JOLENE: 13TH ANNUAL OPERATION SAILFISH CHAMPIONS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 2025
OPERATION SAILFISH SETS RECORDS AGAIN IN LEG ONE OF THE QUEST FOR THE CREST
The highly anticipated Leg One of the Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series Presented By Raymarine, Operation Sailfish, set a tournament fleet record for the third year in a row, boating 63 teams at Sailfish Marina Resort. With a staggering $567,950 purse and the coveted champions’ dog tags on the line, the stakes were higher than ever as teams battled against 402 Atlantic Sailfish.
OPERATION SAILFISH WEEK DEBRIEF
Operation Sailfish Week kicked off in grand fashion on January 15th with the Captain’s Meeting at Sailfish Marina Resort in West Palm Beach. The evening featured an inspiring opening ceremony, highlighted by a salute to the U.S. military performed by the Operation Homefront Color Guard.
Following the ceremonial start, competing teams were treated to an evening of camaraderie and celebration. Complimentary cocktails flowed courtesy of Islamorada Brewery & Distillery, Papa’s Pilar, Josh Wines, and Landshark Lager, paired with dinner from Sailfish Marina and accompanied by series sponsors Raymarine, GEMLUX, Clearshine Detailing, Network Innovations, Land and Sea Professionals, Costa, SIMMS, and Cody’s Fish.
On January 16th, the week’s signature event, Take A Hero Fishing Day, honored 40 veterans paired with 20 participating teams to Benefit Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization committed to building strong, stable, and secure military families who thrive in the very communities they have selflessly protected. This heartfelt tradition celebrated the bravery and dedication of active and retired U.S. military personnel with a day on the water, followed by an awards ceremony sponsored by Land and Sea Professionals. The day concluded with the Spirit of America concert, where Sailfish Marina patrons and participants enjoyed the sounds of Toby Keith tribute band Beer for My Horses.
January 17th and 18th marked the competition days, with high-stakes fishing followed by lively Happy Hours at the Sailfish Marina Tiki Bar, sponsored by C&L Insurance and APH Marine Construction.
The week wrapped up on January 19th with a grand awards ceremony on the south lawn of Sailfish Marina, honoring the top-performing teams while presenting our tournament beneficiary, Operation Homefront, with a $6,300 donation and celebrating the spirit of competition that defines the Quest for the Crest.
THE BATTLE RECAP
DAY ONE
The action kicked off fast and furious on Day One, with over 70 sailfish releases logged in the first hour alone, and held strong into the early afternoon with a total of 291 sailfish released by lines-out. Leading the charge was one of Sailfish Marina’s home favorites, Old No. 7, led by Captain Jamie Ralph, who dominated the leaderboard with 15 releases by day’s end. Their impressive performance, including 12 releases before noon, earned them the Day One Early Bite award and first place in both Tier One and Tier Two Daily Calcuttas, racking up an impressive $61,390. Hot on their heels in second place was Mallard Sportfishing, the newest addition to Sailfish Marina’s elite charter fleet. With Captain Randy Yates at the helm, the team released 11 sailfish, securing second place in both Tier One and Tier Two Daily Calcuttas and taking home $27,810.
Team True Grit, captained by Ryland Dickey, put up a strong fight with 11 releases, including a fierce afternoon rally that fell just four minutes shy of overtaking second place. Their efforts locked in third place in the Tier One Daily Calcutta, adding $4,500 to their daily winnings. Captain Drew Rhonehouse and team Jolene showcased clutch performance, closing out the day with a double hookup as the “lines-out” call echoed across the VHF, finishing with 11 releases to claim fourth place. Rounding out the top five, the reigning 2024 Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series Champions, Liquidated, led by Captain Danny Clinton, brought in nine releases aboard their SeaVee 390z.
The sailfish weren’t the only stars of the day. The meatfish bite also delivered big rewards, with Reel Conchy, helmed by Captain Joe Palandro, taking home first place in the Dynamite Daily Meatfish Calcutta. Aboard their SeaVee 340z, they weighed in four hefty kingfish totaling 170.4 pounds, earning them a $8,820 payday.
DAY ONE STANDINGS
Day One Leaderboard
1st – Old No. 7 – 15 Points
2nd – Mallard Sportfishing – 11 Points
3rd – True Grit – 11 Points
4th – Jolene – 11 Points
5th – Liquidated – 9 Points
Tier One Daily – 50/30/20 Split
1st – Old No. 7 – 15 Points – $11,250 Payout
2nd – Mallard Sportfishing – 11 Points – $6,750 Payout
3rd – True Grit – 11 Points – $4,500 Payout
Tier Two Daily – 70/30 Split
1st – Old No. 7 – 15 Points – $49,140 Payout
2nd – Mallard Sportfishing – 11 Points – $21,060 Payout
Dynamite Daily – Meatfish 70/30 Split
1st – Caught Slippin’ – Aggregate – 186.3 Points – $10,710 Payout
2nd – Seapremacy – Aggregate – 142.4 Points – $4,590 Payout
DAY TWO
Day Two brought a shift in the action as the sailfish bite thinned out, with a modest 111 releases compared to the blistering pace of Day One. Despite the tempered conditions, fresh faces emerged to dominate the daily leaderboard, setting up a dramatic finale.
Owe Deere, captained by Chandler Miles aboard their 36’ center console, stole the show on Day Two. Riding the momentum of their Day One Late Bite win, the crew started the morning with a seven-banger, clinching the Day Two Early Bite title. A crucial afternoon release brought their two-day total to 16 points, earning them second place on the Overall Leaderboard, first in the Small Boat Division, and top honors in the Self Centered and Tier One Daily Calcuttas. Their standout performance delivered a total weekend haul of $36,100.
Close behind, Reel Easy, led by Captain Jimmy Behar, delivered consistent results throughout the tournament. With seven releases on Day Two added to their Day One total, they wrapped up the weekend with 15 releases, securing fourth place overall. Their efforts also netted first place in the Tier Two Daily Day Two, second in Tier One Daily Day Two, and third in the Leaders Board Calcuttas, boosting their weekend payout to an impressive $66,490.
Sailfish Marina favorite Trophy Wife, captained by Scott Adams, rounded out the Day Two highlights with a strong showing of seven releases to finish up the weekend with 13 releases. Top Lady Angler Kay McCann contributed three of those, earning the team the Day Two Late Bite award. Additional accolades included second and third in the Tier Two and Tier One Day Two Daily Calcuttas, respectively, along with Heaviest Dolphin honors for an 11.9lb catch. Their weekend earnings totaled $27,560.
As the Sailfish bites lightened up, the meatfish bags got heavier. Leading the charge was Get Bent/Slob City, a 39’ Contender captained by Carl Torresson, with an impressive 181.1-pound haul of kingfish on Day Two, anchored by a standout 50.4-pound catch. This performance brought their weekend total to an astounding 348.9 pounds, earning them the top spot in the Meat Fish Aggregate and The Grand Daddy award. The team also swept multiple Calcuttas, including Heaviest King, Dynamite Daily Day Two, Big Fish Bonanza, and Big Three, for a weekend payout of $39,795.
DAY TWO STANDINGS
Day Two Leaderboard
1st – Owe Deere – 8 Points
2nd – Reel Easy – 7 Points
3rd – Trophy Wife – 7 Points
4th – Jolene – 6 Points
5th – Debaitable – 6 Points
Tier One Daily – 50/30/20 Split
1st – Owe Deere – 8 Points – $11,250 Payout
2nd – Reel Easy – 7 Points – $6,750 Payout
3rd – Trophy Wife – 7 Points – $4,500 Payout
Tier Two Daily – 70/30 Split
1st – Reel Easy – 7 Points – $49,140 Payout
2nd – Trophy Wife – 7 Points – $21,060 Payout
Dynamite Daily – Meatfish 70/30 Split
1st – Get Bent/Slob City – Aggregate – 181.1 Points – $8,820 Payout
2nd – Reel Monkey – Aggregate – 159.7 Points – $3,780 Payout
TOP TEAMS
Overall Leaderboard
1st – Jolene – 17 Points
2nd – Owe Deere – 16 Points
3rd – Old No. 7 – 15 Points
4th – Reel Easy – 15 Points
5th – True Grit – 15 Points
Highest Earnings
1st – Jolene – $179,910
2nd – Old No. 7 – $113,680
3rd – Reel Easy – $66,490
4th – Get Bent/Slob City – $39,795
5th – Owe Deere – $36,100
MISSION COMPLETE: JOLENE SECURES OPERATION SAILFISH CHAMPION’S DOG TAGS
Each year, the Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series Presented by Raymarine draws the nation’s top sailfishing teams to compete at the highest level. This year was no different, with the series opener, Operation Sailfish, boasting its largest fleet yet at 63 teams. Among the contenders was Jolene, captained by Drew Rhonehouse, a crew well-versed in handling high-stakes competition. With an Operation Sailfish title already on their resume from 2022, the crew knew exactly what it would take to succeed.
On Day One, Jolene delivered 11 releases, positioning themselves comfortably in fourth place heading into the final day. Determined to climb the leaderboard, the crew added six crucial releases early on Day Two, pulling ahead of the pack and narrowly edging out Owe Deere by a single point. The effort secured Jolene the coveted first-place spot on the Overall Leaderboard and a clean sweep of the Leaders Board, High Rollers Club, The Big Easy, Sporty, and Charity Calcuttas. Their performance earned the team a $179,910 payout, solidifying their reputation as a powerhouse in competitive sailfishing.
Congratulations on accomplishing the mission; Jolene’s 2025 Operation Sailfish Champions title is set in stone. Well done!
QUEST FOR THE CREST SERIES STANDINGS THROUGH LEG ONE
1st – Jolene – 31 Points
2nd – Owe Deere – 29 Points
3rd – Old No. 7 – 28 Points
4th – Reel Easy – 27 Points
5th – True Grit – 26 Points
6th – Mallard Sportfishing – 25 Points
7th – Trophy Wife – 24 Points
ON TO THE NEXT ONE: SAILFISH CHALLENGE, LEG TWO OF THE QUEST FOR THE CREST SAILFISH SERIES
The stage is set for the 22nd Annual Sailfish Challenge, hosted by Galuppi’s Restaurant & Sports Bar in Pompano Beach from February 19 – 23, 2025, with proceeds benefiting The Billfish Foundation. As the second leg of the Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series, this highly anticipated event offers competing teams a shot at a cash purse estimated to exceed $600,000. In true Sailfish Challenge style, the tournament’s unique three-inlet format allows teams to fish from Miami’s Government Cut, Pompano Beach’s Hillsboro Inlet, and West Palm’s Lake Worth Inlet. This strategic flexibility gives teams the edge to track the bite north or south and still make check-in at the end of the day.
The 3-inlet format isn’t the only signature aspect of the Challenge. The tournament also boasts a unique ‘Coin Challenge’ competition that randomly assigns teams in groups by color to see who can release the most sailfish in the tournament!
Don’t miss out on securing your place in this premier tournament! Early registration for Sailfish Challenge is available at a discounted rate of $1,200 per boat until February 5th, 2025. After that, the fee rises to $1,700.
Visit www.sailfishchallenge.com to learn more.
ABOUT THE QUEST FOR THE CREST SAILFISH SERIES
The Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series stands as the ultimate battleground for the world’s top billfishing teams. This prestigious 3-leg series boasts an estimated purse of over $1.7 million, attracting fierce competitors from across the globe. But the true prize—the one that every team covets—isn’t about the money. It’s about The Crest.
The Crest represents the highest honor in the world of tournament sailfishing, a symbol of unmatched excellence. This coveted award, embodied by the iconic burgundy jacket, is reserved for the team that rises above all others in skill, strategy, and stamina. To don the jacket is to hold the title of world champion. It is not just a prize; it is a legacy earned through sheer dominance over an elite field. Only the best of the best can claim this privilege on their quest for the ultimate crown in billfishing.
ABOUT FISH BLUEWATER
Based in the heart of South Florida, the sportfishing capital of the world, Fish Bluewater is a premier sports marketing company with over three decades of expertise. For 30 years, we’ve been at the forefront of the competitive fishing scene, developing some of the most successful tournaments in the industry. Our deep-rooted knowledge of tournament fishing, paired with cutting-edge event marketing strategies, has allowed us to deliver unparalleled experiences for both anglers and sponsors alike.
With a portfolio of seven highly sought-after tournaments, each hosted at iconic venues across South Florida, Fish Bluewater continues to set the standard in competitive sportfishing events. Our commitment to excellence ensures that every tournament we produce is more than just a competition—it’s a premium experience that celebrates the passion and spirit of the sport.
For media inquiries, images, and additional information, please contact:
Chris Caravello
Phone: 954-725-4010
Email: Chris@bluewatermovements.com
