Get Lit Wins Key West Event Using Penn International 16VS Reel

Get Lit, owned by Miami angler Kit Toomey and Captained by Quinton Dieterle, claimed the 2009 World Sailfish Championships this past week, using the Penn International 16VS reel. Dieterle and Get Lit claimed the event in Key West, Fla., that came with a prize worth $340, 825.

Using the Penn International 16VS reel, Get Lit caught and released 22 sailfish during the three-day event. Get Lit has a history with Key West, winning the event in 2003 and 2007. The only thing missing during the event was lunch for the Get Lit crew.

"We never ate on the boat during the entire tournament — we were very focused," said Toomey." It's how you react when things go wrong that can result in extra fish, and every fish counts. Our gear never failed us. That is why we use the Penn International 16VS reel. The Penn International outlasts the competition and has enough fight in it for another round."

Braided line ready, the Penn International series gives the saltwater angler Dura-Drag washers that virtually eliminate hesitation, even under the strain that braided lines put on a reel. Four ball bearings give the angler the smoothest performance in saltwater. Penn International Reels are available in four sizes – 16VSX, 30VSX, 50VSX and 130 VSX – to accommodate any saltwater fish. The line selection for Get Lit was 20-pound Stren Stamina with a 40-pound Stren Tinted Fluorocarbon leader.

“The Penn 16VS reels and Stren Stamina are high performance gear used by everyone,” said Mike Rice, Penn Sr. Marketing Manager. “The International series of Penn reels have the best cranking power and offer unmatched performance while fishing in pressure situations. Get Lit earned this victory with hard work and superior equipment.”



Story courtesy of Kevin Jarnagin, Blue Heron Communications