Pictured: Dell Massie and Stephen Bishop
The Crackerboys Bass Club set out on the 310-mile long St. Johns River on March 28th for the third event of their season. Launching from Crystal Cove Marina in Palatka, Fla., competing anglers had everything to gain as they would be earning double points towards the Team of the Year standings. The river is a routine stop for tournaments this time of the year, as spawning bass are often the target of tournament anglers.
Chris Novak shows off his 9.23-pound River Toad
Michael and Jonathan Winstead topped the 62-boat field, weighing a 20.47-pound, 5 bass limit. The Winstead’s anchored their bag with a 6.19-pound kicker. Stephen Bishop and Dell Massie anchored their 19.28-pound bag with an 8.27-pound Trophy Catch lunker, en route to a second place finish. John Marriott and Mark Ruble finished a fraction of a pound behind in third place, weighing a 19.24-pound limit. Jeff Sweet and Glenn Peacock caught a solid bag weighing 18.58 pounds, but fell one fish shy of a tournament limit as they finished in fourth place. Tim Crocker and Alan Devane locked in a Top 5 finish, weighing a 17.28-pound limit.
Tom and Chris Novak caught a 9.23-pound River Toad to earn the event’s Big Bass award. Stephen Bishop and Dell Massie’s 8.27-pounder not only helped them to a second place finish in the overall standings, but also earned the award for Second Big Bass.
The Crackerboys Bass Club is a Florida State Team Championship registered organization. The Top 4 finishing teams in the Team of the Year race will be invited to the 2016 Florida State Team Championship, where teams of anglers from various organizations across the state, will have the opportunity to compete for a Blazer 595 Pro Elite powered by a 200 HP outboard. To compete in this club, you must have fished one of the first two events of the season.
The Crackerboys next event is scheduled for April 25th at Lake Harris.
