First if you've never heard the expression "like a chicken running around with its head cut off". That was what it was like this weekend for me to the 10th power.:eek:

But it was so worth it because I got to share a very unreal weekend with 226 friends that share the same passion as me. This years St. Pete Open was a unbelievable time for me and I hope everyone else. There were so many big fish weighed in this year from almost 100 lb grouper all the way down to big sheepshead. What was really cool was quite a few shooters got their first piece of St. Pete Open glass. Which is way cool to see. The expression on someones face that just won glass is just priceless.:smthumbup: Another stagering number is that 90 percent of the shooters weighed fish in. Just awesome!!!:beer:

I really don't know where to even start to thank everyone that helped me put this grand daddy of a big fish tournament on. My right hand man Howie Scarboro "the new SPUC president" helped me more then he knows. The list is endless from Matt Joswig, Dean Palmer, Ken Jones, Dana Scarboro, Denny and Tina O'hern, Scott and Charlene Hooker, Mark and Tracey Westbrook, John and Tamara Hermes, Rich Taylor, John Schmidt, Rich Hermes, Bryan Anderson, Trey Stickland, Frank McCallister, Bill Hardman, Scott and Cathy Lucas, Bridget Bennent, The Guerra's, Chris Grauer, Jason and Vickie Delacruz, Dee Dee and countless others I can't think of right now. To whom I missed I'm so great full for everything you helped me with.

One of the main people I would like to thank are our great and wonderfull sponsors that helped make this years St. Pete Open prize table the best ever. I mean damn...it was just sick with awesome prizes. Thank you very, very much for your support.:yay:

On a side note I would really, really like to thank everyone that offered to help me with a very personal issue last night right as the weigh in ended. That just shows me that there are so many special people out there that will help you out in a time of panic when you really don't know what to do or say because of so much going on. I'm just speechless and words can't describe my gratitude to everyone that helped me for a few stressfull hours or were willing to help me. I will never forget that for the rest of my life. Thank you so, so much.

Until next year. This is Ritchie Zacker signing off as SPUC president and just wait till next year. If you thought that I brought in big sheepshead. Wait till you see what I'm after next year.

Thank You everyone for making this a weekend I'll never forget.:toast:

good job ritchie

Thanks Ritchie, you and all the SPUC's did a great job!!! Thank you sponsors, the prize table was absolutely incredible this year!!!

Man I had a great time!!! Props to Room 219, they burnt the house down!!! :D:D

Hoooootie Hooo!:D

My mouth still tastes like a cat snuck in and shit in it while I was sleeping,, but it was a great time!! The 08 SPO went off perfectly but only because of great planning and an astonishing amount of hard work on the part of the SPUCS and all volunteers. The prize table was off the hook!!

Congratulations to Jason and everyone on the brickyard, you guys had some SICK fish!! It's one thing to win, it's another to defend last years win.

Congratz to all the winners and everyone that shot and had a great time. See you next year.

Thanks for a great time Ritchie, you did an excellent job.

That prize table was sick. After fighting the common theme of this year's tourney "our boat won't get on a plane", I finished an almost embarassing 122 down the list for a 4 pound hogfish I shot in 45 feet of water. When you figure in the mystery tickets, I probably got 145th pick of the prizes. In any other tourney, you'd be lucky to get a snorkle keeper with that placing. I choose a roll control track with 4 adjustable racks, worth over $100.

Look out for next year, we'll be going deep.

Thanks Ritchie and the rest of the SPUCs! Everything ran great, and I had a fantastic time! :smthumbup:

great job bud:corkysm60:

I cant imagine all the work that goes into putting this on every year.:beer:
Great job Ritchie and everyone.! I had a blast.!


Dago.

I cant imagine all the work that goes into putting this on every year.:beer:
Great job Ritchie and everyone.! I had a blast.!


Dago.

Told you, you would, been trying to get you involved for years, what a way to make an entrance, Thank you and everyone else that made this tourney happen.:toast:

Ritchie, you did an awesome job for the past year. Your dedication to the club was an inspiration to me personally. I was happy to help out, but you did 90% of the work. I have spoken to several past presidents of the club and everyone agrees that you did a great job.

I hope you don't think you are going to fade away now that your responsibilities are done, I plan on making a motion to create a co-President position effective this Wednesday.
BTW, the powerpoint presentation at the SPO this morning was the shiznit. The best chops from SFP were mixed in with the tournament photos, it was a trip.

Kudos to everyone involved. The 2008 St. Pete Open ran like a fine Swiss watch and a great time was had by all. Thanks for the hardwork!:smnotworthy:

You did an awesome job Ritchie, congratz
I just dont understand why you wouldnt let me weigh my goldfish

Chris

Man!!! That's all I can say. Big thanks to Ritchie and all the guys that helped him for all the hard work to make it happen. Big thanks to Denny and those involved in the FRA!!

I had a blast and it was great to meet a lot of the shooters from this board. Some of them were very hospitable. Big props out to room 219.

What a great tourney- smooth as clockwork. It's a big deal to get down to St. Pete for just one day of diving, but the SPO is worth it! Thank you to all who made it happen.

Wow, i got 114th pick for my 4.2lb Snapper, better pick than a 15lb grouper!!! But thanks to the mystery ticket I prolly got around the 35th pick and got a bad ass fishing rod with a price tag of $133, and of course a suremarker deal. not bad all in all I guess.

Ritchie,
Congrats on a very successful year as a SPUC president. I had my roll in the hay as SPUC prez over six years ago and I know how much stress the WHOLE year puts on a presidents back. You led with resolute strength and integrity. This SPO was your official last duty as the leader of the SPUCs and you capped off the year the same way you started - with a lot of hard work and effort that resulted in great success!

"Success comes before Work, only in the dictionary" Cal. Hwy Patrol

Now, get some sleep Ritchie, get some sleep!

Howie hit nail on the head. The work you have done this year would make any SPUC proud, thank you. Everyone I spoke with had a phenomenal time this weekend and it speaks volumes for the amount of upfront work required to make this tournament successful. Big thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers, participants, spectators, and to the Underwater Club. Wednesday shall be fun :thumbup:

So glad I took today off :yay:

I got LAST!! 4ftrs and 0 vis :D but still walked away happy as anyone as hung over as I was could.

I got LAST!! 4ftrs and 0 vis :D but still walked away happy as anyone as hung over as I was could.


LOL....I noticed you left your sunglasses on during the awards on Sun. You didn't seem to move much either.

Eyes where closed under those glasses:D I was asleep when Denny called me up and by the time I got up in front of everyone I forgot why I was there hence the wave and hauled ass beck to my seat.

Awesome work this year Richie and all the SPUCS!!! The prize table this year was incredible! We were able to have a great time even though we trailered our boat 9hrs round trip to have it not get up on plane. Luckily, we were able to make some great new friends when the Aristakat crew was nice enough to give us a ride. Thanks again everyone for a fun tourney!
-Chris

I got LAST!! 4ftrs and 0 vis :D but still walked away happy as anyone as hung over as I was could.

Sweet, you get a free subscription to SPEARING Magazine. Who were the four shooters ahead of you? I need their names and addresses.

C

There was only one wine spritzer consumed (very slowly) the entire night in room 219......with a straw :cool:.

I wouldn't know....I was distracted by the hungry howies pizza.

Thanks for making us east coasters feel right at home. You guys did a great job .It was the best run turny I have been in. Great job Richie. My whole family had a great time and will be back again next year. Greg:toast:

RZ JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THE TOURNAMENT WAS FIRST CLASS BRO! THE TURNOUT WAS AWESOME! EVERYONE SEEMED TO HAVE A GREAT TIME !HATS OFF TO YOU BRO WOULD NOT WANT TO FILL YOUR SHOES.CONGRATS TO ALL OF YOU SHOOTERS.I WAS BUSY DOING MY SPONSOR STUFF SO I DID NOT GET TO SHOOT BUT I WILL BE OUT THERE HUNTING WITH YOUR ASSES NEXT YEAR AND STILL BE A SPONSOR:toast:

Hey man, I never got to personally meet you on Sunday but I just wanted to say that your display of products and the prizes you donated were absolutely awesome! Thank you for being a sponsor and I hope you get to shoot next year and are able to sponsor the tournament again.

Bryan

Good work Ritchie, awesome tournament. I Had a great time