Ability Cashes in on The $80,820 KWD Jackpot in the 29th Annual Annual Mercury/SeaVee Pompano Beach Saltwater Slam
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2024
Kicking Off The 29th Annual Mercury/SeaVee Pompano Beach Saltwater Slam
Pompano Beach, FL – The 29th Annual Mercury SeaVee Pompano Beach Saltwater Slam kicked off its weekend festivities on June 13th with a captains’ meeting at the Pompano Beach Civic Center. Fifty-eight teams gathered for an evening of music, games, and camaraderie.
DJ Select kept the energy high with lively tunes, while the Taylor Builders-sponsored Over/Under Game entertained the crowd and raised funds for Mission Fishin’. Attendees enjoyed complimentary cocktails from Islamorada Brewery & Distillery and Landshark Lager, served by the Hooters Girls of South Florida. Bonefish Mac’s provided a delicious spread as teams mingled with sponsors and vendors including PELAGIC Gear, Bloody Battery, AHP Marine Construction, How Ya Reelin’ Fishing & Tackle, and APEX Lighting.
On Saturday, teams gathered at The Cove Waterfront Restaurant & Tiki Bar for the Weigh-in party, fueled by Landshark Lager. The excitement carried into Sunday afternoon, where top teams enjoyed a satisfying meal courtesy of Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza. The weekend wrapped up with an awards ceremony, honoring the top anglers with cash prizes and gifts from Bass Pro Shops, celebrating their remarkable achievements.
Slam Recap
Big Bag Division
In 5th Place, series new comers out of Palm Beach, Overkill, captained by Bryce McMillan, aboard their 29’ Sea Vee, hit the scales with a bag of four kingfish and two tuna scoring an aggregate weight of 132.1lbs to secure 1st place in the Mid-Range Divison and 1st place in the Mid-Range Bonanza Calcutta for a total payout of $4,708.
Next up in 4th Place, team Liquidated, the world champions of the 2024 Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series, led by capt. Danny Clinton, aboard their Mercury-Powered 39’ Sea Vee, reeled in four kingfish and three tuna for an aggregate weight of 135.4lbs to secure 1st Place in the Heavist Tuna Division for a $2,500 payday.
Coming in 3rd Place, team Doing It All/Hardway, led by Capt. Daryl Deka, loaded their box with four kingfish, two tuna, and a 41.8lb wahoo for an aggregate weight of 163.2lbs to earn the team 1st Place in the Heaviest Wahoo Division, 3rd Place in the Bluewater Bonanza Calcutta, and 2nd Place in The Big Three Calcutta to cash in on a total of $6,803.
And in 2nd Place, Caught Slippin, led by Capt. Eric Neidorf, owner of How Ya Reelin’ Tackle, hit the scales with four kingfish and four tuna for an aggregate weight of 178lbs of meat, with 105.5lb of their bag reeled in by Saltwater Slam Top Male Angler, Cody Durham, earning the team 3rd Place in the Heaviest Kingfish Division, and 2nd Place in the Bluewater Bonanza, Holy Mackerel, and Ante Up Calcuttas for a payout of $9,736.
The New Big Fish Division Splits The Tournament Fleet Feilding 29 Boats
This year, the PBSC introduced an exciting new twist with the Team Division, offering two unique avenues for competition. Teams had the option to compete in either the traditional Big Bag (aggregate weight) or the new Big Fish Division, each presenting its own distinct challenge and strategy.
The Big Fish Division was a hit, with it’s $9,000 guaranteed payout structure, split the tournament fleet in half feilding 29 Boats, to help spread the winnings to competing teams.
In 2nd Place, Spiced Rum III, led by Capt. Bill Wummer, reeled in four kingfish, two of which we’re caught by Saltwater Slam Top Female Angler, Sherri Beswick, with their heaviest weighing 35.5 lbs to earn the team 3rd Place in the Holy Mackeral Calcutta for a $3,472 payday.
In 1st Place, series new comers, Mercury-Powered team Wayt N Sea, captained by David Wayt, hit the scales with three kingfish, the heaviest weighing in at 43.7lbs to secure the team 1st Place in the Heaviest Kingfish Division, and 1st Place in the Bluewater Challenge, Big Three, and Holy Mackerel Calcuttas for a payout of $17,858.
Notable Top Finishes
Top Male Angler
Cody Durham – Caught Slippin – 105.5 Points
Top Female Angler
Sherri Beswick – Spiced Rum III – 55.4 Points
Top Junior Angler
Austyn Dickerson – Ability – 54.8 Points
Top Pee Wee Angler
Joey Chrystanski – Doing It All/Hardway – 92.1 Points
Top Family
The Miller Family – Reel Battery – 186.6
Species Division – Heaviest Dolphin
Reel Battery – 17.9 Points – $1,000
Species Division – Heaviest Wahoo
Doing It All/Hardway – 41.8 Points – $1,000
Species Division – Heaviest Kingfish
Wayt N Sea – 43.7 Points – $1,000
Species Division – Heaviest Tuna
Liquidated – 29.6 Points – $1,000
Small Boat Division (26 feet and under)
1st Place – Rebel – 88 Points – $2,500
2nd Place – HOO WE BiLLiN – 81.3 Points – $1,250
3rd Place – Short Handed – 67.6 Points – $500
Mid Range Division (27 to 32 feet)
1st Place – Overkill – 132.1 Points – $2,500
2nd Place – Bobbers Under – 102.8 Points – $1,250
3rd Place – Running Game – 95.3 Points – $500
Semi-Pro Division
1st Place – Ability – 161 Points – $2,000
2nd Place – REEL-EM-IN III – 117.5 Points – $1,500
3rd Place – Reel Conchy – 99.6 Points – $750
4th Place – Runnin Game – 95.3 Points – $500
5th Place – Reel Battery –94.9 Points – $250
Highest Earnings
Ability – $86,150
Slob City – $26,248
Wayt N Sea – $17,858
Caught Slippin – $9,736
Doing It All/Hardway – $6,803
Ability Takes Down The $80,820 KDW Jackpot
Catching a weighable Dolphin, Wahoo, and Kingfish in the tournament isn’t just a challenge; it’s a testament to skill and determination in the competitive fishing circuit. The PBSC tournament’s signature Kay Dee Dubya (KDW) Jackpot, success hinges on presenting the heaviest trio of these prized species. If no trio meets the mark, the jackpot rolls over to the next event, steadily building with each season’s contributions—averaging an impressive $30,000 addition annually with a $200 buy-in per tournament.
The stakes were high in the Saltwater Slam, with $80,820 on the line, drawing multiple teams aiming for the elusive trio. Ultimately, it was the Mercury-Powered team Ability, captained by Allen Gully, who found the pot gold. Angler Mason Selvanik landed the team’s 33lb Kingfish, an 18.3lb Wahoo, and a 12.2lb Dolphin, to secure the jackpot.
In addition to the KDW Jackpot, Ability, also took home 1st Place in the Semi Pro Division, 2nd Place in the Heaviest Dolphin and Show Me The Mahi Division, and 3rd Place in the Big Fish Division, as well as 1st Place in the Semi Pro Bonanza for a total payout of $86,150!
Expecting Nothing Less From Slob City
It’s rare for Capt. Carl Torresson and the crew of Slob City to finish outside the top 10 in any leg of the PBSC tournament trail. However, that uncommon occurrence took place last month in the Saltwater Shootout. Expecting anything less than a stellar performance from them in the upcoming Saltwater Slam would be an understatement and their showing in the Saltwater Slam proved it. Team Slob City hit the scales at Sailfish Marina in Palm Beach with four kingfish and four tuna for an aggregate weight of 183.6lbs earning the team 3rd in the Heaviest Tuna Division, and 1st Bluewater Bonanza, Ante Up, Charity, and Fish & Chips Calcuttas for a total Payout of $26,248.
Congratulations, Slob City, on earning the well-deserved title of 2024 Mercury/SeaVee Pompano Beach Saltwater Slam Champions.
Chasing The Crown
The race for the Showdown Crown is in full swing and the top five teams are in striking distance to win it all. Here are the Pompano Beach Saltwater Circuit Summer Series standings through leg two:
1st Place – Caught Slippin – 58 Points
2nd Place – Doing it All/Hardway – 56 Points
3rd Place – Overkill – 52 Points
4th Place – MacDaddy – 50 Points
5th Place – Seapremacy – 50 Points
Gearing Up For The Saltwater Showdown
The South Florida angling community is abuzz with excitement as they gear up for The Mercury/SeaVee Pompano Beach Saltwater Showdown, the main event of the series where teams battle it out for a generous cash prize and the coveted Showdown Crown, accompanied by custom championship rings. From August 8-11th, families and seasoned anglers alike will come together to enjoy the thrill of summer fishing in sunny South Florida and the chance to win big.
Signature prize categories for the Saltwater Showdown include Big Fish payouts in excess of $18,000, a Semi-Pro category paying out $5,000 across the top five places in the division, Mid-Range and Small Boat Divisions with over $4,000 in cash dispersed between the top three teams for each category, along with amazing prizes from Flushmaster By SeaMule awarded to the top Family and Gifts from Bass Pro Shops handed out to the competitors in the Junior and Pee-Wee Angler Divisions
For more information about the Pompano Beach Saltwater Slam, visit saltwatershowdown.com
About The Pompano Beach Saltwater Circuit
If you like fishing for Dolphin, Wahoo, Kingfish, Tuna and Cobia, then you will love the format of the Pompano Beach Saltwater Circuit. The PBSC is a 3-leg tournament that takes place annually in South Florida from May to August. Leg 1 of the series begins in May with the Saltwater Shootout, followed by the Saltwater Slam in June and the Saltwater Showdown in August. In addition to a $600,000 purse, teams that register for the tournaments will enjoy premier hospitality including free drinks, great food, live entertainment, tournament shirts and a team bag loaded with sponsor swag! It’s no wonder why the PBSC has become one of the most popular series on the east coast.
About Bluewater Movements
Bluewater Movements, Inc., is a sports marketing company based in South Florida, the sport fishing capital of the world. Throughout the past 30 years, our team has developed some of the most successful competitive fishing events in the industry. Our background in tournament fishing, coupled with our expertise in event marketing, has enabled a premium experience for tournament anglers and sponsors. Within our portfolio, there are seven wildly popular fishing tournaments, all hosted at various venues across South Florida.
