It's a new season for SCBF and that means we get to start all over with a clean slate. The returning past members and several new teams were greeted at the launch ramp at Lake Poinsett by this years President, Bill Groseclose. He welcomed everyone with his usual smile and handshake, giving each new and old member information and directing them to the registration table. The club now has twenty-five teams signed up which only leaves five more spaces open for any prospective team to join us. The launch proceeded without incident and once everyone found a place to dock their boats, the first meeting of the year was called to order by President Bill. He proceeded to call everyone's attention to the idle and no-wake zones at the bridge and in front of Lone Cabbage Camp, he also reminded everyone to be cautious in the north and south rivers when on plane, safety being our primary concern. Twenty-four teams started off the new season under cloudy skies and windy conditions.
Don Hinman of Palm Bay and Ken Winter of Palm Bay posted a winning limit weighing 16.23 pounds to claim first place. Their bag was capped by a nice 4.40 pound big bass which was caught using worms. They moved around all day on the lake and up the north river, fishing as many spots as they could to claim their first tournament win in the new year.
Bill Groseclose of Melbourne and Fred Reid of Palm Bay took second place with another limit of fish which is their thirty-seventh in a row dating back to the beginning of the 2015 season opener. Their 15.23 pound bag was capped with a nice 4.31 pound big bass and they reported that all their fish were caught on Magnum Trick worm in Junebug color.
Third place was claimed by Clayton Clark and (Dad) Greg Clark of Palm Bay with a limit weighing 15.20 pounds. Good thing Clayton brought along an experienced partner who taught him everything he knows about bass fishing. Clayton landed the Big Bass of the tournament which tipped the scales at 5.35 pounds and gave them the 5 extra bonus points. They reported that a eight inch black worm and a red shad worm proved the best bait of the day.
Alan Elder of Palm Bay and Wayne Smith of Palm Bay took fourth place with a limit weighing 14.39 pounds narrowly edging out Brian Cole of Sebastian and Erick Pickton of Indian Harbor Beach by only 0.01 pounds. Alan and Wayne used watermelon red flukes around the mouth of the residential canals and seawalls which also help get out of the wind all day. Their prize consisted of another great gift certificate from our best sponsor, which is Shawn Mecchella of Strike Zone Of Melbourne, who also donated the prize for small creel, which went to that hard fishing team of Buddy Perry and Preston Humphrey of Palm Bay who gave it their best.
After the weigh-in was completed and President Bill awarded the winning teams their prizes, the club took up new business for the 2018-2019 year. Several new By-Laws were proposed , discussed and voted on by the members present. It was good to see so many of the members staying and taking part in the operation and improvement of the SCBF club. All the new By-Laws that were approved will be posted on the web site soon and are in effect immediately. The business completed, President Bill adjourned the meeting and announced that the next tournament will be at Lake Cypress on October 28th GOOD LUCK and see you there !
