Fourth Annual Forgotten Coast Kayak Fishing Classic results

[Jeff Suber]

 

The Fourth Annual Forgotten Coast Kayak Fishing Classic for Meals on Wheels has come to a close with all of the tradition of years past. Great hospitality, family reunion atmosphere, lots of great prizes, outstanding sponsors, and the weather as our x-factor. This years weather presented us with tornado warnings north of us, and small craft advisory’s south of us. The wind was anywhere from 5mph at one time to over 50 MPH hour at others and the lightning was enough for rod hogs like kayak angler Justin Carter to huddle up in the basement of his Hobie Pro-angler. Some anglers sought shelter in the Carrabelle river and were rewarded with flounder for their wait, and others faced the wind head on and were rewarded with big reds, and big trout. Others sought some comforts on the north side of St. George Island, and some paddled miles to fish the Ochlocknee River. Everyone had a plan of A spot, B spot, and C spot, and those with the best plans, returned home with one of six kayaks. Team Schooled made up of Rob Baker, Benajamin Colona, Micheal Ray and Jeff Dutrow had a plan that rewarded them with two kayaks. Benjamin won the Youth Division with a 26“ redfish and rewarded with a Hobie Quest donated by Sunjammers of Panama City, FL. His previous middle school instructor Jeff Dutrow won the overall Slam Division with a 62“ combined slam of redfish, trout, and flounder and took home a Hobie Revolution donated by Hobie Fishing. This years winner of the Ladies Division was none other than our own Cameron Barton who caught a 24“ redfish and took home a Hurricane Phoenix 120 donated by The Wilderness Way.
The Redfish Division was won by Brett Bryan with a 30.5“ redfish that won him a Heritage Redfish 14 donated by TnT Hideaway.
The Flounder Division was won by another local Carson Ulrich with his catch of a 20“ flounder which netted him a Native Ultimate 14.5 donated by Kevins of Tallahassee.
IFA competitor and South Carolina fishing guide Justin Carter was able to battle the south west winds straight in the face of the flats of the Econfina area and catch a 25“ trout that won him a brand new Wilderness Systems Commander 140 donated by Wilderness Systems in the Trout Divison.
Siemens Industry was a primary sponsor that paid fot the food and trophies at this years event and new to this years event was St George Island Outfitters that provided various Rods and Reels for the raffle as well as St Marks Outfitters and South Georgia Outdoors. These events could not be put on without all of the generous support that we get from local and national businesses, and especially the Florida based lure manufactures like Aqua Dream Living, Saltwater Assassin, Bomber, Slayer Jig Heads, Fish Bites, and plastics molder Fish Grips that all are stuffed inside our gift bags that is worth the $50 admission fee for the first 100 registered anglers. There were many more sponsors and each one is much appreciated by the Meals on Wheels staff, and everyone at the Forgotten Coast Kayak Fishing Classic.

Tournament Results
Slam Division
1st Jeff Dutrow
2nd Gary Droze
3rd John Kynoch

Redfish Division
1st Brett Bryan
2nd Liam Callaghan
3rd Preston Chapman

Trout Division
1st Justin Carter
2nd Brad Kirn
3rd Jeff Doherty

Flounder Division
1st Carson Ulrich
2nd Trip Aukerman
3rd Cody Gudger

Ladies Division
1st Cameron Barton
2nd Linda Cavitt
3rd Gene Wilson

Youth Division
1st Benjamin Colona
2nd Kevin Stewart
3rd Brett Blackney

 

Kevin Kennedy and Cody Gudger at the their put in tournament day.

 

 

Cody Gudger on the water for the first time in a kayak with a Commander 140 and pre-fishing for his first tournament.

 

Cody Gudger on the water for the first time in a kayak with his first Redfish and its 26.5.  Pre-fishing weather is always the best.

[slowride]

good job guys, wish i could have been there. i am so seriously gonna put that on the calendar for next year.

[Adam Harbuck]

Geeeezzzzzz, I wish is was still young and agile enough to stand on the captain's perch on my Commander.