Two hundred, fifty-one women in 167 boats participated in the Eighth Annual Ladies Fish-off Saturday, a female anglers only tournament that benefits Kids in Distress.

Started eight years ago as a thought shared among friends, the Ladies Fish- off is one of the largest fishing tournaments in South Florida.

“In 1984 there were eight of us at a local tournament,” said Sandi Booth, one of the event’s originators. “We thought, wouldn’t it be neat if there was a tournament just for gals, and now it’s second largest tournament (behind the Pompano Rodeo) overall in South Florida.

“Jack Holmes of the Florida Marine Digest wrote that 35 percent of all the anglers competing in tournaments are women, yet besides us, I believe the only other all-ladies tournament is a billfish tournament held in the Keys.”

Booth said the idea of making the tournament a charity event seemed like the right thing to do.

“Kids in Distress was new at the time … it’s a ladies tournament and it seemed natural to do something for kids,” she said. “It’s kind of developed into a fun fundraiser.”

Booth said that there was a lot of skepticism in the beginning on the idea of an all-ladies fishing tournament.

“It was something new that no one had ever thought of,” she said, “(a) ladies fishing tournament benefitting Kids in Distress, two things people had never heard of before. It was a matter of getting the word out so that people would understand.”

The first tournament drew 106 anglers in 68 boats and it has grown every year.

“We haven’t peaked out yet,” Booth said. “Each year it gets bigger and bigger.”

Winners in this year’s tournament:

Janine LaPinta of Pompano Beach, aboard the Tail Walker, earned top angler honors with her catch of two tuna totaling 50 pounds and a 53-pound sailfish. Ann Springer, aboard the Easy Life, placed second with 82 pounds of tuna and two kingfish totaling 39 pounds. Hollywood resident Linda Noll, aboard the X’austed Rooster, caught a 17-pound tuna and a 46 1/2-pound sailfish for 63 1/ 2 pounds and third place.

The top junior angler was 10-year-old Jennifer Huston of Hollywood. Huston, aboard the Joanie, caught an 18-pound tuna and a 12-pound kingfish.

David Detweiler and his boat, the Tail Walker, were honored as top captain and top boat.

Largest tournament fish was also the largest sailfish, a 72-inch, 64 pounder caught by Teri Benedict of Parkland aboard the Teri K. Largest cobia was a 48 pounder caught by Vandy Parker aboard the Green Machine.

Karen Avery of Delray Beach caught the dolphin, a 39 pounder, while on the Reed Deduction, and Jane Herrington aboard the Boat Owners Warehouse caught the largest grouper at 30 1/2 pounds. Largest kingfish was a 38 pounder caught by Sine Mate aboard the Catch 22.

Springer had the tournament’s largest tuna at 29 1/2 pounds, and Debbie Stoneman’s 26 pounder was the largest wahoo.

Christine McEntrye caught two kingfish 15-20 pounds, a 25-pound cow and released a sail on the the Just Before Dawn, and Barbara Grady caught a 50- pound sailfish with Young on the Joanie.

OTHER CATCHES:

— Bim Gill of Fort Lauderdale won the 19th annual Don Hawley Invitational Tarpon Release Fly Tournament, held June 7-11 at Islamorada. Gill, with Capt. John Donnell of Fort Lauderdale, released 12 tarpon. Chuck Brodzki of Fort Lauderdale, with Capt. Mark Krowka, finished second with five releases and Bert Scherb of Chicago, with Capt. Tim Klein, finished third, releasing five after Brodzki’s five.

— Megan Holcombe reports that Kevin Krutchley caught a 70-pound wahoo two miles off Hillsboro Inlet on the Homey’s Pride with Joe and Dan Krutchley.

— Vincent Petty of Pembroke Pines and Robert Seidaman and Antonella Piccerelli of Hallandale each released a sailfish Sunday off the Quo Vadis with Capt. Gary Craig. Monday the Quo Vadis brought in dolphin and kingfish, while Capt. Paul Stewart of My Way and Capt. Keith Bokenhagen of Quetzal were bringing in kings.

— Capt. Barry Dunkin of the Mean Green Fishing Machine reports that on Saturday Jim Hartog and Rick Board brought in three 30-pound dolphin and numerous schoolies 14 miles out, north of Boca Inlet.

— Patty Griffin released her first sailfish Saturday while fishing on the Bearmeat with Capt. Kevin King. The 40-pound sail was caught using pilchards on a kite.

— Rob Summers of Plantation released a 225-pound hammerhead shark Saturday on the Eagle VII with Capt. Bob Dowling. Michael Timpone of Urbana, Ill., needed two hours to catch a 7-foot 10-inch 147-pound hammerhead Friday while out on the Happy Day Today with Capt. Skip Tindall. Paul W. Cusmano of Troy, Mich., caught a 7-foot, 1-inch, 54-pound sail in 450 feet using goggleye on a rigger with Tindall on Saturday.

— Dan Dixon of Plantation needed 45 minutes to land a 130-pound hammerhead Sunday on the Sir Fish-a-Lot with Capt. Randy Johnson. Johnson adds that Lisa Hitchman of Canton, N.Y., caught an 82-inch, 46-pound sailfish Sunday, and that dolphin, bonitos and king mackerel are biting.

— Capt. Greg McCauley reports that the Robin’s Song brought back three sails over the weekend. Friday Rod Whitehead of Deerfield Beach caught a 30 pounder and Dan Mallinger of Windermere, Fla., had a 33-pound sail. Andrew Ferguson of Massachusetts brought in a 55-pound sailfish on the Robin’s Song Saturday.

— Bobby Jones, Dr. Samuel Sue and Sue’s son Gary brought in three sailfish, five barracudas and eight dolphin Saturday and Sunday while out with Capt. Dennis Forgione.

— Capt. Mark Silverstein of the Blue Fox II reports that Ed Cantor of Boca Raton caught six dolphin 18 miles out Saturday using skirted ballyhoo and dolphin juniors. Silverstein adds that Linette Streich, Carl Pasciak and Ed Wizain caught three dolphin up to 20 pounds Sunday.

— The South Florida Mako Owner’s Club will be holding the Boys and Girls Club of Fort Lauderdale Fishing Tournament next Saturday. “About 20 boats from our club will be taking out the boys and girls, two to three per boat,” said Dave Nyitray, “so around 50-60 kids are expected. A couple of boats are still iffy.” The club is still looking for sponsors for prizes for the children — any donation from a company or individual with marine related items (such as fishing rods) would be appreciated. For information call Nyitray at (305) 942-2944 or (305) 763-6000.