Record Weigh-In Characterizes Lower Keys Dolphin Tournament

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 at 4:07 PM

Record Weigh-In Characterizes Lower Keys Dolphin Tournament
Big Pine Key, Florida Keys -(FishNLand.com)- Steve McKenna of Cudjoe Key, Fla., took first place in the 16th annual Big Pine and Lower Keys Dolphin Tournament that ended June 14.

McKenna, who fished aboard Cudjoe Cuda with Captain Glenn Taylor, earned the top spot and $5,000 for a dolphin weighing 36.70 pounds.

Anglers weighed in a tournament record of 131 dolphin during the challenge’s two fishing days, said event co-director Carole Stevens, as well as five tuna and a wahoo that tipped the scales at 57.55 pounds.

Keith Wilkinson of Macclenny, Fla., took second place honors for bringing in a 36.2-pound dolphin while fishing on the General Quarters guided by Captain Keith Collins.

Ted Yoho of Gainesville, Fla., placed third with a dolphin weighing 36.05 pounds. He fished on the Salt Shaker and also captained the boat.

The tournament’s top female angler was Juliane Renner of Big Pine. She caught a 29.65-pound dolphin while fishing on Captain Hartnut Renner’s Sea U.

In the junior division, 14-year-old Mike Malvasio Jr. of Southwest Ranches, Fla., took first place. Malvasio caught a 27.45-pound dolphin fishing on Swallow the Leader, skippered by his father, Mike Malvasio Sr.

Additional prizes were awarded to the anglers who caught the largest tuna and wahoo. Bill O’Quinn of Immokalee, Fla., was recognized for a 17.7-pound tuna, while Big Pine angler Steve Rudolph, who caught the 57.55-pound wahoo on the first fishing day, took top wahoo honors.