Quest for the Crest Champion’s Story

 

JOLENE: 2025 Quest for the Crest Series Champions

 

The Jolene team has been fishing together for five years now, and winning the Quest was the culmination of all the hard work and dedication we’ve put in over the years, with a little luck on our side to make it happen. For me personally, winning the Quest series was by far the most challenging achievement in my fishing career thus far.

 

Operation Sailfish

 

Having won Operation Sailfish back in 2022, we always look forward to heading up to Palm Beach. Our usual routine is to bring the boat up from Key Largo on Tuesday before the tournament, spending the next two days fishing to get a feel for the conditions. This time, I had some solid intel that there had been a decent bite on Juno Ledge in the weeks leading up, so that’s where we focused our practice.

 

Pre-fishing paid off, and we had some good bites and felt confident in the area we’d been working, so that’s where we set up on Day One. About 15 minutes after lines in, Jordan Wolk spotted a free jumper to the south. We wound everything up and made the run to try and line up with the fish. With some luck on our side, we hit the fish on the head, so to speak, and hooked up on a double as we put the spread back out. That move kicked off our morning rally, landing seven of ten fish in the first two hours. After that, we picked off a couple of singles before heavy rain set in for a solid couple of hours. Once it cleared, we managed to get tight just before lines out, landing a double that brought us to 11 fish and secured a spot in the top ten after Day One.

 

On Day Two, we picked up three doubles by noon, putting us in first place with 17 releases. Then the wind swung hard to the west, and the bite all but shut down for the afternoon. We would’ve loved a couple more fish to pad our lead, but 17 held strong, and we closed out the day with our second set of dog tags and the victory.

 

Sailfish Challenge

 

Sailfish Challenge is exactly that: a challenge. With three inlets to choose from and such a large boundary, it’s always a mental Rubik’s cube deciding where to fish for this tournament. Most of the fish still seemed to be north of Hillsboro, so we made the call to head up to Palm Beach and fish out of Sailfish Marina.

 

On Day One, we pounded our way up toward Jupiter before lines in and fished there for about an hour, picking off one sailfish in less-than-ideal conditions. By 9:00, word spread that Native Son was on a biomass of fish, so we picked up and ran south. We reached Boynton Inlet around 10:15, but by then Native Son had already had 24 releases. At that point, we knew the fish were tailing, and when that happens, there’s no telling how many you can rack up in a short time, so we capitalized on the opportunity. As soon as we put the spread out, it was nonstop action for the next six hours. When the dust settled, we wrapped up Day One with 26 releases.

 

On Day Two, the current had died dramatically, but we managed to get on a small batch of fish early on and picked up six releases. After that flurry, most of the fleet jogged north while some boats ran all the way back down to Miami as the morning went on. Around 1:00, still stuck on six fish, we ran back down to the Martini Glass and found ourselves all alone. In the final few hours, we went 9 for 12 and wrapped up Day Two with 15 releases, finishing the tournament with 41 releases and a 6th place overall.

 

Final Sail

 

Final Sail couldn’t come fast enough for us. We were holding a solid lead for the series, but it felt like a lifetime since we’d been stacking up releases in the Challenge. This Final Sail turned out to have the roughest conditions by far, compared to the conditions we saw in Legs One and Two, with southeast winds at 20 knots and strong current, which made for some seriously sporty conditions.

 

On Day One, we fished down below Fowey, picking away at a handful of fish, and released five sails by lines out. We were still leading the series at the end of the day, but our margin was starting to slip. While we obviously wanted to win the Final Sail, chasing the series title had us looking at the scoreboard a little differently than most teams.

 

On Day Two, the plan was to get on the board early to protect our series lead, and we did just that with a couple of singles before 9:30. But as the morning wore on, the bites we were looking for never came. Around noon, we made a move north and ended up near Cape Florida, only to find grass everywhere and a blown out edge. We bounced around and missed three fish over the next couple of hours, watching our lead slip away.

 

With an hour of fishing left, we ran just south of Fowey and found a beautiful edge that had formed up. My wife, Brittany, kicked off our rally with a single at 3:30, then hooked a bluefin on the next drift, which we broke off right away. At 3:50, with ten minutes before lines out, we were down but not out. I looked down at the left short, did a double take, and saw two fish lying just below the herring with their sails up. The first one ate, and we were on a mission to get the release. I was convinced that fish would put us over the top, so when we touched the leader, the whole boat lit up with excitement. (Time of release 3:53)

 

After the release, I spun the boat to clear the spread, and as the right short skipped across the prop wash, the second fish, and our final release, came up and piled on the bait. We landed that fish at 3:55, five minutes before lines out, and sealed the deal as series champions.

 

It was a true storybook ending for Team Jolene and a year we’ll never forget. 68 fish over six tournament days and the Burgundy Jackets to prove it!

 

– Captain Drew Rhonehouse, JOLENE

 

About the Quest for the Quest Sailfish Series

 

The Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series stands as the ultimate battleground for the world’s top billfishing teams. This prestigious 3-leg series boasts an estimated purse of over $1.7 million, attracting fierce competitors from across the globe. But the true prize—the one that every team covets—isn’t about the money. It’s about The Crest.

 

The Crest represents the highest honor in the world of tournament sailfishing, a symbol of unmatched excellence. This coveted award, embodied by the iconic burgundy jacket, is reserved for the team that rises above all others in skill, strategy, and stamina. To don the jacket is to hold the title of world champion. It is not just a prize; it is a legacy earned through sheer dominance over an elite field. Only the best of the best can claim this privilege on their quest for the ultimate crown in billfishing.

 

About Fish Bluewater

 

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. Our commitment to excellence ensures that every tournament we produce is more than just a competition—it’s a premium experience that celebrates the passion and spirit of the sport.

 

For media inquiries, images, and additional information, please contact:

 

Chris Caravello
Phone: 954-725-4010
Email: Chris@bluewatermovements.com