MIAMI BEACH ANGLER WINS DRAMBUIE KEY WEST MARLIN TOURNAMENT

KEY WEST, Florida Keys - Miami Beach angler Bob Cristoph, Sr., caught and released a sailfish Saturday, July 24, adding points to his team's tally that included a released blue marlin and a 17.2-pound dolphin to win the three-day Drambuie Key West Marlin Tournament.

Christoph's son Bob Cristoph, Jr., and other anglers including Ryan Flannery and Bill Mosher fished on the Hook, skippered by Rick Morrell of Miami.

We took off the dock (Saturday morning,) knowing we were going sail fishing the first thing, trying to get that ace." said Morrell, whose team won the contest's top $25,000 cash prize.

Randy Reynolds of East Montpelier, Vermont, released a blue marlin early Saturday afternoon to give his Business Calls team second place. Bill Rohde of Summerland Key skippered the boat.

Morrell's team won the event with 467.2 total points. Because they did not have any entries in the "fun fish" division, Business Calls finished with 400 points for the lone marlin release.

"We listened to the radio all day biting our nails," said Morrell. "When we caught the first marlin (Thursday, July 22) we figured we could get beat at anytime."

With two sailfish releases by Bill Froechtenicht and Ruben Bohuchot of Channelview, Texas, Sir Veza III garnered 100 points and third place with Captain Dan Tingley of Channelview.

The tournament, which coincided with Key West's annual Hemingway Days festival, attracted 458 anglers fishing aboard 78 boats, according to chairman Tim Greene.