18th Annual Church Mouse Marlin Invitational

       Raises $80,000.00 for Avalon Youth

by Jane Griffin

We are proud to announce that this year’s Church Mouse Marlin Invitational raised over $80,000.00 for Avalon’s youth over the two days of our fun and successful fishing tournament. So many people come together for the Church Mouse every year to share our love for the ocean, Catalina Island, and our island community; thank you to all of the many individuals who have participated in this tournament by fishing, volunteering and donating.

The winners of the 2008 Church Mouse is team Magellan who released 5 fish. Congratulations to Magellan’s captain, Rob Webster and his team of anglers on their win. Second place belongs to the After Midnight, captained by Mike Cromer and his team of anglers who released 4 fish., followed by Club Ted, captained by Ted Butland, and his crew’s release of 3 fish. The Oz, captained by Martin Curtin Jr. came in forth place with 3 marlin released, Captain Paul Gillett and his anglers won fifth place on Eggcessive with 2 released marlin. Dumb Luck, Fish Box, Por Vida, Ruckus, and Surly Mermaid, all released two fish, and Broad Bill, Gad Zukes, Knot for Rent, Lucky L III, Sea Dancer, and Three Daughters released one fish each. Congratulations to all the anglers who fished the Church Mouse this year, turning in the highest number of fish in tournament history, all 38 of whom were safely released back into the ocean.

While the hook-up hot spot seemed to be Obsorne Banks on the backside of the island, Mike Elias on Ace Hi was rewarded for saving fuel and fishing close to home, winning the “Fish Close Win Big” award, a new addition to this year’s award sheet. Ace Hi released a marlin only 0.8 miles off the coast of Pebbly Beach. Kasey Sherrill won Monday’s Tuna Side Bet by bringing in a 25.78 lb. yellow fin tuna off the Full Circle, captained by her husband Robert, and Jeffrey McElroy won the Tuna Side Bet on Tuesday with his 25.5 lb. yellow tail tuna on the Reel Crazy (captained by Bob Siemer) who generously donated his winnings back to the tournament.

As always, the highlight of the tournament banquet is the auctioned-off chance to throw a pie in the face of Avalon Harbor Master Brian Bray.  This year we had a tournament first when Gary Day, off High Cotton, phoned in to win the bid, delegating Kim Butte to throw the pie in his name.  We specially thank the Harbor Master for being such a good sport in this auction every year, and to Gary Day for donating his $2,250.00 winning bid in the loving memory of loyal Church Mouse friend Jim Stohr, who held the record for winning the auction over the past 17 years!

When the wake of the tournament has died down to a small ripple, we will release the details of how this year’s $80,000.00 will be distributed to Avalon’s youth. We are grateful to the many Butte family members and friends who make this tournament possible, and especially to co-chairs Rif and Pam Hintermeyer, to all our business sponsors and volunteers, as well to the City of Avalon, the Harbor department, and the 81 boats and 350 anglers who collectively raised such an impressive amount of money for our local youth. We know the future recipients of these funds will use them to enrich themselves and our island community. See you next year at the 19th annual Church Mouse Marlin Invitational!

I will be adding more info later    Carol