It is Tuesday July 28, 2009 and I am now beginning to sit back and take a look at the day and realize how well it went. I had a great time as did all of our team Jackal members but hearing more and more as the days go by how much so many other people had fun really helps me realize why we set this year after year.
I am not one who enjoys promoting or even socializing in crowds with new people very much which often makes me wonder why I keep doing the Headhunt but this year’s event was much better for me than years past as the crowd was a little more diverse, the competition once again steeper as it is year after year, and the overall “good times” vibe in the air throughout the entire weekend was in full force.
Well, our team, once again, did not win our own event but I must say that I am glad that Seamus Muldoon and his vessel “JailBreak” with team Powe aboard took the #1 prize. Their 33 lber came in first and as I spoke about at the banquet– I am glad that a local boat fishing the south side won. No offense to the Bay guys who deserve full credit for the tourney’s overall biggest fish so far a 39 lber caught by Billy Hatfield and his crew last year but it was good to see the biggest fish caught this year in the waters that started this tourney.
It was also great to see Seamus and his crew TJ, Petey, Pop, Jeremy, and Dega take down Mike O’Brien, Gordy, Jimmy, Pete and their crew like a bear slapping a billy goat across the face and then eating her for lunch. The three time champs placed second for the second year in a row which must be a tough pill to once again swallow. Mike O’Brien and his team were taken down by Mike’s friend and foe Seamus Muldoon and the tension continues to linger around town with these two so take notes folks as this story looks like it could be a future best seller.
Before I go any further I want to thank again Arlie Ex and Tom Z. for keeping the lines tight for his team. Next year we expect to see you at the banquet Captain.
Some people have an issue with charter Captains competing in the same category as us civilian but I personally love having these Captains and boats in the mix and each year to motivate me to try to take them down. Maybe I should care more about the charter boat issue as I know some people do and have a legit reason to and we will take people’s concerns into full consideration but I never see us fully removing the “top dogs”. We will take a look at everything again this off season and adjust as needed but I still think that myself and my team Jackal could take either one of these guys in years to come.
Another great thing about this year is that 3rd place went to the Navigator and their crew who were new to the event. They fished in what one would say the big boat category (a 47ft Riviera) with a great crew who were friend of my parents but I now consider good friends of my brother and I just from this event. They had a great time, fished hard, and competed well and they are also a group who have been around Harwich a long time which is always good to see.
Other than a random charter boat out of Centerville almost running us over after following us two miles down the rip when we first moved to give him his way everything was great. Literally, this guy was about 20 feet from us, not looking at all, and finally moved when we yelled in his direction. It was unreal.
More importantly, I want to once again thank all of our sponsors, teams, and dare I say “fans”. I have been out today at the harbor, the tackle shop, and just around and I keep hearing how much fun people had and thanking me which is great. It has been a thankless endeavor in many ways in the past which has made it tough for me to continue but this year was a true turning point for me as I heard more thanks, observed more appreciation and fun on people’s faces this past weekend than ever before which is the only reason I ever wanted to do this whole thing in the first place.
This year I was able to truly hand out with great friends and meet new people who were just happy to be a part of the event which was great.
Thanks again to Jake Rooney’s for taking us on and taking care of us this year. The scene was fantastic, the food was great, and their crew also seemed to have some fun. Great job to Pete and his crew and hopefully it worked out as well for them as it did for us.
We obviously have more to think about to improve things for next year and in years past I did not look forward to doing it again but this year I do. I also want to thank my brother who was the spark for this tournament. In fact, he is the main energy behind the Harwich Headhunt and without him I would have let it go a long time ago. I just want to thank Ryan for getting me through this year and pumped about the tourney. Speaking of my dad Billy I truly want to say thanks as his involvement this year has been helpful. Working so close with the bro and the pop’s is not always my best idea of fun as I think it would be hard for many to work so closely on a project with your closest family members. We still have some work to do in this area but following this year’s successful even I have much more confidence to make the situation and tournament even better.
Friends and many others have jumped in already to talk about plans for next year. People have offered help in the past but this year the help was much offered is such a better and more constructive manner than years past.
I guess that it is time for me to wrap up my journal entry and get back to reporting. Speaking of reporting, please get us your photos from your day fishing and/or from the banquet. We will put as many pictures as possible online and are also looking to link in video clips so get us what you have so we can improve the site. Channel 18 Harwich is also going to be airing our banquet starting this Thursday at 11:00 am and 6:00pm through the weekend and when they send me the dvd we will look to link it to our site.
Thanks again to everyone and we’ll get more details up soon.
I am not one who enjoys promoting or even socializing in crowds with new people very much which often makes me wonder why I keep doing the Headhunt but this year’s event was much better for me than years past as the crowd was a little more diverse, the competition once again steeper as it is year after year, and the overall “good times” vibe in the air throughout the entire weekend was in full force.
Well, our team, once again, did not win our own event but I must say that I am glad that Seamus Muldoon and his vessel “JailBreak” with team Powe aboard took the #1 prize. Their 33 lber came in first and as I spoke about at the banquet– I am glad that a local boat fishing the south side won. No offense to the Bay guys who deserve full credit for the tourney’s overall biggest fish so far a 39 lber caught by Billy Hatfield and his crew last year but it was good to see the biggest fish caught this year in the waters that started this tourney.
It was also great to see Seamus and his crew TJ, Petey, Pop, Jeremy, and Dega take down Mike O’Brien, Gordy, Jimmy, Pete and their crew like a bear slapping a billy goat across the face and then eating her for lunch. The three time champs placed second for the second year in a row which must be a tough pill to once again swallow. Mike O’Brien and his team were taken down by Mike’s friend and foe Seamus Muldoon and the tension continues to linger around town with these two so take notes folks as this story looks like it could be a future best seller.
Before I go any further I want to thank again Arlie Ex and Tom Z. for keeping the lines tight for his team. Next year we expect to see you at the banquet Captain.
Some people have an issue with charter Captains competing in the same category as us civilian but I personally love having these Captains and boats in the mix and each year to motivate me to try to take them down. Maybe I should care more about the charter boat issue as I know some people do and have a legit reason to and we will take people’s concerns into full consideration but I never see us fully removing the “top dogs”. We will take a look at everything again this off season and adjust as needed but I still think that myself and my team Jackal could take either one of these guys in years to come.
Another great thing about this year is that 3rd place went to the Navigator and their crew who were new to the event. They fished in what one would say the big boat category (a 47ft Riviera) with a great crew who were friend of my parents but I now consider good friends of my brother and I just from this event. They had a great time, fished hard, and competed well and they are also a group who have been around Harwich a long time which is always good to see.
Other than a random charter boat out of Centerville almost running us over after following us two miles down the rip when we first moved to give him his way everything was great. Literally, this guy was about 20 feet from us, not looking at all, and finally moved when we yelled in his direction. It was unreal.
More importantly, I want to once again thank all of our sponsors, teams, and dare I say “fans”. I have been out today at the harbor, the tackle shop, and just around and I keep hearing how much fun people had and thanking me which is great. It has been a thankless endeavor in many ways in the past which has made it tough for me to continue but this year was a true turning point for me as I heard more thanks, observed more appreciation and fun on people’s faces this past weekend than ever before which is the only reason I ever wanted to do this whole thing in the first place.
This year I was able to truly hand out with great friends and meet new people who were just happy to be a part of the event which was great.
Thanks again to Jake Rooney’s for taking us on and taking care of us this year. The scene was fantastic, the food was great, and their crew also seemed to have some fun. Great job to Pete and his crew and hopefully it worked out as well for them as it did for us.
We obviously have more to think about to improve things for next year and in years past I did not look forward to doing it again but this year I do. I also want to thank my brother who was the spark for this tournament. In fact, he is the main energy behind the Harwich Headhunt and without him I would have let it go a long time ago. I just want to thank Ryan for getting me through this year and pumped about the tourney. Speaking of my dad Billy I truly want to say thanks as his involvement this year has been helpful. Working so close with the bro and the pop’s is not always my best idea of fun as I think it would be hard for many to work so closely on a project with your closest family members. We still have some work to do in this area but following this year’s successful even I have much more confidence to make the situation and tournament even better.
Friends and many others have jumped in already to talk about plans for next year. People have offered help in the past but this year the help was much offered is such a better and more constructive manner than years past.
I guess that it is time for me to wrap up my journal entry and get back to reporting. Speaking of reporting, please get us your photos from your day fishing and/or from the banquet. We will put as many pictures as possible online and are also looking to link in video clips so get us what you have so we can improve the site. Channel 18 Harwich is also going to be airing our banquet starting this Thursday at 11:00 am and 6:00pm through the weekend and when they send me the dvd we will look to link it to our site.
Thanks again to everyone and we’ll get more details up soon.
