The Wolfson Children’s Hospital hosted their 25th Annual Charity Bass Tournament out of Palatka on May 17th. The event usually
Photo: Facebook
draws upwards of over 400 competitors, and the proceeds help to benefit over 60,000 children and their families. Along with raising money for the charity, anglers have the opportunity to compete for a $10,000 grand prize.
This year, 448 teams tested their skills and knowledge of the St. Johns River system, to secure their names amongst their 24 predecessors. Long time fishing friends Keith Carson and John Cox, both of Debary, Fla., accomplished that task by weighing in a hefty 30.16 pounds. However, that was easier said than done. The team, fishing out of an aluminum Crestliner, powered by a 150 HP 4 stroke Mercury, ran 180 miles round trip. With around six hours of total running time, battling 3-4 foot waves running across Lake George, and having to stop for fuel twice, they only had about an hour and a half of fishing time. In practice 2 days prior to the tournament, Carson and Cox located some late spawners in a little depression amongst a reed patch. They executed their plan perfectly. “We ran straight there,” stated Carson in a post tournament interview. “John caught the first one pretty quick, on the 2nd or 3rd cast.” Cox stated that 4 of their fish were a direct result of the long run. Their 5th fish was caught on the run back to weigh in, a 4-pounder that was flipped out of matted vegetation.
If the name John Cox sounds familiar, it should. He has been a force to be reckoned with on the local tournament scene for a long time, and is a bass fishing guide by trade. He made the jump to the FLW tour as a professional in 2010, and has been cashing checks on tour ever since. His most notable finish was his win on the Red River in 2011. He borrowed Carson’s boat at the time to squeeze through an underground culvert that gave access to an open bay. The move proved to be the right one, as it helped him towards the lucrative $100,000 first place prize.
Carson and Cox’s long run, and 30.16-pound limit, gave them a decidedly huge winning margin towards their $10,000 payday. Matt Beck of Lecanto, Fla., and Jim Denton of Ocala, Fla., took the runner up spot. Beck and Denton brought 5 fish to the scales, weighing 22.40 pounds, locking them into a $4,000 payday. Dennis Redd and Tommy Boston rounded out the top 3 with 21.09 pounds, and a $3,000 payday.
Trevor Brown with 2nd Big Bass
Photo: Trophy Catch Florida Facebook
1st Big Bass honors went to William Boyd, Jr. of Georgetown, Fla., and E.J. Bryant of Moultrie, Ga. Their 9.67-pounds lunker netted them $5,000. 2nd Big Bass went to John and Trevor Brown of Deltona, Fla., with an 8.49-pound bass. Paul Akridge of Keystone Heights, Fla., and Joe Yarborough of Hawthorne, Fla., took 3rd Big Bass honors with a 7.96-pound bass. 2nd and 3rd Big Bass paid $1000 each, respectively.
The 26th Annual Wolfson Children’s Hospital Charity Bass Tournament is already scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 16, 2015. The $100 entry per boat includes Big Bass. More information on the event can be found here.
Check out the winners post tournament interview with the Angler’s Channel
