Record Book
Georgia State Record Wahoo
When the "Cold Duck", a 31' Bertram piloted by Jeff Mullis of Statesboro, headed for open waters on the final day of the Bull River Yacht Club Billfish Tournament, the team was hoping for some action that would give them a victory.
That afternoon, Saturday, June 24, the "Cold Duck" came to the weigh-in with a fish that not only gave them the tournament victory, but also established a new Georgia record for the largest Wahoo landed. An a $100,000 prize for breaking the state record!!!!
The Team was made up of Mike Stefanick of Savannah, who landed the fish, Mullis, Dr. Jim Clifton of Swainsboro, Garland Nessmith and Allan Procter, both of Statesboro.
The group, which had fished on Thursday--first day--and then laided out the second, had accumulated over 80 points and needed more to stay in contention with the "Hat's Off" owned by Eddie Perry of Savannah.
THE DEPTH CHARGE
It was shortly after noon in about 140 feet of water, some 12 miles inside the triple edge area, that the team decided to go deeper than they had been fishing, dropping the bait, a ballyhoo, to a depth of 55 feet with a Z-WING DOWNRIGGER SYSTEM.
"We were using 80-pound Berkley Fireline with a 300-pound flourocarbon leader," Mullis related and said the bait had hardly reached its depth when the big Wahoo struck at 12:15. 35 minutes later, the Wahoo was landed.
"We knew we had a big fish but we didn't have any idea it would be a state record...", Mullis added.
Michael Stefanick's views on the Z-WING DOWNRIGGER SYSTEM "We couldn't have won without it and will continue using them for years to come".
Mike Stefanick hefts his 123.3 pound Georgia State Record Wahoo.
