The Space Coast Bass Finatics brought their monthly tournament trail to Whaley's Landing on the famed Lake Tohopekaliga on February 24. The lake did not disappoint as the father and son team of Clyde and Raymond Taylor of Palm Bay caught 5 fish weighing a whopping 23.80 pounds to win the event. Their catch included a 9.33 pound giant caught by Raymond who actually hooked the fish twice with the first attempt ending in a broken line heartbreak. Many hours later they decided to go back to the same area to see if the fish was still there and Raymond caught it again, this time getting it in the boat. The fish still had the other hook in its mouth from earlier. The Taylors removed both hooks and the fish was returned to the lake after the weigh in and posing for a few photographs. The Taylors have been dominating in the club's first 6 events of the 2012-2013 season. They have won 4 tournaments and caught the biggest fish at 3 of them.
Alan Elder of Melbourne and Wayne Smith of Palm Bay earned second place with 5 fish for 14.93 pounds. Bob Barnette of Port St. John and Dwayne Haga of Titusville finished third with 5 fish for 12.57 pounds.
Air Temperature: upper 50s to lower 70s
Water Temperature: mid to upper 60s
Wind: SE 5-10 shifting to SW 5-10
Conditions: cloudy
The winners reported catching their fish using the following tricks:
- 1st Place & Big Bass: Flipping lizards and craws in Toho
- 2nd Place: Zoom Super Flukes in Toho
- 3rd Place: Zoom Super Flukes and Yamamoto Senkos in Toho
