Casuarina dominates #17 Classic

May 19, 2022

By Marcy Shortuse

The bite was brisk and the fish were smallish, making it easier to catch-and-release quickly. William Woodroffe, the tournament’s founder and coordinator, said they shaved $200 off each entry fee to donate to the Gasparilla Island Maritime Museum. With 16 boats in the tournament, that made for a nice donation of $3,200 to the GIMM, topped off with a pledge from angler Howard Wise of $5,000 from his team’s prize money. That made a total of $8,200 donation for the museum, as well as a $500 donation to the Boca Grande Fishing Guides’ Association.

As it turns out, football isn’t the only sport in which Nick Saban proves to have a hot hand. He was on the team that won the #17 Classic on Saturday, May 14. Saban and fellow anglers Nicholas Saban, Howard Wise, John Lynch and Tom O’Shane won the top prize of $9,660 in the tournament with Capt. Charlie Coleman on Casuarina.

It was Nick and Nicholas’ first Boca Grande tournament. Pappa Saban had one release, Nicholas had two, Wise had one, O’Shane released two, and Lynch released one.

Second place in the #17 was taken by the Blaze team with Capt. Waylon Mills, with four tarpon released. Anglers were Angie Mills, Sally Joiner, Terry Joiner and Sam Joiner. They took home a prize of $6,440.

First fish of the tournament was released by the Family Tradition team with Capt. Travis Joiner at the helm. Anglers were Herb Milner, Billy Palmer, Joe Herndon and McCarley Davis. They took home $1,700.

Last fish was taken by Casuarina, so they added $1,700 to their prize money.

The bite was brisk and the fish were smallish, making it easier to catch-and-release quickly. William Woodroffe, the tournament’s founder and coordinator, said they shaved $200 off each entry fee to donate to the Gasparilla Island Maritime Museum. With 16 boats in the tournament, that made for a nice donation of $3,200 to the GIMM, topped off with a pledge from angler Howard Wise of $5,000 from his team’s prize money. That made a total of $8,200 donation for the museum, as well as a $500 donation to the Boca Grande Fishing Guides’ Association.

“We had constant fish on the line; it was a good bite,” Woodroffe said. “The weather was perfect and it was good fishing.”

The #17 Classic started out in 2020 as the Quarantine Classic (named for obvious reasons). Woodroffe changed the name to #17 Classic in its second year, and now it’s in its third year.

The tarpon roster is as follows:

Casuarina – 7 (last fish as well)