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Dive With Chad

August 2007, St Pete Open Whitney Rahall takes first place in the girls and women's division. Way to go WHIT!!!

August 28, 2006

Marc Manz shares his photos from the St Pete Open

August 21, 2006

Photos from Chad Campbell, at the St Pete Open

August 20, 2006

From: Kim Rahall

The St Pete Open was a great success. I must first thank Chad at Suncoast Dive Center for the tank fills and equipment. Next a huge thank you goes to Jack and Michael Penny who took us out on the boat and helped the girls along with their Dad Rich. Jack those "secret numbers" somewhere out in the Gulf were great!! Also, a thank you to John and Charlene Reedy for lending us their tanks and a spear gun. We could not have had such a wonderful time if it were not for all of you wonderful people. The girls did good for their first time. They are looking forward to more tournaments in the future. Click Here to view the photos.

Tarpon Round up

From: Chad
Date: 07 Aug 2006

Charlie Owens won the finale day tournament again with a 127 lb fish. Ginger Campbell and Jeff Owens won the couples division and Ginger Campbell won the second half division with 160 lb Tarpon. Congratulations to all that participated in round up this year and my mom.

PRE FISHING FOR BOATERS WORLD

From: mike
Date: 07 Apr 2006

Scott and Myself went out of Clearwater to pre fish for Boaters world tournament. Out on the hard bottom like the other boats will be tomorrow. We did catch 2 big kings in the 30 plus pound range; but with the big kings here today and the twenty plus mile an hour winds coming tomorrow we decided not to fish this tournament along with some of the other well known capt. in the area. Better luck next time King of the Beach is right around the corner.

Hog's Last Breath

By: Rich Rahall

I was attending a birthday party today and in between bites of birthday cake and stealing glances at the stripper who had been engaged for the occasion, I was regaling those who were in ear shot, of the tales of team Penny Wise. Now as most of you know the two things that will hold a man's attention is a good fish story and the sight of a woman who is undressing for the fun of it. Women and fish, pause close your eyes and just say it, women and fish. I see a beginning to my tale. As reported last, Dr. Kingfish and team Penny Wise had spent Saturday, January 28, seventy miles west of Key West tossing about in eight foot seas. Oh boy, but the men of this team are tough and these sea conditions were nothing that they had not been in before. In fact things onshore were more tempestuous. As if wave height on Saturday was not enough the team went right back out on Sunday into the same conditions. The results of the contest are final. The winning team, Lured Away. The weight of the fish 66.77 pounds. In fact the top three fish came in at over sixty pounds. Penny Wise weighed in with a 34.62 pounder. Captain Kingfish reports that the fish did not like his bait. This was a problem in part due to the sea conditions that existed before the tournament when Team Penny Wise attempted to catch bait. Winds in excess of 25 knots, conditions rough. "Sea-ward, white gleaming thro' the busy scud With arching Wings, the sea-mew o'er my head Posts on, as bent on speed , now passaging Edges the stiffer Breeze, now yielding, drifts, Now floats upon the air, and sends from far A wildly-wailing Note." Oh well, Coleridge is nice, but still no good bait. Better luck next time. But wait, the tale has not concluded. Monday, Jack is left with the duty of bringing the boat home. Stevie and his Dad had gone ahead, Jack took Michael to the airport to catch a plane back to Tallahassee. Now it is just Jack and the drive home. Some good alone time, that is until a tire blew on the trailer. Did I mention that it was a two lane road out in the middle of the swamp? Can't change a tire there, Jack kept going till he found a four lane road. Then Jack changed the tire. Did I mention that the new spare was flat? Back on the road, a four lane road, Jack now settles in for the rest of the trip. According to Jack, he had his favorite country and western cd playing when the truck motor stops running. Did I mention that with all the commotion about the tire, Jack had forgot to put fuel in his tank. No problem, call AAA. Here is a fun fact, AAA does not carry a spare fuel can. The truck driver told Jack that he could tow the truck to a gas pump. Oh boy. Jack, with some help from a Ben Franklin got the driver to give him a ride to get fuel and to of course bring Jack back. The good news is that two trucks with boats in tow who had fished the event with Jack, stopped to offer help. Alas, Jack had already called on Ben. So there gentle reader you have the tale. Close your eyes, repeat after me, women and fish, no problem.

Johnny Keller Inshore Tournament

From: Chad
January 31, 2006
Well another good turn out for this inshore tournament. The sheepshead division seemed to be dominate this year. A 10 pounder won it in that division caught by Lynn Zirkle. The trout division was won inside pass a grille and the grouper division was won of course inside the bay. The flounder division was non existent. In fact the only flounder that was caught was released in DJ Strots boat. The crew was not really happy about the early release it cost them $500.00. We started the day off early at ultimate fishing center getting shrimp and pinfish. If you have not met the owner of ultimate fishing center Roy you need to go down and at least say hello. A down to earth guy and will always treat you right. After leaving the fishing shop we headed across the street to launch the boat for our journey south to catch a grouper. First stop was pass a grille where we proceeded to lose 2 grouper and only caught one which was a whole 17 inches and skinny. The next stop was inside near the skyway to some rock piles. We managed to only lose two more fish here. Just seemed like it was not going to be our kind of day. Next stop was for speckled trout and to my surprise the pot hole off of Ft Desoto could not produce anything but white bait. We figured we would move north off of treasure island for some sheepshead. When we pulled up another boat was already there and had told us they had started off Bellair boat ramp and nothing was going on up north so they put the boat on the trailer and came down here. To our surprise there was nothing going on again. We did manage to pull a few small sheepshead off the bridge; but nothing compared to what I had saw two days before when i dove the bridge for stone crabs. Next stop we went dock fishing where we proceeded to loose 8 fish from under the dock and pulled one 24 inch grouper from the pilings. All in all a good day on the water. We did manage to squeeze out 4th place on grouper with a 6.10 pounder; but like the rest of our day we were knocked out of the money in the last 10 minutes of the tournament by a 6.56 pounder.

16th Annual Johny Keller Fishing Tournament Sun, Jan. 29
From: Chad
Date: 28 Jan 2006
Well if you ever wanted to try your luck at tournament fishing this is it. This is just one of the many tournaments put on by the old salts organization to benefit all children's hospital. This is a big fish tournament. Species include sea trout, flounder, sheepshead, and grouper. There is a 25.00 entry fee per angler. It is just a great tournament to fish in and it is for a good cause.

Hogs Breath Keywest Kingfish Tournament
From: Dr Kingfish
Date: January 27, 2006
You can tell that there is a kingfish tournament in town. The wind picks up to a wsustained 26 knots, gusts to 32, seas on the reef are4-6 ft and out beyond are easy 8 footers. Bait was a challenge but we did manage to get about three dozen and bought 2 more dzn. We plan on fishing out to the west beyod the Marqueses keys about 65 to 75 miles. It will a very interesting tournament with the rough conitions, and I hope the high seas will limit the number of boats that make that long run. I'll call in a report on the sat. phone later in the day. C U later Jack <')))))<<

January 25, 2006
HOG'S BREATH KING FISH TOURNAMENT
(Jan. 28-29 2006, KEY WEST, FL.)
Dateline:
Key Largo, Jack Penny and the team of Penny Wise en-route to Key West 8:30 pm, Wednesday, January 25. This is the first time that team Penny Wise has fished this tournament. On board will be Stevie Dellane, Jr. SKA Champ; his father Ken Dellane, owner of Gulf Coast Auto Body; Mike Penny who is flying in from Tallahassee on Friday; and of course Captain Jack. The Hog's Breath Saloon, who's motto is: "Hog's breath is better than no breath at all," is located at the southern end of Duval Street, Key West, Florida. Jack has assured us that he has "secret numbers" that will produce the "secret fish".
Jack will send updates so that we can keep you apprised of their standings.

November 13, 2005
Old Salt King of the Beach Tournament on Nov. 12, 2005

Enter the King
From: Rich Rahall
That he which hath no stomach to this fight, let him depart; his passport shall be made, And crowns for convoy put into his purse; We would not die in that man's company That fears his fellowship to die with us. This day is called Old Salt King of the Beach Day: He that outlives this day, and comes safe home, Will stand a-tiptoe when this day is named, And rouse him at the name King of the Beach. He that shall see this day, and live old age, will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbors and say, "Tomorrow is King of the Beach Tournament Day." Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars, and say, "These wounds I had on Kingfish Tournament Day." Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot, But he'll remember, with advantages, What feats he did that day. Then shall our names, Familiar in his mouth as household words- Jack the King, Michael, and Ken, Brian, and Stevie- Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red. This story shall good man teach his son; and King King of the Beach Day shall ne'er go by, from this day to the end of the world, but we in it shall be remembered- Deeds are remembered, I have borrowed from Henry V, I doubt William's spirit will haunt me, for a battle it was indeed. As reported in this mornings sport section, dateline Madeira Beach, Fl. Dr. Jack Penny of St. Pete Beach and his crew on the boat Pennywise won the Old Salt King of the Beach tournament, Saturday, November 12, 2005. The weight of the winning fish 43.22lbs. The crew of Pennywise was made up of Michael Penny, Ken Dellane, Brian Brandano and Stevie Dellane. Note, Stevie Dallane won the junior division with a 27.88 pound kingfish. A $10,000. cash prize was awarded to Team Pennywise. The prize winning fish was caught in 120 feet over hard bottom. Short and to the point, but stay with me as the Pennywise team makes it way offshore toward the west. In the predawn hours, Jack's Contender, powered by three Yamaha outboard motors, traveling at thirty knots skips across the tops of eight to ten foot seas that are being driven by a strong east wind. At the helm is Brian 'Bingo' Brandano. At the stern the rest of the crew is taking a rest on bean bags. The number is set and locked, the radar screen shows green, the quarter of a million dollar boat is performing as designed. Then it happens, the Contender comes off of the top of an eight foot wave only to plow into a wave that was estimated to being no less than ten feet. Burying the bow into a wall of water is an eye opening event. According to Mike Penny they shipped over one hundred gallons of sea water. " We had water up to our knees," said Mike. The Esienglass was torn away and the windshield was shattered. The good news was that the door at the stern was blown out, so the water that was in the boat could flow out the back. Damage assessment was made, the shattered windshield was throw over the side. The sounds of the roaring engines and that of the water slapping off of the haul, sending the sea spray out in fifty to sixty foot fans had now been replaced with the sound of the engines at idle, the sloshing of water about the crews legs and the lonely howl of the wind. Peppered among the noises are the stunned remarks of the various members of Team Pennywise. Thirty miles from land, another thirty plus to go, what now? One thing is for sure, Bingo, is giving up his position as helmsman. Say no more. Jack makes the call, lets continue out to sea. Let it be said that there is no shame in anyone at this point expressing a desire to call it a day and to head for the docks. There would be no shame. They have the proof that the damage that was sustained would justify a return home. Perhaps there may have been some that voiced that desire, but in the end they continued west. The sea now had the full attention of the crew. Every wave was mentally measured, every slide down the front of a wave, every climb up the back of a ten footer, acted only to stimulate the secretion of adrenaline into already the overcharged systems of the crew. This mornings sports page also reported that Brandano said Stevie Dellane deployed a live blue runner in the propeller wash behind the motors moments before the fish hit it. The team was fighting a smaller fish but quickly focused on Dellane's fish when it was judged larger. After a twenty minute fight Brandano gaffed Dellane's fish around 10:30am. At the weigh in, Mike Penny told me that they returned home at 12 knots. Still eight to tens, the wind e/se. Jack remarked that this trip and win was a team effort. No argument there, plus as always Jack was quick to point out that the impact with the wave only proves that whenever you think that you got it all figured out, well. you don't. I left the tournament tent last night after everyone who had a fish to weigh had done so. An intermission had been called so that the judges could do their final tally, and the vendors could sell more food and drink. Oh, yes there was still more raffle tickets to be sold. This is a grand night, a cool breeze blows in from under the tent flaps, the sound system is belting out country western music, family and friends have gathered in their circles of connection. The fishermen recount the stories of their day at sea. The families of these rugged souls smile the smile of pride and relief. Home again safe. As I walk to my car I look back on a scene that reflects what we all feel. No one is frowning, there is no anger in word or deed. There is only celebration and pause, for it is days like these that we wish would never end. I spoke to Jack this afternoon. The crew has been cleaning the boat. This afternoon they are going over to the east Coast to fish this week in the SKA finals. The new rankings should move Pennywise from third to second place in the world. They rank 2nd in the 11th division Naples. I had one more question for Jack. I wanted to know if he had experienced a feeling of loneliness yesterday. " Yes I did," said Jack. I smiled when he answered, I would have expected no other answer than what he gave. You know what they say about what it is like at the top. The late John Kennedy was fond of the words 'O Lord thy sea is so great and my boat is so small.' Good luck.

November 6, 2005
A word about Jack Penny, "Winner"

I must note as a disclaimer, I have not interviewed Jack Penny. What you are about to read is based on accounts that have been posted by Chad Campbell, pictures emailed to me by George Clinton, ( thank you George), and rumors that are being spread by gorgeous women who work for the beer industry in the capacity as goodwill ambassadors. The rumor that the girls are spreading is that Jack Penny has the biggest one that they had ever seen. You go Jack. Once again on this given Sunday a true champion emerging from over the horizon to capture the hearts of men and boys alike,( you already know what the beer girls think), Jack Penny and the team of Pennywise win first place in The 2005 Gators SKA Kingfish Tournament. 44.40 lbs is the weight of the fish. The first place prize belongs to Team Pennywise. I remember that I overheard Jack once say,"The only place in a contest is first place". This coming weekend is The King of The Beach. Heck, it appears to this reporter that we already have a king. There will be plenty of pretenders to the throne, but only one defending champ. Good luck! Point of information, please look for the slide show of Team Pennywise located on the Tournament link of SpearfishingUSA.

Link to slideshow:
http://www.photoworks.com/share/shareLanding.jsp?shareCode=AF15B72BF0E&cb=PW

October 24, 2005
From: Mike Rieth

St. Anthonys Fishing tournament--Offshore

Friday at 3:30pm we discover the offshore division is, "up to the captains discretion". Sounds like they talked to the legal dept. Anyway, Sat. AM early I call my crew who all promptly bail on me due to the impending hurricane. The forecast was for seas 4-6 feet and building during the day. I'm dejected, but given the alternative of staying home with four kids, I gather up the neighbor and head out of PAG. There were large swells at the entrance of the channel, but once past this, it was smooth riding. Since the forecast was quite shaking, we only went 25 miles SW, stopping at five or six locations. Visibility appeared to be about 15 feet, water still brownish in color. All we need now is one grouper to weigh and we are done. Wrong again! Not one grouper boated all day, six or seven nice Mangos, one yellowtail, one 50# yellow lipped piece of #$@!$ (Goliath), two sharks, and numerous &%$# fish. Went to the weigh in that afternoon for the cold beer and food. Winning grouper---8lbs. Number of grouper weighed--3.