MAHAFFEY WINS MERCURY OUTBOARDS/CHEECA REDBONE; ZICARI WINS SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP

Make-A-Wish youngster catches elusive “Redbone” fishing with TV’s Jose Wejebe

ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys—For all the fish he caught, defending series champion Jim Bokor, Tavernier, came up just one fish short of a win and a fifth possible series championship in the 13th Annual Mercury Outboards/Cheeca Redbone celebrity fishing tournament season finale.

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It was Tim Mahaffey, Miami, who with 15 redfish and two bonefish all caught on fly, managed to carve out a win earning 2100 points. “This is the first time Capt. Rick Murphy (Miami) and I really clicked to win a big competition,” Mahaffey said. “The fishing was awesome.”

Pro celeb fishing teammate Tim Borski supplied Mahaffey with the flies, patterned to look like small crabs, which caught his fish.

Bokor of Tavernier, caught six bonefish and nine redfish on bait to finish second with 2050 points. He was guided by Capt. Tim Hoover of Marathon.

Finishing third with 1850 points was Dan Zicari, Vero Beach, who despite the finish was able to score enough points to finish first in the three event Mercury Redbone series standings. Zicari had previously finished fourth at the 11^th Mercury SLAM in Key West in September and first at the 10th Mercury Baybone in Key Largo the following month. He also had the biggest bonefish in the tournament at 29”. His childhood friend, Capt. Mark Krowka, Davie, Fla, guided him.

Zicari won a gold Rolex watch as a part of his winnings.

With Islamorada Capt. Rick Moeller on the poling platform, University of Miami coach and former No. 7 seeded world men’s tennis pro Jay Berger took the celebrity grand champion prize. Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield, Melbourne, was the runner up, captained by Mike Ehlers, Islamorada.

Olympic downhill champion skier Andy Mill, Delray Beach, Fla., who is the host of Sportsman’s Journal, was the pro-celebrity winner. Mill was guided by Islamorada Capt. Craig Brewer.

Team Grand Champion anglers were Islamorada Mayor Jim Mooney and partner Don Monsalvatge, Miami with Capt. Rick Miller guiding.

Special honors went to 15-year old Christian Goodpaster, Elizabeth, Ind., a Make-A-Wish youngster. The young man suffers with cystic fibrosis (CF) and is waiting for a lung donor and a transplant he badly needs. Christian was teamed with his idol Jose Wejebe, cable TV fishing host of ESPN’s Spanish Fly. Guided by Capt. Dale Perez, Goodpaster caught two redfish and a bonefish to record the elusive “Redbone.”

During the post-tournament reception Jose told Steve Miller of Mercury, "Of all the years I’ve been fishing, the past two days have been the best I can remember.”

Sitting with the family at the award’s banquet, Wejebe made it a point to tell the audience how honored he felt to have had the opportunity to fish with Christian. By the end of the tournament, everyone left with a feeling of gratification and pride that they were able to help make Christian’s wish come true. Miller said, “I'm sure this will be a tournament none of us will soon forget.”

Fishing with Capt. Tom Rowland, author Jeffrey Cardenas, Key West, Fla., won the Sixth Annual SuperFly Series trophy among the three Key West, Key Largo and Islamorada stops. Craig Reagor, Bannockburn, Ill. won the Seamaster Reel for winning the Redbone segment. Guided by Capt. Rob Fordyce, Homestead, Fla., Reagor caught four redfish and three bonefish.

Former Hill Street Blues and Sisters star Ed Marinaro, Los Angeles, Calif., caught the biggest redfish at 29 inches. He was guided by Capt. Steve Thomas, Tavernier, Fla.

In all, 88 boats participated with 210 redfish and 74 bonefish being caught, photographed and released. Original artwork prizes from artists such as Kendall Van Sant, Tim Borski, James Harris, Craig Reagor, Vaughn Cochran and Bill Bishop were presented during a Sunday evening banquet.

A rock concert by singer/saxophonist Clarence Clemons and the Band of Faith, a seven-hour radio auction, live and silent auctions and celebrity dockside parties were a part of the weekend events to raise funds for CF research. To date, the Mercury Redbone Series of fishing tournaments, which has been expanded for 2001, has raised more than $1.5 million for the cause.

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