NWWC TUNA REPORT: Newport FINALLY gets their Tuna Classic!
NEW July 20, 2009 / 11:30 a.m

NEWPORT, Ore. - Four years of blowout finally turned into a day of albacore fishing July 18 in Newport as the 2009 Oregon Tuna Classic kicked off.

The first scheduled leg of the West Coast's biggest albacore derby series has been a victim of Mother Nature for the past three years, but despite a "sporty" ocean and 15-mile fog bank that limited visibility to 1/2 mile of Newport on derby morning, 56 teams blasted off Saturday morning.

"Without a current SST, most boats headed towards the traditional tuna hotspots such as Tuna Town and the 61 Spot," said tournament organizer Del Stephens. "A few boats ventured south, knowing they would have a bumpy ride coming back. Team Pro Sports Center from northern California took the gamble and ran all the way south to Heceta Bank. They landed 19 fish but nothing big enough to make the podium. A worthy effort just the same."

Results: Team Albacore Section finished first with a total weight of 126.8, followed by Offshore Adventure Charters out of Coos Bay with 123.8 and Secret Island out of Garibaldi with 120.1.

"It was scratch fishing today," Stephens said. "The most fish caught was 28, and only two teams had over 20 fish. Most of the boats with really good fishermen came in with 12 fish a boat."

The event generated 4,105 pounds of tuna for the Oregon Food Bank and attracted a crowd of 400 people to the weigh-in at the Newport marina.

Next up: The OTC takes its fight against hunger to Washington for the first time on Aug. 1 for the Ilwaco leg of the four-derby series. Registration and information can be found at the OTC website.

FINAL STANDINGS
1.Albacore Section 126.80
2.Offshore Adventure Charter 123.85
3.Secret Island 120.10
4.Pro Sports Center 117.35
5.Keep'n it Reel 114.15
6.Rock Hard 110.50
7.Maverick's Misfits 110.30
8.Wildcat / II S Mechanical 109.20
9.Avengers 108.85
10.Just Keep Fishing 108.55
11.Ripn Lips 108.45
12.Team Tenacious 106.75
13.Bad Ass Tuna 106.70
14.Seelicious 103.20
15.Tuna Wranglers 102.80
16.Silverfish 102.25
17.Team Road Builder 102.15
18.Team Hula hoop 101.35
19.Team Reel Song 100.95
20.El Shaddai 100.85
21.Radio Labs 100.85
22.Team Weredun 100.45
23.Team Allstate/Grand Slam 100.25
24.G Loomis 99.90
25.Team Aqua Velvet 98.30
26.Nalu Charters 97.05
27.Team Holokai 96.90
28.Tuna Tales 96.35
29.Lead Head 96.10
30.Kawriders 95.10
31.Team No Quarter Given 94.03
32.Tuna Jihad 93.65
33.Team Hookers 92.20
34.No Bail 90.50
35.Ugly Boat Bouys 88.15
36.Team Surfs Up 87.85
37.Team Tuna Toy 87.65
38.Team Engage 86.80
39.Tuna Federalies 80.50
40.Knife River 78.05
41.Bad to the Bone 59.60