b"2024Blackfin Blitz P- UoP P2nd Place:FindtheFire22.4 lbs.M any anglers would describe springtime fishing as their favorite time of year. The strong winds come and go, bringing1st Place:the bite with it. If you poke out the inlet when the seas are cooperating, theres opportunity to hook into a variety of quality fish. For the 5th year in a row 50+ boats fished the annual Blackfin Blitz inEbbtideearly May.This one-day tournament is free for WPBFC members and blackfin tuna are the only29.3 lbs.eligible species. Max Lichtig and team Ebbtide are no stranger&to excelling in club angling competitions. Max is aTop 2 Tuna 2-time recipient the clubs Grand Champion AdultAggregate: Angler award. With a well full of live sardines after a long day bait fishing prior to the tournament,51.4 lbs.Team Ebbtide caught an impressive 29.3 lb. tuna to take 1st place in the Blitz. This big blackfin helped them also seal the 3rd Place:deal on the 2-fish Makin'aggregate bonus. Adding their 22.1 pound fish, Moves Ebbtide accumulated a 51.4 pound 2-tuna bag.Mike Hart of team FindtheFire took 2nd place 18.0 lbs. with a 22.4 lb. tuna. Mike is a regular participant in club tournaments like the Blitz and Wahoo Series. He shared his perspective on the fishing club noting, Its the best 80 dollars I spend all year. Its so chill and all about having fun, sharing in camaraderie, and were lucky to have tournaments like this to fish with such a nice club.Briggs Heyniger and team Makin Moves are one of those crews that fishes all day. Their time on the water paid off as Makin Moves rounded out the leaderboard with an 18 lb. tuna, the third place fish. Many different species were caught on this fishy spring day. Several teams expressed being covered up with kingfish, cutting off their fluoro leaders. Others mentioned having a hard time keeping their live baits away from sailfish, a good problem to have.Simplis-tic, convenient tournaments engage a very active fishing segment of individuals in the area and bring new members in the fold.Its always fun to fish as a club with some friendly competition. Con-tinue to fish the Blitz going forward, which is now featured within the new Palm Beach Tuna Tournament (see story next page)."