WATCH THE LIVE WEIGH INS: DAY 1 – DAY 2
April 28, 2022
Team K&G Construction Take the Jump
Matt Davis (left) and Nathan Morgan (right) proved too much to handle leaving after day 1 with a 4 pound lead weighing in 2 Jacksonville redfish, (which must measure 18″-27″) weighing in 14.55 pounds. After these 2 anglers showed off with a stellar weight considering the tough tidal and high wind conditions, 2nd – 5th is where the drama could come from on day 2. Team Yamaha Chris Cenci and Josh McClendon landed in 2nd after day 1 with 10.65, Chewning and Clark weighed in 10.63, White and Mills brought in 10.48 even the 5th place team after day 1, McDermott and Marcum weighing in 8.96 pounds was still within striking distance proving the Berkley Fishing Jacksonville Jump, presented by Visit Jacksonville was still anybody’s tournament to win.
Day 2 came in much more like a lamb than the roaring lion of day 1. The early morning gales of day 1 gave way to soft breaches and a beautiful start the day 2. Every team that competed on day 1 returned for day 2 and did so with a bit more pep in their step. The reason? For those that entered there was still the Brecknell Big Red Challenge, presented by Hytorc of Texas and a check for $4,000.00 up for grabs for the single heaviest redfish of the tournament. White and Mills held the lead in this race after day 1 with a 6.67 pounder but for Jacksonville with the right conditions that is easily toppable.
As Elite official “Tody” Tumey called the boat numbers and Tammy Tumey checked the livewells you could feel the excitement and anticipation in the air. This wasn’t a large field but it was large enough to generate, with sponsorship dollars added in over $12,000.00 dollars in cash for the top 3 teams and Big Red Challenge winner along with another $2,000.00 in custom trophies and promotional hardware to be claimed by the top 5 teams at days end.
The Biggest and the Best –
Making the biggest jump on day 2 was the team of Richard Hulett and Damien Solorzano who weighed in just 1 fish on day 1. Day 2 they weighed in the top limit of 13.44 pounds and wrestled the $4,000.00, the hardware and a new set of Brecknell Scales away from White and Mills by weighing in a 6.97 pound redfish, the largest of the tournament by just 30/100 of a pound but good enough to be the Brecknell Big Red Challenge winner and anchor their 5th place finish.
Fourth place and the hardware went to the team of Chris Peterson and Daniel Doughty when they weighed in a 2 day total for 17.44 pounds anchored by a 6.80 just 17/100 of a pound short of the Big Red Challenge check. Finishing in 3rd and taking the $1,000.00 check, hardware and valuable 414 Team of the Year points was the Alabama team of Barnie White and Dwayne Mills. Their total 2 day weight of 18.40 pounds made the trip from Alabama worthwhile and rewarding. Congratulations Barnie and Dwayne, Team Blazer Bay, on a great finish and for traveling from out of town and fishing big tidal waters where locals really do have the advantage. One social media comment said it best, “strong”. Also making a long trip to compete in unfamiliar waters was Hytorc pro Jay Andrew flying in from Conroe Texas to meet up with his team-mate, Tampa pro, Jacob Meier whos top 10 finish vaulted this team up to 3rd place in the Team of the Year points race.
Yamaha’s Chris Cenci and Josh McClendon fell just short of the top spot on the podium but weighed in 21.61 for second and took home a check for $2,000.00 while finishing just 3.11 pounds from the wire to wire leaders and tournament champions, team K&G Construction’s Matt Davis and Nathan Morgan who rode day 1’s 14.55 all the weigh to the finish line weighing in just 10.17 pounds but still enough to land the $5,000.00 top check and hardware. Matt and Nathan chose not to get in on the Big Red Challenge action and probably left some meat on the bone.
All in all another drama free event where professional anglers competed under a strict set of equipment guidelines and procedures and did so in a manner that served them, their families, sponsors and fans well. Thank you to Visit Jacksonville for your community’s support, to Berkley Fishing for all you do for the sport and tour. Also a special thank you to frogg toggs, Tidewater Boats, Yamaha Outboards, McClain Trailers and so many great partners that help the Elite Redfish Series continue to be… Elite.
Great Group of Winners –
This great group of competitors after taking part in a virtual captain’s meeting online Monday evening arrived for the first of two days of competition on Friday morning and continuing through the conclusion of the event competed under strict guidelines and under the windiest of conditions but did so in a tenacious yet professional manner. Team after team launched, competed and hit the stage for the weigh in regardless of the size of their fish. Everyone wants to catch big fish and do great in the event but it’s important to catch what bites then weigh it in and release it to be caught again. One angler’s 3 pounder in 2022 may be another angler’s 7 pounder in 2023 or 24. Pursuant to the latter point, the Coastal Conservation Association was on hand to tag, recover and release all of the fish brought to the scales. in 4 events in 2022 we have weighed in and released hundreds of fish with just 1 dead fish for the season! That is incredible and due in large part to anglers and a tour that are both aware of and committed to using the very best in fish care products and procedures, like G-Juice by TH Marine. Thank you anglers for your support, understanding and effort to compete hard but not to do it at the expense of your fellow competitors, the environment or the resource… the mighty redfish!
ALL EVENT RESULTS: DAY 1 – DAY 2 – FINAL STANDINGS – BRECKNELL BIG RED : ALL EVENT IMAGES: LAUNCH AND WEIGH INS
Gallery Selects –
Next up it’s the Silver Slipper Show presented by Brecknell Scales and the 2nd tour stop on the Elite Solo Tour season. Registration is Now Open Here.