Million Dollar Sailfish Released!

November 28, 2007 - Miami, Florida - Today a unique crew gathered on the docks at Florida Yachts International to embark on an historic fishing trip. What was to make this trip historic was not the prey, but what the prey would become once the team caught it...

The crew consisted of Tony Albelo (Tournament Director for the Sailfish Kickoff and the Mayor's Cup), Ariel Pared (President of Sea Vee Boats), Rey Navarro (Florida Yachts International), Sue Cocking (Miami Herald writer), Pete Bosch (MIami Herald Photographer), Scott Shane ("The Bite" TV Producer), Roberto Lozano (Captain, FYI), Bobby Damas (FYI), Ozzie Gonzalez (mate), David McKenzie (mate), and Anna Albelo (2nd video camera). And what it crew it was!

Although the crew seems large, each had a specific purpose for being on the boat. And they never felt cramped as the boat for the outing was a beautiful 58-foot Riviera Sportfish with an enclosed flybridge. The team was defiantly riding in style. The day started off with some bait from local bait experts Burt & Erick Korpela. The team was out on the water by 8:00 am with the first lines in the water. The weather was a bit rough, but everyone knew it was perfect sailfish weather; or at least they thought it was perfect sailfish weather.

Everyone had the same idea that this would be a quick trip out. Just a few minutes... maybe even an hour to catch ONE sailfish. Or so they thought. The hours ticked by ever so slowly. 10:00 am came; 11:00 am passed; lunch time was upon them; and still nothing. At 2:00 pm there was zero to show for eight hours of work except a few dolphin. At this time some of the crew had to head back for they had made afternoon appointments (thinking that this would only take an hour or so). So the entire crew headed into Bayside to drop off a couple of team members and pickup some more bait.

While at the docks at Bayside, Jimbo and Rick Thomas of the Thomas Flyer started chatting with the crew. Upon realizing the "crack crew's" dilemma, they offered to help and jumped on board. They brought their own bait rods, de-hookers, sandwiches, and beer; an essential part of the Thomas Flyer tackle box. At 3:00 pm the crew was headed back out with new teammates and a renewed faith. After spending some time catching bait, the team setup in 120 and the game was back on. Just like clockwork, there was a bite on the right long bait and it was "him." The fish we were waiting for. The sailfish came up jumping and coming right for the boat. Rick Thomas was winding as fast as he could as Roberto pushed the boat forward to help remove the slack. A few seconds later the fish was on and on for good. Rick made short work of the fish and brought it boatside as Ozzie Gonzalez placed the special tag in the fish. It was a perfect tag. The fish was revived for a few moments and swam off kicking. Unbeknownst to that sailfish he was now worth One Million Dollars!

Now teams competing in the FYI Sailfish Kickoff or the Sea Vee/Mecury Mayor's Cup will have a shot at catching this fish and reeling in a Cool Million.