Angler Gene White's winning ways

Angler Gene White, who caught the 200-pound monster tarpon that won Miller's Marina's jig tournament history. The Beacon did some research into our archives, and found out just how many local tournaments this avid tarpon fisherman has placed in since 1993. We found out that he has won eight 1st places; three 2nd places; and four 3rd places (Most Releases)! His list of wins is impressive; here it is:

• 1993 World's Richest Tarpon Tournament: White and Capt. George Melissas won Most Releases on the Trio, with six fish. White caught all of them.

(The rest of these wins were all won by White as part of the Sidewinder fishing team, with the exception of one, which was on Sitarah. Unless otherwise indicated, White was the angler who caught the fish.)

• 1995 World's Richest Tarpon Tournament: First place with Capt. Mark Futch, with a 123.6-pound tarpon.
• 1994 Miller's Marina Tarpon Tide Tournament #1: Third place, with two fish.
• 1994 Miller's'2nd TTT: First Place, with a 156-pound fish.
• 1995 Miller's 3rd TTT: Third Place, with four fish caught by the Sidewinder team.
• 1995 Miller's 7th TTT: First and Third place, for the biggest and the most fish caught (four fish released;White caught two of them).
• 1995 3rd South Beach Tournament: First Place, with a 128-pound fish, with teammate George Melissas helping to fight it.
• 1996 Miller's 3rd TTT: Second Place, with a 131-pound fish.
• 1996 Boca Grande All-Release Tarpon Tournament: Second Place, with three fish caught and released.
• 1996 Miller's 7th TTT: Second Place, with a 144-pounder hooked by Jeff Totten and landed by Gene White.
• 1997 Miller's 1st TTT: First Place, with a 172-pounder hooked by Jeff Totten and landed by Gene White.
• 1997 Miller's 2nd jig tournament: First Place, with a 200-pound fish.
• 2000 Gene's team of ladies won the Miller's Ladies Day tournament with a 138 pounder.