“Those four inches won us the tournament.”
A full card before breakfast, a 35-inch striper at dawn, and one late fish that made all the difference. Mike remembers a cold, wet day that finally went their way.
When you think back to your Schoolie victory, what scene comes to mind first?
Mike: “Cape Cod on May 18, 2024 was windy, cold and damp. And that was the nice part of the day, when it was only ‘damp’—and not raining sideways! It was the kind of weather people say is good for fishing, when they want you to feel better about spending all day in the slop.
“I would like to say that when we were announced as the tournament winners, warm feelings flooded over me and I was never cold again, but no. You can see me proud in my blue Schoolie jacket with a turtleneck hoodie, still trying to get warm…”
Tell us about the fish from that weekend you still think about most.
Mike: “First, let's admit that a lot of saltwater fishing is based on the luck of being in the right place at the right time. That was definitely true for us that year.
“While Tim and I have taken more than one Schoolie skunking, in 2024 we had a scorecard worth of fish by 7:30 a.m. So we were feeling pretty good.
“But after a couple of breaks and moving around a bit, we hit that same spot and tide again late in the day. We only got one more fish then, but it was four inches bigger than the one it replaced on our scorecard, and those four inches won us the tournament.”
What went wrong—or nearly went wrong—before things came together?
Mike: “Nothing went wrong that day! We may have burned up all our Schoolie luck for our lifetimes—we got skunked the next year—but that one day was perfect.”
What did your partner bring to the win that they'd never brag about themselves?
Mike: “Tim Porelle the angler: All Schoolie fish are a team effort, but to be clear, it was Tim who caught the biggest fish we've ever gotten in our years fishing the tournament—a 35-incher that he brought in with no drama at dawn, making us realize we might have a shot.
“Tim Porelle the storyteller: Not only did he get our biggest fish, but he somehow managed to shoot photos and funny videos throughout the day, recording fly changes and bent rods. Not sure how he did that plus handle the fishing part, but glad for both roles!”
What fly or pattern do you remember most from that weekend?
Mike: “Herring patterns, especially a blue flatwing given to me at a Christmas fly swap by Vince Battista—thank you!”
What did winning Schoolie mean to you in the moment—and what does it mean to you now?
Mike: “The excitement started to build as Tim drove us to The West End, with the text asking for our fish pictures—that was a first for us. And not until the second-place announcement did we realize we had won.
“What it means in the days and years after that is mostly great. As Ted said in the announcement, ‘Bragging rights for life!’
“Bragging rights only matter if it's for something you care about and others in your community, your friends and mentors, care about, too. Some of the people I most look up to are passionate anglers, and because this was a big thing to them, it will always be big to me.”
What would you tell someone fishing their first Schoolie that has nothing to do with catching the biggest fish?
Mike: “Hopefully you are joining a group of people that share the same joy and motivations, and your energy will add to and sustain the group for as long as you participate.
“And if you are lucky enough to win the whole thing one year—watch out: For the rest of your life, every time you dump a backcast in front of your friends or stop to pick out a bird's nest while the fish are blowing up, you're gonna hear about it!”