Catfish Anglers
Association
The Final Tournament of the year started out with many boat problems due to the cold. There were plenty of frozen steering cables luck thing there were several heaters floating around.
Once the problems were addressed the 10 boat field launched into the below freezing weather on there quest for catfish gold.
The weigh-in was filled with similar sized fish from almost all of the anglers but Johnnie Bullard won the top prize fishing with his daughter and turning in 50.70lb in five fish worth $270.00.
Second place belonged to Kenny Jones, Gary Johnson and David Mencia with 39.80lb worth $135.00.
Third place was taken by Jim Jones and Brian Newberger with 33.30lb worth $45.00.
Finally the Big Fish Prize was taken by Jason Goodwin and Angie House with a 13.90lb Blue worth $100.00.
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The 10 October Tournament at Riverside started with a little rain but plenty of boats and fisherman. The water was pretty much at a normal level and the weather was mild as far as temperature.
The log jam on the 301 bridge forced some teams to fish in other than there favorite spots but ther were still plenty of fish turned in at weigh-in.
First place was taken by a new team fishing their first CAA tournament, Brian Newberge and Jimmie Jones with 43.10lb anf a 13.25 lb big fish. Their catched earned them $240 in prize money and a Boat lounch pass from Riverside Sports Center Worth approximately $75.00 for the year.
Second place and Big Fish was taken by a regular in the winners circle Matt Matagi and John Dudek with 22.95lb and a Big Fish 16.30lb.
Third place was taken by Donnie Holland and a new partner Daniel Locklear with 20.15lb.
Fourth place was taken by Jimmie Jones and recieved a tackle prize provided by Castaway Fishing Supply of Smithfield.
Thanks to everyone who came out and to our sponsors in the tournament, Riverside Sports Center and Castaway Fishing Supply.
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The 13 September tournament turned out to be a high water high heat affair. The effects of Hannah provided water that was level flowing across the dam at lock 2. The heat was as a bear and some read faces showed up to weigh-in.
The high speed of the current helped to stack the fish up in areas that broke the current but this didn't mean they were hungry.
Even with the heat and the water there were some really nice fish for the weigh-in which was held at 6:00pm instead of 4:00pm.
Donnie Holland fishing alone brought in four really nice blues totalling 44.20lb to take first place for $250.00.
Second place and big fish went to Matt Matagi and John Dudek with a total of 32.50lb and a 26.00lb Blue $110.00 and $80.00 big fish.
Third place with 27.65lb was Johnnie Bullard and Buddy Meshall winning a new Baitcaster Reel and a Pennicle Rod provided by Castaway Fishing Supply of Smithfield.
One team, Derek Tripp, Dave Brown and Butch Abling, did bring in a Flathead during the days fishing in the see of Blues that showed up to the weigh-in.
Overall this was a great day on the water. We look forward to seeing more people at the next tournament which will be at Riverside Sports Center in Fayetteville.
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Well once again we worked our way down to the Neuse home of really good Flatheads and large Bream and a great number of Gar. The weather was quite calm very little breeze all night long but the temp was not bad after dark.
A full moon gave good visability all night for mostly a Gar trip that is until late in the tournament when many good fish came in the six boats at weigh-in.
Several fish brought in were citation worth a 36.95lb Flathead by Brent Townsend, 36.40lb Blue by Wesley Trucks, and 13.65lb by James McKenzie.
Most of the faces were familiar but there was a new team that did very well for their first event with us.
First Place was Wesley Trucks and Jason Curl with 57.65lb in the two fish tournament. They came in short on the big fish by only .55lb.
Second place was taken by another local Brent Townsend and Tracy Morris with 55.00lb. They also took the big fish with a 36.95lb Flathead in the last 45 minutes.
Third Place was taken by Donnie Holland with 29.20lbs.
Fourth with 26.80lb was Matt Matagi and John Dudeck how about those shirts boys.
The fifth place finish went to Sean Anderson and James McKenzie. Sixth place to Scotty Holms and Brian Chavez along with the winning Trash fish a Gar 7.85lbs.
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Tory Hole the great pond of the Cape Fear in my opinion due to its incredible lack of current. This was only one interesting point for the event the bright full moon shown like a street light but did not help improve the catch. In addition to all this the tournament was under threat of tropical storm from Christobol off the coast all night.
The good news is no storm was seen and no one got wet but the fishing was hard. Nine teams worked the river all night in an attempt to get 50lbs in the boat before the 7 am weigh-in. All of the hard work could do nothing to change the conditions that did not seem to favor catching the 50lbs.
Even with the tight lipped fish seemingly uninterested in the various baits used all the way from eels, provided by Penny's Minnow Farm, to live bream caught on-site several teams came back with good fish.
The final result for the events was 32.95lbs with a Big Fish 18.65lbs weighed in by Matt Matagi, fishing his second tournament, and his partner John Dudek both from Raeford.
Second place was taken by Donnie Holland and Robert Raper with 29.65lbs and a big fish 12.70lbs
Third place was taken by a first time CAA tournament angler team led by Lee Campbell bringing in 16.75lbs and a big fish 12.15lbs.
Fourth place with 8.25lbs in a single fish was taken by Team Liberty led by Terry Combs.
Fifth and Sixth place both recieved 5lbs of lead sinkers provided by Catfish Anglers Association.
The tournament was a great success and fun was had by all we look forward to seeing every one at the next tournament on the Neuse at Cowpen Landing.
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30 May 08 was Catfish Anglers Association's 3rd tournament and our first night tournament which went off with great success. The tournament began registration just after 3:00pm on Friday and continued right up to launch. The field was made up of several local angles as well as others who traveled some distance to participate.
The fishing began at 7:00pm and the fishing was a bit tough and the teams worked hard to get fish in the boat. The weather change seemed to have the effect of shutting down the bite although several boats came in with the limit of fish.
The tournament was complete at 8:00am and weight-in began shortly after. First Place with 55.45 lb went to the winner of our first tournament at Riverside Mark Smith and his partner Billy "Hillbilly" Martin in addition to 1st place the team took the big fish prize with an 18.4 lb Flathead. The total prize for the team was $380 1st Place and $170.00 Big Fish.
Second Place was Matt Matagi, Ginger Matagi, and Michele D'Anunzio with a total of 40.8 lb and a big fish of 14.00 lb a Blue resulting in a $180.00 pay day. Third place went to Ricky and Karen Sykes with 34.05 lb for a prize of $115.00. Finally the fourth place prize of $80.00 went to founders James McKenzie and Sean Anderson with 29.75 lb and a big fish of 9.5 lb which was a Blue.
The event was a tremendous success and participation was great we are glad everyone was able to get out and we look forward to the next tournament and seeing everyone there.
The conditions were very nice and actually ended more like a summer event than a spring. The water temperature was from 71 on the main body of the river to 76 in the creeks and shallows. Air temperature was in the mid to high 80s with a light breeze which made the temperature more bearable.
Fishing was a little slow and it showed at the weigh-in as we all came in with the less than expected numbers in the live-wells. It appeared that the fish were all moved up to spawn and really shut down at the mid day point.
The day wrapped up fishing with weigh-in on the banks of the Neuse. Our first place winner was Brent Townsend and Tracy Morris with a total weight of 16.20 pounds from two flatheads that gave them the $220.00 1st prize. Townsend, of Vanceboro, nearly didn't make the event due to an accident that destroyed his boat and truck. Townsend came to the event in a borrowed truck and boat and gave us a taste of his life's experience fishing these waters.
In at second and with the big fish was Donnie B. Holland Jr. of Fayetteville. Mr Holland fished the day with nothing to show that is until the final 25 minutes of fishing when he brought in his 15.65 pound Blue which was worth $95.00 2nd prize and $70.00 for Big Fish.
Finally there was the Trash Fish category was taken by Joe Williamsons' team from Coats in the form of a 7.15 pound Bowfin worth $30.00
Thanks to everyone who attended and hope to see you at the next tournament.
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The first scheduled tournament, held at Riverside in Fayetteville, started slow with a less than expected turn out due, we feel, to the weathers abrupt turn. The temperature was about 50 degrees and the winds a little high for fishing but we had four dedicated catfishing teams show.
Mark and Todd with the 44.65 lb Blue over half of the total weight of the catch.
