2005 Results

131 Teams Compete for Grove SLAM! Title (click here for PDF version)
May 16, 2005, Miami, Florida - The 4th annual Mercury/Sea Vee Grove SLAM! promised to be bigger and better than ever… and it was. 131 boats participated in Florida’s Funnest Fishing Tournament. Teams from across the state made their way down to Miami for the beginning of the summer tournaments. The kickoff Luau has now become a tradition in the fishing tournament world. Hundreds of anglers donned their Hawaiian garb and let loose. The Bacardi and Budweiser bars were flowing with free drinks all night. Hooters’ great staff was also on-hand to provide plenty of food for all the anglers. Midway through the night a professional Hula dance company took center stage with an authentic Hula show. They got the crowed involved and even some of the Hooters girls jumped on stage to strut their stuff.

Friday is always the SLAM!’s off-day, but this year offered anglers the Marine Max “Hangover Clinic.” A 54 Hatteras was docked next to the tournament location with free Bloody Mary’s, coffee, doughnuts, aspirin, and almost anything else our anglers could need after the Luau. Many anglers opted to use the service as they recuperated from the Luau and prepared for Saturday’s fishing.

The Grove SLAM!’s “Bimini Start” (or Shotgun Start) is the most exciting event in all of fishing. 131 boats lined up in Biscayne Bay and awaited the countdown from the committee boat. When “go” time arrived the sound of 131 boats revving up to full speed drowned out all noise including the helicopter which was taking pictures. The boats were off for a full day of fishing.

Later on Saturday at the tournament docks, a crowd gathered to see which team would beat out 130 other teams and take home the title and cash. The weigh-station was a beehive of activity with hundreds of onlookers and dozens of teams waiting to weigh their catch. At 5:00 p.m. the weigh-station closed and the results were tabulated.

Top Team was “Nothing’s Wild” with 117.95 pounds. Second place went to the Verado-powered Sea Vee “Reel Integrity” with 62.25 pounds. Third place was “Money Shot” with 52.50 pounds. The fourth place team was “Runnin’ Game” with 49.15 pounds and they also had the largest dolphin of the tournament with 43.00 pounds. Fifth place went to “Cubanacan” with 41.15 pounds.

Top Junior and Heaviest Tuna honors went to Jeffrey Fiorentino on “Uptight” with a 33.15 blackfin tuna. His catch also wound up being an IGFA Junior World Record! Top Female angler was Tayreen Febles on “Frivilous” with a 21.30 pound wahoo which was also the Heaviest Wahoo in the tournament. The Heaviest Kingfish was caught on the triple Verado-powered Sea Vee “Top Vee.”

The day ended with another one of the Grove SLAM!’s signature events, the Miss Hotfish Bikini Contest. The bar was raised once again as world-class bikini models competed for over $1,000.00 in cash.

Each year the Grove SLAM! grows and delivers the most exciting and fun-filled event in Florida. With each installment, the prizes money increases, the participation increases, and its hype increases. The Grove SLAM! definitely lives up to it moniker of “Florida’s Funnest Fishing Tournament.”