Kapiton smashes 31, Mut earns Co-angler title

31= $9,000 for Kapiton

Over the weekend, George Kapiton became someone to watch for this week’s Costa FLW Series event at Lake Okeechobee. Like many anglers who are trying their luck this in this week’s event, Kapiton used this past Saturday’s BFL divisional event as a way to get more time on the water. It paid off for him, at the tune of $9,000.00.

Throughout the week, anglers noted the bite was tough for this time of year on the Big O. Many expected a winning weight in the upper twenties, but few expected bags of 30 pounds to be brought to the weigh-in. Kapiton silenced that notion when he set an even 31-00 pound bag on the scales.

“Super awesome day catching them doing what I love. Flipping a Medlock Jig!,” Kapiton stated through his Facebook fan page. He also attributed a 7’11” heavy action Halo flipping stick to his success. Kapiton earned $6,000.00 for the victory, and an additional $3,000.00 in Ranger Cup and Mercury bonuses.

Mike Surman weighed a 28 pound, 15 ounce bag to finish in second place, earning $3,000.00. Jim Turlock, Jr. finished in third place with 24 pounds, 8 ounces ($2,000.00). Robert Crosnoe followed in fourth place with 22 pounds, 14 ounces ($1,400.00), and Jai Hunter, Sr. in fifth place with 22 pounds, 6 ounces ($1,200.0).

Crosnoe earned an additional $1,000.00 for the events Big Bass, a 10 pound, 6 ounce lunker.

 

Mut earns first career victory

Competing from the back of the boat has it’s advantages, and disadvantages, but Alex Mut came out on the winning end in the Co-angler division. Fishing from the back of Garrett Folbrecht’s boat, Mut was able to catch a 17 pound, 12 ounce limit to win $3,000.00.

“I caught everything on a Bass Addiction Fatso Stick. Black and blue,” stated Mut while on stage in a post-tournament interview. “I had my 17 pounds by 10 in the morning.”

Charles Cenko finished in second place, earning $1,500.00, with a 17 pound, 9 ounce total. John Davis finished in third place with 16 pounds, 5 ounces ($1,000.00), followed by Raymond Guerra in fourth place with 15 pounds, 10 ounces ($700.00), and Kirk Kestner in fifth place with 15 pounds, 9 ounces ($600.00).

The next event scheduled for the Walmart BFL’s Gator division is scheduled to launch from Roland and Mary Ann Martin’s Marina and Resort on February 13th, at Lake Okeechobee.

Main photo: George Kapiton Fishing