02-27-2009, 04:10 PM
The new Gulf Coast Angler's Association kicked off its second tournament of the year on Saturday, February 21, adding more new faces and new friends. Anglers launched promptly at 6:30 A.M. from Breton Sound Marina in Hopedale, LA and were met by cool temperatures, low tides, and dirty water. Even though fishing conditions were not as favorable as desired 25 teams found redfish to bring to the scales.
Topping the 28 boat field were seasoned veterans Scott Ritter and Bobby Abruscato of Daulphin Island, Alabama with 15.84 lbs. Ritter found the tournament winning fish on Friday (day before the tournament). He was anchored down having lunch, surveying the area and noticed a bank that looked like it would hold some fish. After landing a nice tournament red, he contacted his partner and told him what he had found. The team targeted oyster shells with spinner baits tipped with LSU colored Berkley Power Bait minnows. Ritter and Abruscato credited their Ranger Banshee Extreme's shallow draft and Berkley Fire Line to helping secure victory. The strength of the braid was tested on the oysters the fat reds were holding on. The team collected $1,200 for their efforts.
In 2nd place was the team of Jason Leblanc and Brad Tassin with 15.67 lbs. After making a 35 mile run in their Ranger Boat the team began culling through several fish. Leblanc and Tassin fished broken marsh inside tidal ponds to land their tournament creel. Leblanc and Tassin blind casted 4" Berkley Gulp! Shrimp in the New Penny color to catch their tournament creel. Leblanc commented on the friendly environment the Gulf Coast Angler's Association offers and enjoyed the fellowship with other anglers after the weigh-in. The team collected $1,010 including the big fish pot (8.13 lbs.).
Rounding out the top 5 were: 3rd Place, Gary and Gus Wilson ($450); 4th Place, Todd Semar and James Pichoff ($300); 5th Place, Paul Smith and Kyle Mitternight ($250). Also, taking over 1st place in the team of the year race were brothers Gary and Gus Wilson.
The GCAA and its anglers are committed to helping protect the vast resources and fisheries visited throughout the year. In an effort to help protect the fishery for future anglers the GCAA teamed up with faculty and students from the University of New Orleans who collected a number of redfish that were taken back to the lab for data collection, tagged with transmitters, and relocated for future studies on redfish movement and habits.
The Gulf Coast Anglers Association is a brand new redfish tournament organization catering to anglers who want to experience a friendly competitive environment. Dwayne Mills (tournament director) is dedicated to the anglers' desire to have a tournament organization that will showcase its anglers and provide a family atmosphere for all levels of anglers. See www.gulfcoastanglersassociation.com for more details.
Media Contact
Barnie White (251) 368-9136 x 2316
Topping the 28 boat field were seasoned veterans Scott Ritter and Bobby Abruscato of Daulphin Island, Alabama with 15.84 lbs. Ritter found the tournament winning fish on Friday (day before the tournament). He was anchored down having lunch, surveying the area and noticed a bank that looked like it would hold some fish. After landing a nice tournament red, he contacted his partner and told him what he had found. The team targeted oyster shells with spinner baits tipped with LSU colored Berkley Power Bait minnows. Ritter and Abruscato credited their Ranger Banshee Extreme's shallow draft and Berkley Fire Line to helping secure victory. The strength of the braid was tested on the oysters the fat reds were holding on. The team collected $1,200 for their efforts.
In 2nd place was the team of Jason Leblanc and Brad Tassin with 15.67 lbs. After making a 35 mile run in their Ranger Boat the team began culling through several fish. Leblanc and Tassin fished broken marsh inside tidal ponds to land their tournament creel. Leblanc and Tassin blind casted 4" Berkley Gulp! Shrimp in the New Penny color to catch their tournament creel. Leblanc commented on the friendly environment the Gulf Coast Angler's Association offers and enjoyed the fellowship with other anglers after the weigh-in. The team collected $1,010 including the big fish pot (8.13 lbs.).
Rounding out the top 5 were: 3rd Place, Gary and Gus Wilson ($450); 4th Place, Todd Semar and James Pichoff ($300); 5th Place, Paul Smith and Kyle Mitternight ($250). Also, taking over 1st place in the team of the year race were brothers Gary and Gus Wilson.
The GCAA and its anglers are committed to helping protect the vast resources and fisheries visited throughout the year. In an effort to help protect the fishery for future anglers the GCAA teamed up with faculty and students from the University of New Orleans who collected a number of redfish that were taken back to the lab for data collection, tagged with transmitters, and relocated for future studies on redfish movement and habits.
The Gulf Coast Anglers Association is a brand new redfish tournament organization catering to anglers who want to experience a friendly competitive environment. Dwayne Mills (tournament director) is dedicated to the anglers' desire to have a tournament organization that will showcase its anglers and provide a family atmosphere for all levels of anglers. See www.gulfcoastanglersassociation.com for more details.
Media Contact
Barnie White (251) 368-9136 x 2316