The 2017 Big Bang Open Tournament GALACTIC BLAST Official Scoring and Photo Thread

[SpearMax]

The 2017 Big Bang Open blasted onto the spearfishing scene like a charm with the smoothest running BBO in history. Everything worked well from the registration, the prize wall, the weigh-in, the buffet, the awards ceremony and the outstanding fun had by all participants.

The BBO venue at the Palm Beach Gardens Moose Lodge is truly outstanding. This is our fourth year there.

The sponsors, the volunteers, the vendors, the charities, the contestants, the families - all pulled together and made this event simply incredible. Thank you all.

An outstanding feature of the Big Bang! Open is the robust number of prizes we have displayed on our prize wall. Sponsors appreciate having their prizes showcased like this for the crowd to see and touch.

We had over 60 spearguns and around 20 pole spears for the contestants to choose from along with many other exceptional rewards for their spearing efforts.

Our photographer Kyle Darcy took over 300 photos of the event and our videographer Ryan Dee once again did an excellent job.

Here are the trophy winners. Then below that are the scores which earn trips to the prize wall.

The Trophy Award Recipients:

TOURNAMENT CHAMPION

Stephen Sanders – 96.00 Aggregate Points

BEST BOAT

Chips Ahoy – 269.875 Combined Aggregate Points of Top Three Shooters

BEST FREEDIVER

Sergey Lopez – 83.3125 Aggregate Points

BEST FEMALE DIVER

Jen Young - 65.8125 Aggregate Points

BEST JUNIOR DIVER

Colin Scozzafava – 20.25 Aggregate Points

LARGEST GROUPER

Stephen Sanders – 45.0625 Pounds Gutted Weight

LARGEST SNAPPER

Brian Glenn – 38.0625 Pounds Gutted Weight

LARGEST HOGFISH OR FLOUNDER

Stephen Sanders – 13.4375 Pounds Gutted Weight

LARGEST SHEEPSHEAD OR TIGGERFISH

Keith Holberger– 13.8125 Pounds Gutted Weight

LARGEST AMBERJACK OR COBIA

Tony Crumrine – 65.625 Pounds Gutted Weight (Amberjack)

LARGEST WILD CARD FISH

Chip Garber – 48.00 Gutted Weight


Here are the Final Scores and trophies for the top 40 shooters:




Here are the Final Scores and trophies for the rest of the shooters:

[SpearMax]

Here are a few quick photo collages from my cell phone. I will post Kyle's pro photos over the coming days. Check out that Yellowedge Grouper below.

[Muay Thai]

Originally Posted by SpearMax

Check out that Yellowedge Grouper below.

Highly doubt it's a yellowedge grouper. Looks more like a yellowfin grouper to me. Especially, since yellowedge is a deep water species.

"Similar in appearance to the snowy grouper (Epinephelus niveatus), the yellowedge grouper (Hyporthodus flavolimbatus) can be distinguished by its bright yellow eyes and fin margins, accounting for the common name ‘yellowedge’. The rest of its body is a greyish-brown, with white tips on the dorsal and pectoral fins. The yellowedge grouper is a deep water fish, with an individual once reported at a depth of 390 meters. However, it is more commonly found between depths of 125 and 300 meters (400-1,000 ft)."

Scott

[Spear One]

Yeah, looks like a Yellowfin to me........ aka "Fireback".

[seadaze]

Thanks again Tony, was a smoothly run tournament with great prizes for all. Looking forward to next year