REEL AMAZING

This vibrant 16 year-old

knows how to reel in tournament wins.

by Bobbye Kenyon  Photos by Endless Imagery

You’ve heard the adage “like father, like son” spun over and over. However, this story takes a unique turn that accurately reads like father, like daughter. This new take on a long-standing cliché best describes the incredible father-daughter fishing team of Captain Ernie Portuondo and his 16 year-old daughter, Nicole. Together, they have charted an impressive course of tournament accolades along the South Florida waters, now fishing aboard a 35-foot SeaHunter center console.
It started when Ernie caught the bug for boating and fishing at an early age. Although his career path took him into the world of real estate and finance, Ernie’s love of all things water transitioned him into the marine industry with a successful stint at Allied Richard Bertram where he was both broker and tournament captain. This move allowed him to form his own full-service yacht and boat brokerage company, Mar Azul Marine Group of Coral Gables, Florida, and secure a dealership for SeaHunter. “I’ve known the Montalvo family for many years, so representing SeaHunter was a natural,” said Ernie. It was his daughter, Nicole, however, that took the business and the brand partnership a step further.

Specifications
LOA: 34’ 10”
Beam: 9’ 10”
Dry Weight: 6,000 lbs.
Power:  900 hp max
Fuel: 354 U.S. gals.
Cruising/top Speed: 27/53 knots

Contact
SeaHunter Boats
Princeton, FL
305-257-3344
seahunterboats.com

Always eager to fish with her father, a few years ago, Nicole realized she wanted to fish competitively and approached her dad about putting together a team . . . and her own center console. She likes the speed of the breed.
During her first contest, a school event called St. Thomas the Apostle Fishing Tournament, she caught and released a 55-pound sailfish.  “The second day we were looking for tuna, driving over big kingfish grounds and suddenly a sailfish came up. I fought it 3 times.” Her initial strike garnered a series of tournament awards including Top Female. “It was really exciting.”
“At my first actual sailfish tournament (the Sailfish Kickoff), the seas were really rough,” Nicole said. “It was a little traumatizing, but it paid off. I won Top Junior Angler and some prize money.” Following her initial full season in 2007, Nicole acquired a bounty of points to finish second Junior and fourth Female in the World Billfish Series (WBS) Southeast Division.

And it was the love of billfishing that lured her into the tournament big leagues. “I kept going with it…kept fishing more and more tournaments,” she added. During the 2008 Sailfish Kickoff, Nicole carried away a trio of Top Overall awards including Amateur, Female and Junior Angler along with First Place Amateur Team honors by scoring ten sailfish releases.
It was time to trick out Nicole’s SeaHunter, yes, the 2010 SeaHunter Tournament 35, outfitted with twin Mercury 300 Verado engines, belongs to the record-setting Nicole. And while getting to the fish first is high on any angler’s priority list, Nicole wanted to get there via a dynamic statement: the boat is dressed in an pink photo wrap. “I wanted it to be something that everyone would notice,” she laughed.
Although SeaHunter  has a 40-foot tournament  model and this spring added a 37-footer, the 35T continues to be the builder’s most popular model. The boats are hand built of Kevlar, Core-cell foam and vinylester resin and vacuum bagged for stiffness and weight control. The hull begins with an almost extreme 60-degree entry, broadening out to a 24.5 degree deadrise at the stepped transom. Twin 48-gallon live wells, large fish boxes and more rod holders than any team could ever fill signal the boat’s intent.
Along with Ernie and Nicole, the team comprises Mario Mendez, Ross Jimenez and Juan Luis Diaz, Chris McNeal, Danny Ayo and Capt. Eric Johnson. Team Mar Azul, has completed its third year and placed in the top ten for 15 of their 23 tournaments with a trio of first place finishes. While Ernie has twice placed in the Top 20 Anglers in the WBS Southeast Division, his most remarkable accomplishment is guiding his daughter to the top of the fishing charts. “My dad inspires my fishing talents,” the high school sophomore says. “I practice a lot and I have a great, supportive team.”
Last year Nicole celebrated her birthday by competing at the Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament. She rounded out a perfect day by scoring 1,400 points to garner the prestigious Joan Vernon Top Female Award. Her participation in the Captain Bob Lewis Billfish Challenge last year netted First Place Amateur Team.
Wrapping up the 2009 season, Nicole captured Top Ranked Junior and Female in the WBS. Her exceptional skills have caught the attention and respect of fellow competitors. “It feels good to know that I can take down some of the guys. I think they respect me for what I do.”  While competing at the Mayor’s Cup Tournament earlier this year, Nicole was edged out of the Top Overall Angler spotlight by just a single fish. With six releases, she settled for Top Female and Top Junior honors.
Nicole’s next goal is to top her 2010 World Sailfish Championship performance (Top Junior and Top Female) with an overall win next year, and she seems to be heading in the right direction. From his vantage point, Ernie sums it up by saying, “It’s a total honor and privilege to be fishing with my daughter.”