-- First Redbone Series event gets off to a slow start

Key West, FL, September 13, 1998 -- Cloudy skies and strong winds kept the catches down for the Mercury Outboards SLAM, the first event in the 1998 Mercury Marine Redbone Celebrity Tournament Series for Cystic Fibrosis, with 70 anglers releasing a total of only 55 fish. But five of those fish landed by Scott Deal of Ft. Pierce, FL, were enough for Grand Champion Angler honors and a total of 650 points toward the series championship.

The SLAM (Southernmost Light-tackle Anglers Masters) format requires the catch and release of a minimum of one tarpon, one permit and one bonefish to win the event. Three tackle divisions -- General (bait), Spin/Plug (artificial) and Fly -- score different points for each species based on difficulty. Deal landed one tarpon each on fly and artificial, a permit on bait, and two bonefish on bait to win the event. He was guided to victory by Capt. Mark Krowka of Davie, FL. The pair also combined for Spin/Plug Division Champion.

Fish must be a minimum of 18 inches in length and be photographed against a measuring device to qualify as a release. The 1998 Mercury Outboards SLAM released a total of 25 bonefish, 25 tarpon, and 5 permit. The tournament series, entering its eleventh year, has raised over one million dollars for cystic fibrosis research.

While the scarcity of fish left several daily categories without winners, the following anglers and guides went away winners:

Celebrity Grand Champion: "Trapper" John Peterson, Islamorada, FL, guided by Capt. Steve Lamp, Sugarloaf, FL.

Pro-Celebrity Grand Champion: Jose Wejebe, Sugarloaf, FL, guided by Capt. Eddie Hill, Marathon, FL.

Team Grand Champion Anglers: Joe Viar & Bonnie Christ, Alexandria, VA, guided by Capt. Tim Hoover, Marathon, FL.

First Runner-Up Angler: Dan Root, Leewood, KS, guided by Capt. Kevin Guerin, Duck Key, FL.

First Runner-Up Team: Bob & Mindy Rich, Islamorada, FL, guided by Capt. Rusty Albury, Islamorada, FL.

Fly Division Champion: Ralph Curd, Key Largo, FL, guided by Capt. Doug Kilpatrick, Key West, FL.

General Division Champion: Joe Vivar, Alexandria, VA, guided by Capt. Tim Hoover, Marathon, FL.

Most Bonefish Releases: Mindy Rich, Islamorada, FL, guided by Capt. Rusty Albury, Islamorada, FL.

Most Permit Releases: Dan Schaad, Fond du Lac, WI, guided by Capt. Steve Lamp, Sugarloaf, FL.

Most Tarpon Releases: Joe Vivar, Alexandria, VA, guided by Capt. Tim Hoover, Marathon, FL.

Largest Bonefish: Tony Arias, Miami, FL (28 ½"), guided by Capt. Dave Denkert, Miami, FL.

Largest Permit: Joe Vivar, Alexandria, VA (28 ½"), guided by Capt. Tim Hoover, Marathon, FL.

Largest Tarpon: Mitchell Howell, Coral Springs, FL (61"), guided by Capt. Greg Poland, Duck Key, FL.

Top Rod Angler Day 1: Dan Root, Leewood, KS, guided by Capt. Kevin Guerin, Duck Key, FL.

Top Rod Angler Day 2: Will Kriener, Buffalo, NY, guided by Capt. Rick Moeller, Islamorada, FL.