Billy Brayer caught the largest fluke weighing 5.45 lb., and a 6.3-lb. bluefish, on his family's Express 330; and T.J. Dalton brought in the division's largest porgy at 1.35 lb. on the family's Express 265. The most unusual catch of the tournament was a scallop caught on rod and reel by John Drinkwater on his family's F-26 Tigercat. The group danced through the evening at the awards ceremony and lobster dinner.

Port Harbor Marine, S. Portland, ME, saw the largest turnout ever on August 27 for their annual Owners' Tournament. Forty-one boats participated. The weather was excellent for being out on the water, and stripers, cod and mackerel were the most common fish caught. There were reports of several catches and releases of shark; one was weighed in at 311 lb., caught aboard an Islander 270 piloted by Port Harbor's Ron Soucy. A fried fish and ribeye meal was enjoyed by all. A newly arrived Express 330 was a big draw for the crowd.

Somers Point Marina in Somers Point, NJ, had 46 boats enter this year's Grady-White Boats Owners' Tournament held July 16. Retired Grady-White sales representative Pete Fuhrman served as weighmaster, assisted by Mike Strug of WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, and Pete Thompson of WMGM-TV, Atlantic City. John Roberts of Ocean City took top flounder honors with a 6-lb., 12-oz. fish landed from his Voyager 248, Lovers Key. The bluefish trophy was captured by Bill Morak fishing from Dad's Dream, also a 248. In a down weakfish season, Dale Dagen took the category with a 2-lb., 6-oz. fish reeled in on his Seafarer 226. The largest fish weighed in was a 33-lb. bluefin tuna taken by Steve Naumowich, fishing from his father's Gulfstream 232, King James. Brand new Grady owner Allen Fellheimer of Philadelphia picked up the trophy for dolphin with a 15-lb., 8-oz. mahi. He was aboard his Sailfish 282, Judith Louise. Other trophy winners included Rich Williams in seabass, fishing from Robert Coyle's 226, Twin C's, and Mike Shaunnessy for a 2-lb., 10-oz. triggerfish caught from Keith Zaid's Sailfish 252G, Plastic Cloud. Around 225 anglers and their guests attended the post tourna-ment barbeque and awards ceremony.

Taylor Marine Center of Milford, DE, and Taylor Marine Center II of Ocean City, MD, had 60 boats and about 300 customers participate in their Owners' Tournament held July 16. The fishing was hotter than the weather, with a wide variety of species weighed included a 2-oz. starfish brought in by Tournament 192 owner, David Dalton. The largest fish of the day was an 87-lb. bluefin tuna boated by Ron Lough aboard Angelo Rago's Escape 209, Blueprint. All enjoyed the awards dinner.

Tri-State Marine, Deale, MD, sponsored its Tenth Annual Owners' Tournament on August 6 with nearly 290 folks in attendance. A good mix of rockfish (striped bass), croaker and spot were biting. Stacy Cohn's 4.84-lb. rockfish was the largest fish caught on a Grady-White. A game section for children included miniature golf, ring and bean bag tosses, and basketball. Lots of prizes were distributed after a meal of chicken, barbeque and side salads-and pizza for the kids.