The Jack Kearns Spearfishing Classic

A bit of a late post, but better late than never. This is the first of what I hope will be others more to come of this really great tourney. The JKC originated after a meeting with Mike (the S. Florida Freedivers president http://southfloridafreedivers.com/) and Jack Kearns one of the oldest living Hawaiin Slingers around. Jack and Al Pinder put some serious hurt on fish throughout Florida & the Bahamas in the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, and still today! As some of you know I've been pushing around a spearfishing contest http://forums.deeperblue.com/florida-east-coast/77248-miami-spearin-contest.html for some time now. The idea is to make this a yearly set spearfishing show and to make most of the prizes $$$$, thus the name "The Miami MoneyBag Shootout" Well after rolling it around I talked with a few others that had past experience and decided to start with a small show, the timing was right and the JK Classic came to be, originally it was thought out as a pole/sling spearfishing contest but later decided to throw in spearguns too. Well after a great show we hope next year to run the JK Classic as originally planned (sling/pole) and follow it up with the MMB Shootout. In fact, Jack suggested we make it a week long event with other water/spearfishing contests/events so who knows? Anyways heres a pictorial of the 2007 Jack Kearns Classic.....enjoy!!!

The start of a great day

The "earlybirds" getting it in gear for the shoot. The day called for some flat seas and less than 5mph winds...what we thought would be a 20-30 person show turned out to be an over 60 person spearfishing shoot and over 100 attended the weigh in party!

Here we have Carl getting ready to haul outta Scotty's in the "Prince of Tides" Carl is an ace Hawaiin Slinger and a hell of a nice guy!

Here we got the boys getting geared up for the "shotgun Start" of our spearfishing tournament

thats Jim with his new 25' Contender and me slightly hungover and having a bad hair day...all happied up to go spearfishing.

and they're off

Back at the weigh in thats the WidowMaker, Team Longfins, which took home a big chunk of the wood, nice platform

here weez got the boyz from Austins (which donated the Torres tips for the trophies) represent-ing....Wasuuup L&LThat'd be the man himself Mr. Jack Kearns, one hell of a great guy and a xpearfishing legend

Theres Jack and another great spearo Carl (note solar powered hat rigged to GPS)

Heres a deck full'o'fish taken by the first place H-slinger....quite a feat

A nice cooler

Thats Carl's slob Red taken on a slingHere's the prize fish a 50+ Cobia taken in 20' of water by the Longfins

here's a yellow jack and a 27"Mut I shot on the last drop and ironically the last shot in 30' spearfishing a nice plate

Here's a behind the seens hidden camera pic of a fellow (name witheld) assuring a place in the spearfishing shoot(all in good fun;)

Some of the sponsors and coordinatoors Julie (divewise on the right) and Amy (the go to girl that put alot of the show t/g)

A couple of the hostess that insisted on taking pic with yours truly

Good ol'fashioned fun at the spearfishing weigh in Some goodtimes thats Mike (Miami Freedivers presidente) in the middle right

Part of the prize table for the Jack Kearns Spearfishing Tournament...you know if a bottle of rum is on the prize list...its JUST gotta be good

First place slinger Leo Ramos...congrats again dude!

Harolf Dean first place professional and Longfins President Tito DiazTeam Longfins with the first place team trophy and first place amateur trophy WTG guys

A random pic of the the T's

And finally the Ooooolllllllll SeaDog at his finest
We want to give a special thanks to all the participants and the promoters that made the show happen...as well as all the guys/gals that donated time and $$$ for a good cause and in goodwill, just seeing a bunch of spearo's and speara's mingling, laughing, and have a downright good time is reward in and of itself...We hope next year to see you all again...Happy Holidays!



Till next spearfishing report, tight bands, straight shafts, and smooooooooth triggers!

Tone
http://www.settingsteel speargear.com/