Flatfish lands $10,000
One-Shot Photography
Mike Smiley displays his winning 196.6-pound halibut for the camera. The big fish netted Smiley $10,000 in the 2012 Seward Halibut Tournament.
This year’s big winner in the Seward Halibut Tournament is Mike Smiley of Balinsville, N.Y. Smiley hauled in the 196.6-pounder aboard the ProFish of ProFish-N-Sea chaters on June 24. Smiley took home the $10,000 prize.
Second place goes to Chris Bautsch of Seward. Bautsch reeled in his 194.8-pounder on June 21 aboard Got Fish and netted $5,000.
Samuel Sommerschield of Winchester, Tenn. landed the 187-pound third place flatfish on June 16 aboard the ProFish-N-Sea charter boat Pursuit and won $2,500.
New for the 2012 tournament were 10 tagged halibut, sponsored by 10 different organizations. Local Dana McLennan pulled in the only tagged fish caught this year. McLennan’s fish was sponsored by the Seward Military Resort and netted a $250 prize.
Prizes for each day’s biggest fish caught in the June 1-30 tourney included seats on 2013 fishing charters, rods and reels, and gift certificates from local businesses.
The tournament is presented by the Seward Charter Boat Association and Seward Chamber of Commerce. A committee of charter boat owners/staff, chamber members, business people and local organizations governs the event. Sponsors of the tournament include national franchise businesses, and local businesses and organizations.