The regular season has come to an end for anglers fishing the Walmart BFL Gator Division. 151 boaters closed out the 2014 season with the 2-day Super Tournament Sept. 20-21, 2014. Roland & Mary Ann Martin’s Marina & Resort played host for the event being held on Lake Okeechobee. World renowned for its big bass, the lake didn’t disappoint.
Clewiston, FL’s Ron Veale led both days to win the event, weighing a 53 lb., 14 oz. total over that span. With the windy, rainy conditions on day 1, Veale knew the bite would be on. By 9:30 Veale had close to 25 pounds in the livewell by throwing a 4×4 Jigs Brandon McMillian Signature Series Swim Jig. He upgraded right at the end of the day, flipping up a fish that weighed almost 9 pounds, giving Veale a 31 lb., 02 oz. limit for day 1.
On day 2, the weather calmed down a little bit. Veale caught his first few fish on Gambler’s Big EZ before switching back to the swim jig to finish out his limit. He had his 22 lb., 12 oz. day 2 total in the boat by 10:30. Veale won $7,368 in his 1st career win as a boater.
Here’s how the rest of the Top 10 finished:
| 1 |
RON VEALE |
CLEWISTON, FL |
31-02 (5) |
22-12 (5) |
53-14 (10) |
$7,368 |
| 2 |
MARK LUNDGREN |
PORT ST LUCIE, FL |
27-11 (5) |
15-07 (5) |
43-02 (10) |
$3,684 |
| 3 |
SANTOS SOLIS |
VERO BEACH, FL |
19-08 (5) |
21-00 (5) |
40-08 (10) |
$2,457 |
| 4 |
MIKE JONES |
OKEECHOBEE, FL |
18-13 (5) |
21-09 (5) |
40-06 (10) |
$1,719 |
| 5 |
JIM HURLOCK JR. |
LAKE WORTH, FL |
21-05 (5) |
17-12 (5) |
39-01 (10) |
$1,474 |
| 6 |
SANDY MELVIN |
BOCA GRANDE, FL |
18-02 (5) |
20-06 (5) |
38-08 (10) |
$1,351 |
| 7 |
STEVEN STINSON |
PICKERING, ON |
18-03 (5) |
20-01 (5) |
38-04 (10) |
$1,228 |
| 8 |
THOMAS LITTICH |
CAPE CORAL, FL |
21-00 (5) |
15-11 (5) |
36-11 (10) |
$1,105 |
| 9 |
WAYNE BLACK |
SAN MATEO, FL |
21-11 (5) |
14-12 (5) |
36-07 (10) |
$982 |
| 10 |
FRED GEORGE |
OKEECHOBEE, FL |
17-02 (5) |
18-15 (5) |
36-01 (10) |
$860 |
For anglers who finished in the Top 40, their season will continue at the Regional Championship Oct. 2-4 on the St. John’s River in Palatka, Fl. Anglers from the Gator, Bama, Bulldog, and Choo Choo divisions will be competing for one of 6 births to the Walmart BFL All-American presented by Chevy. At the Regional Championship, the winner will also take home a new Ranger 518C powered by a 200 H.P. Evinrude or Mercury outboard, along with a new Chevy truck.
Juan Ruiz, Angler of the Year
Juan Ruiz of West Palm Beach, FL didn’t make the cut to fish on day 2, yet he still came out on top. Over the 2014 season, Ruiz was the most consistent angler in the Gator Division. He didn’t win an event this year, but with finishes of 9th, 12th, 29th, 53rd, and 38th, he was able to beat out his friend Mike Keyso by 3 points to claim the Angler of the Year title.
Here’s a look at the Top 10 in points for the 2014 season:
| PLACE |
FIRST NAME | LAST NAME |
CITY / STATE |
POINTS |
WINNINGS |
| 1 |
JUAN RUIZ |
WEST PALM BEACH, FL |
1239 |
$1,679 |
| 2 |
MIKE KEYSO JR |
NORTH PORT, FL |
1236 |
$6,412 |
| 3 |
CHRIS BRILL |
LEHIGH ACRES, FL |
1216 |
$2,191 |
| 4 |
JARED MCMILLAN |
BELLE GLADE, FL |
1210 |
$9,561 |
| 5 |
STEVEN STINSON |
PICKERING, ON |
1204 |
$1,912 |
| 6 |
TIMOTHY FELLER |
CORAL SPRINGS, FL |
1204 |
$3,760 |
| 7 |
GEORGE KAPITON |
INVERNESS, FL |
1187 |
$440 |
| 8 |
ROBERT CROSNOE |
INVERNESS, FL |
1184 |
$2,486 |
| 9 |
FRED GEORGE |
OKEECHOBEE, FL |
1183 |
$1,728 |
| 10 |
BRYAN HONNERLAW |
MOORE HAVEN, FL |
1176 |
$3,684 |
Photo credit: FLW Outdoors
