ILLINOIS MOTHER AND SON TAKE TOP HONORS IN BURDINE'S TOURNAMENT

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Thursday, 03 July 2008

For Immediate Release

ILLINOIS MOTHER AND SON TAKE TOP HONORS IN BURDINE'S TOURNAMENT

MARATHON, Florida Keys -- Six-year-old Patrick Merryman and his mother Aimee Merryman of Woodstock, Ill., won the junior and adult divisions of the Burdine's Waterfront Dolphin  Blackfin Tuna Tournament that ended June 29.


Aimee Merryman earned top honors in the adult division with a 43.2-pound dolphin, while son Patrick took the junior division with a 23-pounder. The duo was fishing with other family members on the Excavator, skippered by Captain Brandon Mullar of Duck Key, Fla.

"I wasn't expecting to win," said Aimee Merryman of her first tournament. "My kids were catching fish at the same time so I just happened to get the pole at the right time."

Merryman said they were trolling 12 miles offshore when they spotted five big, colorful mahi-mahi swimming together and captured them all. She boated her winning fish after an hour-long battle.

"He was about 30 feet down," she said. "I'd get him close, then he'd shoot back down -- it was a fight."

In addition to 6-year-old Patrick, Merryman fished with her husband, 7-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son Benjamin. Despite his young age, Benjamin also reeled in a fish.

"He caught a 16-pounder," said the proud mother.

Second- and third-place awards in the tournament went to Marathon men fishing on their own boats. John Foster caught a 35.6-pound dolphin fishing from the It's On! Bruce Coles scored with a 32-pounder while fishing from the Bone Collection.

The tournament attracted 60 anglers on 18 boats.
 
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