VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — With there typically being few customers for charter boats in the fall, fisherman Zach Bowles created a swordfish tournament that's now in its fifth year, but until now, he hadn't won it. The Oceans East Swordfish Tournament had a record 78 entries that were allowed to fish for up to three days during the month of October, and an estimated purse of $126,360. "It really opens the tournament out for boats of all sizes because, whether you're a 22-foot boat or a 60-foot boat, you can find some really pretty days in the month of October," Bowles said. At 8 a.m. Wednesday, the last day of the contest, the score was zero for team Reelin and Dealin as they searched for swordfish 65 miles off the coast and 1,200 feet below the surface. Twenty minutes later, there was a game-changer. "So yesterday was actually a special day because on our very first drop, as we're letting the bait out, the fish decided to eat it before it even hit the bottom," Bowles said. "And three-and-a-half hours later, we were able to to harvest the fish, and there was lots of high-fives and hugging. We knew we had something special." The coveted swordfish checked in at 326 pounds and it netted $58,000 for the winning team. Regina Mobley: Now, let me get this straight. You created the tournament and you won the tournament? Zach Bowles: "Yes, ma'am. ... It's been running about five years. And we started this thing a while ago. And I have not had very much luck in this tournament, being the director. But this is a pretty special year. Things just happened to come together for us on the final day. So everybody's giving us high-fives. ... The seas were gorgeous yesterday. Slick, calm, beautiful. You couldn't ask for a prettier day. Warm and just perfect conditions for a big fish. As the climate along the East Coast changes, fisheries change. Many, including the green tail shrimp, historically caught off the coast of North Carolina, have moved north to waters off Virginia Beach. Previously: There’s something in the water off Virginia Beach: Shrimp! Previously: What a catch: Seeing success, Virginia Beach shrimp season is extended "So everything around here, I think, runs in cycles," Bowles said. "As far as the fisheries go, you'll have a few good years and, and then, [it] kind of slows down for years. And we had really good swordfishing when this tournament started and it seems to have been slowing down a bit. But one of my best friends told me to think like a fish." They did, and they caught a winning swordfish.