Miami Beach, FL - The 2010 – 2011 Sailfish Pro Series Post Season Finale concluded today at Miami Beach Marina after a 2 day playoff to crown a new champion.
Seven teams made their way to Miami to compete in the Sailfish Pro Series playoffs based on earning a position by accumulating points throughout the season.
Team Sandman earned a bye through the playoffs by accumulating the most points over the season.
Three head-to-head competitions compiled the Playoff on Sunday, May 1. Teams were matched based on point totals. The higher seeded teams in each match up received a ½ fish advantage. The results from the head-to-head Playoffs:
Sandman – Bye
27.5 High Standards – Get Lit 12
9.5 De Bait Able – Keys Dizeaze/Savanna Lynn 10
11.5 Viva La Vida – Miss Britt 10
The teams were welcomed with winds out of the East at 15-20 knots and favorable current producing good "tailing" conditions for sailfish. Owned by Frankie Villisante Jr and skippered by Nick Carullo, Team High Standards quickly got to work with a flurry of action racking up 27 releases on the first day and defeating Team Get Lit, who released 12.
Team Keys Dizeaze/ Savanna Lynn, owned by Billy Thomas and captained William Wagner, who struggled to get off the docks and fished all day without a working depth finder, pulled off a narrow victory in their battle against Sailfish Pro Series defending champion Team De Bait Able. The match was decided by only one fish with only minutes left. Keys Dizeaze/ Savanna Lynn released their 10th fish minutes before lines out.
Team Viva La Vida, owned by John Cole and skippered by Captain Nick Ewald, fought off two time World Sailfish Champion Captain Ray Rosher and team Miss Britt by releasing 11 sails to Miss Britt's 10.
On Monday, the final day of competition, four teams left the docks to determine the season long champion. First blood was drawn by Team Viva La Vida followed by Team Sandman who would release four sailfish by 9:37am. Mid day fishing was slow as Teams High Standards and Keys Dizeaze/Savanna Lynn and Viva La Vida try played catch up.
Teams worked hard in 6-8 foot seas but in the end Sandman retained the lead and captured the victory with the final count of 10 releases and the title of 2011Sailfish Pro Series Champion. Team High Standards finished in second place releasing 7 sails and earning $16,000.00. Team Keys Dizeaze/Savanna Lynn placed third with 7 releases, earning $11,000.00 and Team Viva La Vida finished close behind with 6 releases earning $5,000.00. Team Sandman, owned by Sandra McMillan and captained by Neil Orange Jr, took home the $76,000.00 first place prize along with the coveted Sailfish Pro Series custom Irish crystal trophy designed by Fred Curtis.
Award ceremonies took place at Texas de Brazil at Miami Beach Marina.
"This has been a great year for Team Sandman having proven that they truly are the best of the best," Stated Sailfish Pro Series Chairman, Christopher King. "I look forward to seeing them defend their title in next year's series. I want to congratulate all the teams who competed professionally throughout the season."
The 2010-2011 Sailfish Pro Series will be broadcast weekly on the Versus Network to 82 Million households beginning July 26th 10:30am with 5 episodes covering all the action. Past episodes can be viewed at www.SailfishSeries.com.
The Sailfish Pro Series is an organized association of professional sailfishing teams competing for a season long championship. The series consists of three tournaments and a post season playoff crowning one team champion with media coverage that includes national television, print and web. Sailfish Pro Series is produced by the World Fishing Tour, LLC.
For more information on the Sailfish Pro Series visit www.SailfishSeries.com.
For more information, please contact Katy Newton, 727.631.0072, KNewton@WorldFishingTour.com.