New team, $540,000 in winnings, and new tournament records...
Anyone who has ever competed in a big time marlin tournament knows just how difficult it is to finish in the money. There are a variety of components that need to come together just right in order to take your spot on stage with a big check and fancy trophies. Owners often invest many seasons fine tuning their boats and tackle, building their team, hoping that the preparation will pay off when lady luck gives them a shot at a money fish. After all, when you are competing against some of the best crews around, everything needs to go just right to finish on top. So when Corey Myer stepped up to the big leagues to compete in the tournament circuit this year, he had his work cut out for him if hoped to cash a winning check. Particularly since he did not take delivery of his new boat until late April 2009. By the time the dust had settled, Corey and the Bandit had collected checks in the first four tournaments they fished, earning over $540,000 in prize money and enough trophies to fill an entire case.
Corey made some good decisions to help shorten the break in time usually required. First, his new boat was the 60 Viking BCE (Bad Company Edition from Crow’s Nest Yachts) that comes tournament rigged from the factory for West Coast style fishing. Everything from electronics, bait systems, tower, bow rail, etc. was designed by the best in the sport, including Steve Lassley and built and installed by Viking Yachts before the boat ever left the factory. This ensured his boat was delivered turn-key ready to compete. This saved him months of after-market modifications and gave him the confidence to begin fishing the boat as soon as he could load his tackle and personal gear aboard.
Next, Corey began to assemble his team. He hired Tommy Neikirk (a.k.a. Legend Tommy) formally of the Legend to be his full time captain. When asked about his new ride, Tommy had this to say- “what a beauty, a pure fishing machine, designed by the best heads in the business.” Corey and Tommy quickly filled in his team with several other top shelf crew, including Rich Hamilton (captain of the Mil So Mar), Eric Grennan, and Pat Holmes, all top notch marlin anglers. Corey also included Crow’s Nest CEO and Team Bad Company leader Anthony Hsieh to join the team for the first few tournaments.
As Corey and Tommy pre fished locally prior to the Catalina marlin tournaments, they were able to get a handle on running a boat that carries a couple hundred mackerel, cruises in excess of 36 knots, with enough electronics and built in features to make your head spin. By the time the Zane Grey rolled around, they were operating a smooth running machine, including the crew. While Bandit did not place in the Zane Grey, their 5 releases on day 2 earned them a nice $17,000 payout for one of the daily jackpots.
The next week at the Crow’s Nest Catalina Classic/Avalon Billfish Classic tournaments team Bandit found their stride. They swept the day 1 daily jackpots in the Avalon Billfish Classic with 3 releases, then had a dramatic last minute trip to the scales on day 2 that earned them 3rd place in the Catalina Classic and a sweep of the day 2 jackpots. At the end of the day, they wound up taking 3rd in both events, and leading the money earners in the California Billfish Series with over $123,000 in winnings.
Following Catalina, Bandit headed straight to Cabo and the tournament circuit down there and added world class captain Kevin Nakamura. The first tournament was the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament. It didn’t take long for Bandit to get on the board there. 37 minutes after the shotgun start, the Bandit was first to the Gordo Bank. Four minutes later they had their skipjack baits in the tubes and were slow trolling a pair. A minute later Anthony was bit, and about 5 minute later they had a big black marlin at the leader. They were able to boat the fish, which topped the scales at 451 pounds, the only qualifier for the day and a sweep of day 1 jackpots. Day 2 saw lightning strike again, as Bandit hooked another big black on the bank. This one went 550, and was the only qualifier for that day, setting a tournament record as the largest black marlin in the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament history. The team also set a Cabo record for a single angler scoring 1,001 points. Bandit earned over $420,000 for the event, and over $540,000 in its first four tournaments. Not a bad way to break in a new boat and team.
Was this success luck, or was it skill and preparation? According to Corey, “I went into building this team by trying to do things right and win with the best people I could find. Our team was magical in our first season. Winning or not, I had the time of my life.” After all, isn’t that what it is all about?
