I've heard over the years that many people hesitate to enter the OPEN because they can't (pick one: shoot a hundred pound carbo; get a ride on a fast boat; compete with the big shooters).

Eight or nine years ago, a friend of mine had recently started spearfishing. He was interested in the OPEN, but was not going to enter because he was so 'new'.

I told him about the many ways he could win without shooting the biggest fish.
He entered with another 'noob' friend. I saw him (Chris) at the weigh in. He said he only got one fish all day; a small mango. He was embarrassed to enter it and was going to be one of the did-not-weigh contestants. I encouraged him to enter the fish with the reminder of the category and grand category prizes.

Chris entered and picked near last place. He was a little emabarrassed, but he got over it.
Then came his category drawing. His ticket was NOT the lucky ticket for the snapper category.

As Nsearch mentioned above, there is a grand category prize. All undrawn category tickets are combined for the final drawing.

With great anticipation, followed by total disbelief, Chris read and re-read his category ticket number. Chris won a package worth over $800 including a nitrox cert and some badly needed new gear.

There are so many ways to win at the ST. PETE OPEN. First place fish have come from shore divers. Mystery tickets get drawn. And you will have the time of your life.

MANY ways to win at the St. Pete Open!!

Good story Denny. Three years ago on our boat we had Little Mark with us for his first SPO. Some of you may know Mark from freediving and Adventure Outfitters. We got chased home from sloppy-bad weather on the east coast. We made it back to Fort D and went out real quick for some category tickets. Mark shot a 13" hog and a 13" mango off of a ledge. He maybe had 23 mins of total bottom time for the tournament. One of his mystery tickets got pulled in the first round of mystery ticket drawing. He picked the Zeagle pony bottle setup with a built in regulator. Eventually, Mark also pulled a prize based on one of his fish. Then came the category prizes but his numebr was not called. His number got called for the Grand Category prize which was Lee's 70# carbo. Since then, Mark continues to sign up early for the SPO.

Last year a couple of my buddies went out on their boat. They got some fish, nothing spectacular, but covered about half of the categories. On the way in, in the intracoastal, a jetski jumped another boat's wake then ran into them. Everyone was okay. But there was some damage to the hull. In the end they barely missed the weigh in deadline. At the awards ceremony the next day one of the guys had his mystery ticket (from the captains meeting) picked and he walked away with a beautiful Beuchet carbon spear gun.

The winter tournament earlier this year was my first tournament and this is my frst SPO. I have heard all the stories and I'm hoping for a little luck on my side. I doubt I'll be weighing in first place grouper or AJ but I'm on a good boat and I'm looking forward to it.

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I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day.

My first SPO i shot a 13 lb. hog, thought id have no chance of winning cause it wasnt 20 lbs. I walked away with 3rd place glass and a nice pick from the table. I was stoked!

Good luck everyone!

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Brent K. St. Petersburg Underwater Club www.stpeteopen.com
TBSC http://www.tampabayspearfishingclub.org/
Aqautic Obsessions Dive shop http://www.AOdive.com/