Epic.

The fleet fishing the Pelican Yacht Club Invitational Billfish Tournament in Fort Pierce shattered the single day record for its tournament Thursday, and for any catch and release sailfish tournament which employs trolling methods.

The fleet caught an unfathomable 712 sailfish Thursday, the best ever single day of sailfishing off these waters. In two days, this fleet has caught and released 845 sailfish which stands as the greatest ever total of fish caught in a Treasure Coast sailfish tournament.

And there are still two days left to fish.

"I've never seen anything like it," said Dave Berard, an angler aboard Thursday's daily winner JT led by Capt. Mark McDevitt. Berard has been fishing the waters off Florida since he was 12 working as a mate aboard boats in Fort Pierce.

Thursday, JT with McDevitt, owner David Johnson of Beach Haven, N.J., Berard, Chris Berkley and Scott Rhein, racked up 41 sailfish on the day breaking the single day record for a boat fishing any tournament on the Treasure Coast. The previous record of 38 was only set Wednesday by Grand Slam and Capt. David Grubbs, boat owner Wallis Higginbotham, Larry Gross, Adam White and Jeff Wright of New Smyrna Beach.

Cowpoke with Capt. Mike Brady and Alikai with Capt. Patrick Price each caught 40 on Thursday. A total of 27 of the fleet's 30 boats fished Thursday.

The best action was a long ride up the coast from Fort Pierce Inlet. Teams ran 45 or more miles to the fishing grounds just off Cocoa Beach. Boats had to run so far they were still running when the official lines in call came at 8:30 a.m. Anglers opted to sacrifice fishing time in order to get to a spot where the fishing was truly the best anyone had ever seen along Florida's east coast.

"We put lines in at about 10:10 a.m., I think," said Johnson.

The top catch for a boat in the tournament was 57 set by Bone Shaker with Capt. Scott Fawcett and anglers Joe Lehner, Sky Wichers, Van Wichers and mates Kyle Francis and James Turner in 2012. Now, Grand Slam owns that record with 71 sailfish caught in two days of fishing. The team will fish its third and final day Friday. Of the tournament's four days, teams are allowed to fish three at each team's discretion. A total of 12 teams took Wednesday as a lay day including JT and Alikai.

Brady said the sailfishing has been surprising.

"We went from some of the worst fishing of the year to the best fishing we have ever seen in just a couple of days," said Brady whose team of owners Cruiser and Christy Crews, Reed Macy, Paul Murray and Bobby Rinaldi has 64 sailfish in two days and stands second. "Over the last two days, we've probably seen over 150 fish."

To follow the catches in real time, download the Pelican Yacht Club sailfish tournament app on iTunes and Google Play. For more on the tournament, go to Pelican Yacht Club Tournament website.

Thursday catches

Sailfish releases

41, JT, Capt. Mark McDevitt

40, Cowpoke, Capt. Mike Brady

40, Alikai, Capt. Patrick Price

36, Champagne Lady, Capt. Josh Chaney

35, Lisa K, Capt. Bruno Larica

35, Reel Fun, Capt. Ronnie Davis

34, Kickin Tires, Capt. Jimmy Sullivan

34. Lo Que Sea, Capt. Kevin Paul

33, Anticipation, Capt. Harvey Shiflet

33, Grand Slam, Capt. David Grubbs

31, Bottom Line, Capt. Rob Lynch

30, Bonna Vear, Capt. Ray Gibson

29, Miss Victoria, Capt. Brian Speedy

28, Intents, Capt. Rhett Bailey

28, Goose, Capt. Brett Jamison

27, Vintage, Capt. Hans Kraaz

27, IsInea, Capt. Ricky Ramsdell

22, El Toro, Capt. Dennis Ward

22, Rebel, Capt. V.J. Bell

20, Wish You Were Here, Capt. Ed Katvianer

20, J Hook, Capt. Sean Young

17, Kateric, Capt. Don Cartwright

16, Let's Roll, Capt. Ryan Reed

14, Water's Edge, Capt. Ricky Spikes

12, J Boy, Capt. John Duke

8, Southern Eagle, Capt. Chase Cornell

Thursday totals: 712, 27 boats

Standings

71, Grand Slam, Capt. David Grubbs

64, Cowpoke, Capt. Mike Brady

54, Champagne Lady, Capt. Josh Chaney

43, Intents, Capt. Rhett Bailey

42, Bottom Line, Capt. Rob Lynch

41, Miss Victoria, Capt. Brian Speedy

41, JT, Capt. Mark McDevitt

40, Alikai, Capt. Patrick Price

36, Kickin Tires, Jimmy Sullivan

36, Lisa K, Capt. Bruno Larica

35, Reel Fun, Capt. Ronnie Davis

34, Lo Que Sea, Capt. Kevin Paul

33, Anticipation, Capt. Harvey Shiftlet

30, Bonna Vear, Capt. Ray Gibson

28, Goose, Capt. Brett Jamison

28, IsnIea, Capt. Ricky Ramsdell

28, J Hook, Capt. Sean Young

27, Vintage, Capt. Hans Kraaz

24, El Toro, Capt. Dennis Ward

22, Rebel, Capt. V.J. Bell

20, Wish You Were Here, Capt. Ed Katvianer

17, Kateric, Capt. Don Cartwright

16, Let's Roll, Capt. Ryan Reed

14, Water's Edge, Capt. Ricky Spikes

12, J Boy, Capt. John Duke

8, Southern Eagle, Capt. Chase Cornell

1, Ms Bully, Capt. Doug Joachim

Fleet totals: 845 sailfish, 30 boats.

Top sailfish days on the Treasure Coast

Jan. 10, 2019: 712 sailfish on Day Two of Pelican Yacht Club Invitational

Dec. 9, 1997: 382 sailfish on Day One of Stuart Sailfish Club Light Tackle

Jan. 13, 2012: 269 sailfish on Day Three of Pelican Yacht Club Invitational

Jan. 12, 2012: 259 sailfish on Day Two of the Pelican Yacht Club Invitational

Top three catch totals for a Treasure Coast sailfish tournament

845*: 2019 Pelican Yacht Club Billfish Invitational, 30 boats

736: 2012 Pelican Yacht Club Billfish Invitational, 29 boats

538: 1997 Stuart Sailfish Club Light Tackle Tournament, 45 boats

* — Still two days to fish.

Marine weather forecast

Friday: Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet.

Saturday:Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 3 to 5 feet. Slight chance of showers.