Each winter, as the first cold fronts settle into South Florida and sailfish begin to flood the Treasure Coast, one tournament has long served as a bellwether for the season ahead: the Pelican Yacht Club Billfish Invitational. Now in its 46th year, the event once again delivered a week of world-class competition out of Fort Pierce, officially kicking off the South Florida tournament circuit in style.
Hosted from Pelican Yacht Club on Hutchinson Island, the Invitational drew a highly accomplished fleet that fished three out of five available days, beginning January 6, following a Captain’s Meeting on January 5. The week concluded with the club’s signature Seafood Extravaganza and awards presentation, a fitting finish to one of the Treasure Coast’s most storied events.
When the final points were tallied, it was Easy Rider, a 64-foot Spencer Yachts sportfisher, that claimed First Place overall with 1,500 points from 15 sailfish releases, delivering a dominant performance from start to finish. Owned by Bob Nabreski and captained by John Daugherty, Easy Rider’s success was the product of a well-oiled operation firing on all cylinders…