JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Day two of the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament didn't turn out the high numbers like day one. However there's a distinct difference from the 2016 tournament, where a 45.15 pound kingfish was the winner and 2017 where there have already been two kingfish over 50 pounds.
"The fish around here they run in cycles," said tournament director Steve Thompson. "One year you'll have a big fish here and the next year you'll have a smaller fish. These anglers that fish out of here are the best of the best. They do their homework and they get out there and find them."
For the crew of the Snatch-Um it wasn't a suprise their kingfish was big but they didn't expect it to weigh 55 pounds.
Billy Patterson, who has fished in all 37 Kingfish tournaments, along with his sons Billy Jr. and Tyler were among the first boats to weigh in at Sisters Creek Marina.
"We knew it was good, we thought it was high 40's," Tyler Patterson said. "We heard a 52 pounder was caught. When we saw 55 it was amazing."
There were a total of seven kingfish weighed over 40 pounds and 38.35 pounds was only good enough for 10th place.
The Patterson's have always made the Kingfish Tournament a family affair.
"My dad has fished this tournament since 1982," Tyler said. " I was born in 1984 and it's pretty special."
The Patterson's plan on fishing again on Friday in search of more Kings for the aggregate or just maybe a bigger fish.
"In case someone beats us." Tyler said. "We need to find some more fish so we're not done yet."
Day one of the tournament was a wash for Ponte Vedra native Monica Stam. The name of the boat she shares with her husband is called 'Turn three' because they're both huge NASCAR fans. Her advice to future anglers is to never give up.
"Yesterday we didn't weigh a fish at all," said Stam after taking the lead in the lady angler division. "We just decided we were just going to go out and have fun today and I really think they change of attitude really helped our chances."