2022 Quest Series Champions 12

CONTENDER ONE

This tournament and series rank up there with the best

wins of my career. Of course, winning the World Sailfi sh was a milestone and all the records we have set up and down the coast with historic numbers from the Sailfi sh Derby with 59 releases to the K-Rock Classic with 50 sails and a blue marlin released and the Lauderdale Billfi sh tournament with 37 releases is hard to forget. But it’s hard to describe how badly I wanted to win this series and do well for Contender Boats. I knew in my heart that we had the ability to win this. I also felt there was no better fi shermen out there than the crew that we put together this year.

Running over 290 trips on my charter boat last year, on every trip, I tried to treat it as if I was fishing in the Quest series and what would I do. Some people may have thought we had too many chiefs on the boat, but at the end of the day, the decision of where we went and moves that we made rested on my shoulders, and I had the full support of my team. Looking back, when we started off the series in Palm Beach fi shing Operation Sailfi sh, I can still remember the anxiety I had going into the tournament and knowing that we had to get off to a solid start. We came out swinging with a slammer day fi shing near the north boundary and caught 14 sailfi sh. As the second day arrived the weather changed, and fi shing died off but we still managed to hold on to fourth place, which I knew would keep us in the running for the series. the decision-making process is crucial. With a 100-mile boundary you have a lot of options and a lot to consider. Fishing the prior couple weeks every day on the Cutting Edge, I felt I had a really good idea where we had to fi sh for the results we needed. We decided to stay in Miami and fi sh the area I fi shed all week and it paid off. We caught sailfi sh off free jumpers, and at the last minute we managed to pull off some Contender One heroics and catch a triple-header. It was an incredible win but who would have imagined what was in store for us in the next event.

Final Sail, the last leg of the series, has always been a good sailfi sh tournament for me. I’ve placed second in the tournament at least a few times but this time it had a lot more meaning. All I can remember thinking for weeks prior to the tournament is don’t screw this up. My mindset was, ‘Just go out and fi sh like you do every day and let things fall into place and when you really need something big, make it happen.’ And as all great stories go, the fi rst day did not go as planned. But the second day was truly amazing. We caught a fi ve banger to start off the day and just kept it rolling as the day progressed. I made a last-minute run thirty minutes back to the south to set up on the Haulover boil and we ended up catching another five banger at the end of the day to swing us into second place and secure the series win! Honestly, I still can’t believe we were able to pull it off. I am just a happy dirty yellowtail eating focker! Froggy and I are best friends and it meant so much to witness his emotion after years of hard work culminated with the biggest win of our careers. – Captain “Q”

WORLD CHAMPIONS

ELITE PERFORMANCE WORTHY OF ELITE RECOGNITION. We are honored to be able to present the series champions with these amazing awards.

Oh Y F cy Huh?

NEW YEAR. NEW JACKET.

Presented by:

Official apparel sponsor of the Quest for the Crest, PELAGIC Gear,

is bringing that swagger to a completely redesigned burgundy jacket! The Crest symbolizes achievement at the highest level. Who will be the fi rst to don the newest emblem of sailfishing grandeur and the next to inscribe their name in the Quest Hall of Fame?

TOP OVERALL TEAM CUSTOM RODS

The champions of the Quest for the Crest will also receive a custom set of Built by

Randy Towe Series rods to include: • (6) conventional rods • (4) spinning rods • (2) gaffs • (2) bait nets

Presented by:

MASTER ANGLER

WHEN THEY ARE UP TO BAT, THEY DON’T STRIKE OUT.

It’s a hard earned title and the master angler of the Quest series will be awarded with a beautiful piece to commemorate their achievement courtesy of Eddie Forbes Art.

Courtesy of Eddie Forbes, the featured trophy artist of the Quest for the Crest, the top overall team will receive a custom designed nautical bar. On display at the Final Sail Awards Party we can’t wait to toast our champions behind their brand new bar!