Texas Angler Victorious at Golden Fly Invitational

Fly angler Greg Smith of Laguna Vista, Texas, took top honors in Islamorada?s three-day Golden Fly Invitational Tarpon Tournament that ended May 25.Smith and his guide, Captain Rob Fordyce of Homestead, Fla., took the lead on the first day of fishing by scoring two weight fish and one release. They maintained the lead the second day with another weight fish and five releases, and posted two weight fish on the last day to move into the winner?s circle.Tournament rules mandate that a tarpon must be at least 70 pounds to qualify as a weight fish and measure at least 48 inches to qualify as a release fish.The tournament?s first runner-up was Islamorada?s Paul Nute, guided by Captain Bou Boss, with two weight fish and two releases.Second runner-up with one weight fish and five releases was Roger Fernandez of Pinecrest, Fla., guided by Captain Eric Herstedt of Marathon, Fla.Steve Ward of Coppell, Texas, landed the tournament?s Billy Pate Memorial Largest Tarpon award with a 155-pound fish.The tournament?s 27 angler-and-guide teams released a total of 31 tarpon and weighed in 11 fish.