Ivey Takes the Jax Open Championship
Qualifier Rounds: DAY 1 RESULTS – DAY 1 WEIGH IN – 2 DAY RESULTS – DAY 2 WEIGH – DAYS 1+2 – IMAGES – HOT LINK TO KAYAK RESULTS
Championship Round: DAY 3 RESULTS – BIG RED RESULTS – DAY 3 WEIGH IN – DAY 3 IMAGES – EVENT IMAGES FOR REELS+STORIES
ANGLER OF THE YEAR POINTS RACE AFTER 3 HERE
Steve Ivey may not have lead wire to wire but when it mattered most, he delivered. Day 1 Steve weighed in his 1 fish per angler state law limit and it was a dandy. A 7.25 pounder secured day 1’s lead and the lead by tournament’s end this fish would hold up for the Check It Stick Big Red of the tournament and net Steve a nice check for $7,000.00 for that single cast resulting in that single fish. On day 2 Steve came back to the field a bit only weighing in a 5.11 pounder but secured 4th place after 2 days and moved on to day 3’s Championship. On day 3 the weights zero as the field (top 5 pros after 2 days) starts over in a 1 day shootout for a the $10,000.00 check and title of Elite Solo Tour Champion.
With the state of Florida’s 1 fish per angler law the tour would have to get creative if it wanted day 3 to have the excitement of a tournament held in waters where anglers are allowed 2, 3, 4 even 5 fish a day like in Louisiana or Texas. Thanks to Brecknell Scales, the official scale of the Elite Fishing Series and the Elite Fishing League’s saltwater version of major league fishing each angler received a brand new set of Brecknell ElectroSamson Scales for day 3. On Championship Saturday each angler was provided a tour supplied cameraman and were allowed to choose 1 fish (no culling no upgrading) to weigh on the water and submit for posting any redfish weighing up to 8 pounds maximum. If a fish went over even by just 1/100th of a pound I.E. 8.01 pounds the fish would not count and would have to be immediately released. The fish and angler are filmed as part of the Elite Fishing TV show airing on the Discovery Channel in season 6 on the world wide network in over 367 million homes.
After the anglers weighed their single biggest fish for digital submission they were allowed a single redfish, 18-27″ to the stage for the live weigh in and have its weight combined with the digitally submitted fish for the angler’s 2 fish limit maximum limit. Day 3 would prove to be the toughest day of the 3 for the field of 5 that made it through to fish on Championship Saturday. Just 2 anglers had a digital submission of a fish and only 1 angler was able to catch both his digitally submitted fish and bring a live fish to the weigh in and that angler was Steve Ivey. Steve caught the only 2 fish limit on day 3 and tipped the scales at 12.70 pounds to take the $10,000.00 Champions check, a $7,000.00 Big Red check, trophies and more. $17,000.00 cash plus the hardware.
Bill Pittman took 2nd place with a great 7.60 digitally submitted on the water redfish but failed to catch a legal slot fish (18-27 inches) during the 8 hour fishing period on day 3. Bill’s digital fish could not count toward big red since only legal slot fish, measured at the stage could be counted in this extra promotion. Great job Bill taking home a $4,000.00 for his efforts. In 3rd and taking home $2,000.00 was Richard Hulet weighing in a 4.22 live redfish at the stage but failing to catch and enter a digital on the water submission. K&G Construction pro Eddie Marsh netted $1,300.00 for his 4th place finish with a 2.63 pounder, just barely making the mark while Texas pro Gary Moreno on his first time to Jacksonville finished off his otherwise great week in Jacksonville on a tough bite and zero’d. Gary still took home a check for $700.00.
A big thank you to the Palm’s Restaurant for hosting the captain’s meeting prior to the day 1. The food was great, the atmosphere electric and the service second to none. A special thanks to the Holiday Inn on Blount for being the official Elite lodging partner of the tour when we are in the Jacksonville area. The rooms are big, clean, updated and best of all, quiet which is a top priority when you are going to bed at 10 PM with alarm clocks set to 4 AM.
Finally to our anglers that traveled so far from Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Naples, etc. it was a pleasure producing this event for you, you are what makes our tour Elite and we were thrilled to have each of you making the long haul to the sunshine state with us. The frogg toggs Elite Solo Tour is not just a latex (la-tex) tour but travels anywhere that clean water, good fishing, fabulous food and professional anglers meet to chase the dream, meet new people in new areas and most of all promote their sponsors and the sport on national television.
Thank you to the staff at Jim King Park for all you did to make our set up top notch, making sure we had the power, water, ice and support needed to produce another Headturning event for the folks of Duval County and the city of Jacksonville, FL. Until we see you again on the water or on the web be safe, be kind and remember doing good for those that can’t repay you is the best “good” of all…
If you had to sum up Jacksonville in a nutshell, it would be a boiled peanut: a secret recipe, an unexpected delight, a reason to pause instead of passing through.
Yes, we have 22 miles of beaches, year-round sunshine, world-class museums and all the extras you’d expect from a city our size, but Jacksonville offers a different take on the basics. We’re a little bit country, and a whole lot of (Southern) rock n’ roll.
Throw a dart on a map of Florida, and you’ll likely land on a pretty beach, a theme park, a golf course, or a crystal-blue pool. But if you’re open to something a little different, you’ll find a slice of Florida that locals love. Don’t worry, you’re not flipping out. You’ve just never been to Jacksonville — the Flip Side of Florida.
