Living Water/Makin’ Time Wins The 30th Annual Mercury/SeaVee Pompano Beach Saltwater Slam
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 2025
30 YEARS STRONG: THE MERCURY/SEAVEE POMPANO BEACH SALTWATER SLAM CELEBRATES A MILESTONE MOMENT FOR SOUTH FLORIDA’S TOURNAMENT SCENE
The 30th Annual Mercury/SeaVee Pompano Beach Saltwater Slam launched in style on June 12th, marking a major milestone for one of South Florida’s most iconic fishing tournaments. 66 competing teams gathered at the Pompano Beach Civic Center for a captains’ meeting that felt more like a family reunion, bringing together past, present, and now future tournament teams, full of energy, anticipation, and a deep sense of community.
The evening’s vibes were turned all the way up with beats by DJ Select, crowd-favorite antics during the Over/Under Game, presented by Taylor Builders in support of Mission Fishin’, and a 30th Anniversary Saltwater Slam Mesume that took guests on a visual journey through three decades of sportfishing history in Pompano Beach. Cold cocktails from Islamorada Brewery & Distillery and Landshark Lager flowed freely, served with signature flair by the Hooters Girls of South Florida, while Bonefish Mac’s delivered a spread that fueled competitors for the weekend ahead.
The captains’ meeting doubled as a powerful showcase of the tournament’s loyal sponsor family. Mercury Marine rolled in their fully-equipped mobile support trailer, while Eddie Forbes Art, APH Marine Construction, Raymarine, were on-site to support the action and connect with the community along with Mission Fishin’ at the heart of the charitable efforts.
Saturday’s weigh-in brought the heat to The Cove Waterfront Restaurant & Tiki Bar, where spectators crowded scales to cheer on their favorite teams and celebrate every fish that hit the stage. The energy rolled into Sunday’s awards festivities, where top teams were celebrated while Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza served up a hearty Italian spread that could have come straight out of your Nonna’s cookbook. The weekend culminated in a spirited awards ceremony, honoring standout teams with cash prizes, accolades, and prizes from Bass Pro Shops.
THE SLAM RECAP
The Pompano Beach Saltwater Circuit brings more than just South Florida bragging rights. All three legs of the series offers teams a chance to strategize their way to the top with two unique avenues for competition, where teams can elect to compete in either the BIG FISH or BIG BAG Division. Teams in the BIG FISH Division compete against each other for the heaviest single fish, paying out the top three teams in the category. In contrast, teams in the BIG BAG Division compete against each other for the heaviest aggregate bag, paying out the top eight teams in the category. With thousands in cash and prizes on the line, teams brought their A-game to scales this weekend.
BIG FISH DIVISION TOP TEAMS
The BIG FISH Division lived up to its name, delivering heavy fish and heavier payouts as teams battled it out for top honors on the leaderboard.
In third place, with their standout king weighing in at 23.9lbs, the father and son duo on team Heavyhitters, led by captain Nick Perrone, landed a haul of three Tuna and three Kingfish for a total of 107.2 lbs, earning them Top Family Honors, 1st place in the Semi-Pro Division, 3rd place in the Tuna Species Division, and 1st place in the Semi-Pro Bonanza Calcutta earning a total payday of $4,358.
Next up, in 2nd place, the familiar faces on the BIG FISH Division podium, Mercury-Powered team Maxed Out, led by Captain Blake Selesnick, landed two impressive Kingfish on their 27’ center console totaling 53.2 lbs. Their heaviest King, weighing in at 29.8 lbs earned the team 3rd place in the Semi-Pro and Mid-range Divisions and 3rd place in the Semi-Pro Bonanza Calcutta earring a $3,993 payday.
With a total of three Kingfish weighing in at 75.3 lbs, Loadmaster Trailer Sponsored team Spiced Rum IV, led by Captain Bill Wummer, claimed the BIG FISH Division title, which included a 39.7lb Kingfish, landed by Top Female Angler Sherri Beswick. Spiced Rum IV racked up top placements on the leaderboard, including 2nd in the Kingfish Species Division and 1st place in the Bluewater Challenge, Holy Mackerel, and The Big Three Calcuttas. Weekend winnings: $22,375.
BIG BAG DIVISION TOP TEAMS
The BIG BAG Division offered its own set of fireworks, as teams competed for aggregate weight and serious prize money.
The 8th through 5th place finishers delivered standout aggregate performances and secured solid paydays. Team Bobbers Under weighed in 129.2 lbs to claim 8th place and a $250 prize. Team Tax Relief followed in 7th on their 34’ SeaVee with 141.3 lbs, earning $500. In 6th place, Mercury-powered team Trav L R delivered a 142.5lb haul, collecting $1,750. Just edging them out, team Doing It All/Hardway secured 5th with 142.8 lbs, taking home $1,000.
In 4th place, Mercury-Powered team, Sea Otter/No fly Zone, led by Captain Jim Ott, hit the scales with 144.6 lbs from a strong combo of four Kingfish and four Tuna aboard their 32’ center console. The team secured 1st place in the Mid-range Division and 1st place in the Mid-range Bonanza Calcutta, taking home a $5,638 payout.
Next up, in 3rd place, Mercury-Powered team, Plane Bills, led by Captain Jesse Monserrat, staked up a mixed bag four Kingfish, four Tuna, and a Wahoo for a 145.7 lbs total. Their haul earned 3rd place in the Wahoo Species Division and Bluewater Bonanza Calcutta to secure $3,600 in winnings.
Sliding into 2nd place and no strangers to the spotlight, 2022 Showdown Crown Champions Slob City, led by Captain Carl Torresson showed up and showed out like they always do, putting four Kingfish and four Tuna into the box for a total weight of 150.8 lbs. Their haul landed them 2nd in the Tuna Species Division and a pair of runner-up finishes in the Ante Up and Bluewater Bonanza Calcuttas, stacking up a sweet $9,135 payday. Just another day at the office for these past Showdown Crown champs.
MERCURY-POWERED SEAVEE TEAM LIVING WATER/MAKIN’ TIME WINS THE 30TH ANNUAL MERCURY/SEAVEE POMPANO BEACH SALTWATER SLAM
When you’ve been grinding in the Slam since the early days, hoisting the trophy on its 30th anniversary means a little more. For the Mercury-powered crew aboard the 39’ SeaVee Living Water/Makin’ Time, led by Captain Alex Burgess and owner Mark Miller, this win wasn’t just another notch on the belt, it was a full-circle moment. Together, these two have been around the block, racking up hardware along the way with a collective four sets of Showdown Crown Champion rings to their name and a resume loaded with leaderboard appearances. This season’s been a heater for them, already pulling in over $260,000 in winnings between the Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series and the Pompano Beach Saltwater Circuit, the 2025 Saltwater Slam added another payday to the pile.
Living Water/Makin’ Time hung 177 pounds of Tuna and Kingfish on the scales and backed it up with top-three finishes across several categories, including 3rd place in the Kingfish Species Division, 2nd in both the Holy Mackerel and The Big Three, and 1st place in the Bluewater Bonanza, Ante Up, Fish & Chips, and Charity Calcuttas. That kind of performance earned them $35,306 for the weekend and pushed them to the top of the Showdown Crown standings with 60 points.
For a team that’s been there since the beginning, winning the Slam’s 30th Anniversary wasn’t just a victory, it was a statement, and it doesn’t look like there going away any time soon.
Congratulations, Living Water/Makin’ Time, on earning the well-deserved title of 2025 Mercury/SeaVee Pompano Beach Saltwater Slam Champions.
NOTABLE ACCOLADES
Top Male Angler
Martin Martuscelli – Doing It All/Hardway – 107.6 pts
Top Female Angler
Sherri Beswick – Spiced Rum IV – 39.7 pts
Top Junior Angler
Wyatt Lauritano – Rebel – 48.5 pts
Top Pee-Wee Angler
Taylor Taras – Hollyhoo – 81.5 pts
Top Family
The Perrone Family – Heavyhitters – 107.2 pts
Species Division – Heaviest Kingfish
Bobbers Under – 44.1 pts – $1,000
Species Division – Heaviest Tuna
Trav L R – 26.9 pts – $1,000
Species Division – Heaviest Wahoo
Always Somethin’ – 52.4 pts – $1,000
Species Division – Heaviest Dolphin
Chasin tail – 10.9 pts – $1,000
Species Division – Heaviest Cobia
NO CATCH – 0.0 pts – $1,000
Small Boat Division
1st place – Bobbers Under – 129.2 pts – $2,500
2nd place – Reel Monkey – 88.0 pts – $1,250
3rd place – Hard Lines – 60.5 pts – $500
Mid-Range Division
1st place – Sea Otter/No Fly Zone – 144.6 pts – $2,500
2nd place – Speculation – 72.6 pts – $1,250
3rd place – Maxed Out – 53.2 pts – $500
Semi-Pro
1st place – Heavyhitters – 107.2 pts – $2,000
2nd place – Chasin tail – 99.0 pts – $1,500
3rd place – Maxed Out – 53.2 pts – $750
4th place – Runnin Outta Time – 51.3 pts – $500
5th place – Sails & Tales – 48.7 pts – $250
HIGHEST EARNING TEAMS
Living Water/Makin’ Time – $35,306
Spiced Rum IV – $22,375
Slob City – $9,135
Sea Otter/No Fly Zone – $5,638
Bobbers Under – $4,695
PBSC STANDINGS THROUGH LEG 2
Showdown Crown
1st place – Living Water/Makin’ Time – 60 pts
2nd place – Macdaddy – 49 pts
3rd place – Bobbers Under – 44 pts
4th place – Plane Bills – 43 pts
5th place – Knot for Nothin’ – 43 pts
6th place – Slob City – 42 pts
7th place – 4 Coastal – 41 pts
Series Top Semi-Pro
1st place – Maxed Out – 230.2 pts
2nd place – Heavyhitters – 229.3 pts
3rd place – MarkoH2O –191.2 pts
4th place – Runnin Outta Time – 171.8 pts
5th place – 4 Da Boyz – 122.8 pts
Series Top Small Boat
1st place – Bobbers Under – 317.2 pts
2nd place – Runnin Outta Time – 171.8 pts
3rd place – MarkoH2O – 160 pts
4th place – Jolly Jiggers – 156.7 pts
5th place – WildKat – 150.1 pts
GEARING UP FOR LEG THREE: THE MERCURY/SEA VEE POMPANO BEACH SALTWATER SHOWDOWN
Tensions are high as teams arrive to compete in the final leg of one of the most prestigious fishing circuits in the southeast. The Mercury/Sea Vee Pompano Beach Saltwater Showdown is the bookend to the PBSC series and the last big tournament of the summer in South Florida.
In addition to a cash purse of more than $100,000 teams prep for a strong finish at the Showdown in the chase after the circuit’s most prestigious award: The Showdown Crown. The Crown awards $2,500 and a custom set of championship rings to the top overall team in the series – a feat that is not easily obtained. The Showdown can also be a target event for cashing big in the signature KDW and Pick 3 jackpots! Grand prize drawings for great prize packages are up for grabs at the Showdown awards ceremony for teams that fish all three legs of the series.
Teams can lock in the early entry rate of $475 per boat now through July 31, 2025. After that, entry fees jump to $575, so don’t wait to claim your spot in the lineup. Please note that all entry fees are non-refundable.
Teams can register online at fish.bluewatermovements.com, by mail to Bluewater Movements, Inc., PO Box 50114, Lighthouse Point, FL 33074, or in person at the Kickoff Party. Mail-in entries must be postmarked by the early entry deadline. At Kickoff events, accepted payment methods include cash, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express (a 3% convenience fee applies to credit card transactions). All tournament and calcutta payments must be finalized by the close of the Kickoff Party.
ABOUT THE POMPANO BEACH SALTWATER CIRCUIT
If you like fishing for Dolphin, Wahoo, Kingfish, Tuna, and Cobia, then you will love the format of the Pompano Beach Saltwater Circuit. The PBSC is a 3-leg tournament that takes place annually in South Florida from May to August. Leg 1 of the series begins in May with the Saltwater Shootout, followed by the Saltwater Slam in June and the Saltwater Showdown in August. In addition to a $600,000 purse, teams that register for the tournaments will enjoy premier hospitality including free drinks, great food, live entertainment, tournament shirts and a team bag loaded with sponsor swag! It’s no wonder why the PBSC has become one of the most popular series on the east coast.
ABOUT FISHBLUEWATER
Based in the heart of South Florida, the sportfishing capital of the world, Fish Bluewater is a premier sports marketing company with over three decades of expertise. For 30 years, we’ve been at the forefront of the competitive fishing scene, developing some of the most successful tournaments in the industry. Our deep-rooted knowledge of tournament fishing, paired with cutting-edge event marketing strategies, has allowed us to deliver unparalleled experiences for both anglers and sponsors alike.
With a portfolio of seven highly sought-after tournaments, each hosted at iconic venues across South Florida, Fish Bluewater continues to set the standard in competitive sportfishing events.
For media inquiries, images, and additional information, please contact:
Chris Caravello
Phone: 954-725-4010
Email: Chris@bluewatermovements.com
