Approx. 174 gals compete in event

(Aug. 8, 2014) Twenty-nine boats took approximately 174 lady anglers offshore last weekend during the Ocean City Marlin Club’s sixth annual “Heels and Reels” tournament.

Franky Pettolina, OCMC president and co-director of the tournament with Amanda Shick, said the event “went spectacular.”

“The weather was great Friday, a little sloppy on Saturday,” he said.

Overall, fishing was good, Pettolina added.

A total of $32,990 was awarded to tournament winners.

Sea Slammer anglers, Vicky and Debbie McCann, Suzette Frank and Maria Herron, released five white marlin and won $12,240.

Jenny Pastorius and Kristen Brown released four white marlin aboard Jenny Poo and took home $2,754.

Brenda Lou anglers, Monica Freese and Brenda Goodhart, released three whites and one blue marlin and were presented with $756.

The M.R. Ducks crew released two whites and were awarded $1,080.

The Knot Again team earned first and second place in the dolphin division. Bernadette Mumford landed a 49.6-pound dolphin, good for $5,602.50. Maria Baiocco reeled in an 18.4-pound dolphin and received $1,336.50.

Jen Otto hooked a 17-pound dolphin aboard Last Call and won $891.

Grande Pez angler Tamara Sears caught a 63.8- and 57.2-pound tuna, which finished in first and third in the division. The fish were worth $1,282.50 and $513, respectively. Corky Mock landed a 62.8-pound tuna aboard Slaughterhouse to take second place at $1,714.50.

Marli angler Brandy Parker earned $3,375 for her 56.4-pound tuna. Heather Thompson and Lisa Malaska reeled in a 51.2-pound tuna and took home $567. Wendy Cioll’s 32.4-pound tuna won her and her Knot Again teammates $378.

Shannon Stickles (White Lightning) was the top junior angler. She boated a 16.8-pound dolphin and received $500.

Nearly $4,000 will be donated to the Ocean City Marlin Club Auxiliary’s Scholarship Fund through tournament proceeds and donations.