By David Harry

Staff Writer

A Scarborough boy described by his mother as a “passionate fisherman” made the catch of the day Saturday at a South Portland fishing tournament.

Kevin Smith, 12, said he felt “pure joy” as he landed a 170-pound mako shark while fishing with five others on his father Scott’s 30-foot boat called the K & C.

The shark earned Kevin Smith a new fishing rod as the biggest fish caught in the first annual Disabled Veterans Appreciation Fishing Tournament sponsored by Port Harbor Marine and based at its Spring Point Marina in South Portland.

According to Jeff Irish, the marina director of parts and accessories, the shark also led to full bellies for the more than 100 entrants in the tournament as 40 pounds of shark were added to the menu at the post-tournament fish fry.

Kevin Smith said the boat set out at around 8 a.m. Saturday and headed for a spot about 34 miles offshore he called the “shark grounds.”

Early results were mixed, he said, as fishermen caught and released dogfish and blue sharks.

When it came time to head in, Kevin Smith said his father let him reel in one more line. About 20 feet from the boat, Kevin Smith said he saw a boil – the current was kicking up as the 6-foot shark headed for the bluefish bait on the line.

“I saw it hit the bait, and it was hungry,” he said about the shark striking the line. 

He said he knew right away this mako shark was unusual because it was so close to the boat. Then the shark “tail walked” across the water, he said “like it was dancing.”

His struggle initially drew little attention, Kevin Smith said, because others on the boat assumed he was landing another blue shark that would be thrown back. It took him about 20 minutes to land the shark, which was pulled aboard with a gaff, which is a large hook.

He said his arms got a little sore from reeling in the catch, but he did the job on his own until the shark was at the edge of the boat and he handed over his rod and reel to grab a harpoon.

The portions not served at the fish fry were either given away to friends or made for more meals at home, Kevin Smith said.

His mother Lynn said she stayed home but was alerted to her son’s big catch.

“I got a phone call to come with my camera,” she said.

The catch capped what Irish called a successful tournament where trophies were awarded in nine categories of fishing.

Irish, a Navy veteran, said Port Harbor Marine President Rob Soucy; Kerry Birmingham of the Family Assistance Center of Maine; and Portland resident Harvey Weinstein collaborated to organize the tournament during the last four months.

Groups of five or six fishermen included veterans from all military branches extending back to World War II. There was no entry fee for veterans, Irish said.  

Staff writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219