Not your average kayak folk participated in last weekend’s inaugural Extreme Kayak/Paddle Board Fishing Sailfish Smack Down. The top five anglers that won the EKFT’s summer series events along with a few guys that made the 22 hour trip from Oklahoma had the courage to compete in this first of its kind event. 

The party started on Thursday January 23^rd, 2014 at Brus Room in Pompano Beach. It was a full house and among the crowd were the registered anglers, along with many more fishermen that had participated in past EKFT events who came to show their support. Everyone chowed down on free triple threat wings and cold beer while telling fishing stories, in anticipation of the extreme weekend ahead. The raffle at the kickoff party was one no one will soon forget, with the main prize being a Hobie Revolution 13 worth $2,000 from main sponsor Nautical Ventures. Also given away were fish bags from ENGEL Coolers, Tigress kites and awesome Yak Gear merchandise.

Saturday morning could not come fast enough as the anxious anglers gathered to the launch site by the Pompano Beach Pier. All bundled up on a chilly morning, the fishermen were greeted with hot coffee and donuts compliments of Dandee Donuts as they got ready for an epic day. The shotgun start at 7a.m. had the men race seamlessly into the velvety clear blue water.

“Oklahoma is hooked up” was the voice bouncing through the VHS radios. The help boat rushed to the location to document the catch. Manning the safety boat was Joe from Hillsboro Inlet providing live baits, Jose from Aces Bait and tackle and the organizer of the event Joe Hector with Judge Rick Hector. Sure enough it was Chris Thomas from Tulsa Oklahoma who had the first fish on at 9:15a.m. in about 200 feet of water. The safety boat had just enough time to document and safely release the Sailfish until the sound of excitement echoed through the radios once again, “Oklahoma 2”!!!  Another Sail was caught just about an hour later by Ryan Jones who made the trip with Chris for the tournament. The shocker was that both Chris and Ryan have never before fished offshore from a Kayak! The last man who entered the water in the morning Marcos Baldo was the last one to hook up nabbing his sailfish at 12:42.

The awards ceremony took place on Sunday January 26th at Sea Side Grill in Pompano Beach. Chris Thomas was the champion! He was awarded with a gorgeous glass trophy, $3,000 CASH donated by Turbo USA, Costa Del Mar Sunglasses, and a beautiful custom sailfish rod from Blue Marlin Chronicles. Ryan Jones was runner up and ecstatic to be driving back to Oklahoma City with a Plaque from Crown Trophy, $1,000 cash, Costa’s, and a handsome sailfish necklace from Guy Harvey Jewelry. Marcos Baldo came in third and received a Plaque, $500 cash, and Costa Sunglasses. All three winners also walked away with a pro team EKFT Jacket.

The Oklahoma men defeated the local champs in this EKFT’s first ever Sail Fish Smack Down teaching everyone a valuable lesson, that it does not matter what state you are from you can be an Extreme champion!