Strike Zone Fishing kicked off their 2017 bass tournament year at Miami-Garcia Impoundment with a full field of anglers which included many of the members of Space Coast Bass Finatics Club. The forty-one teams who registered for the tournaments which will take place on three other lakes over the next few months were happy to see this exciting tournament trail begin this year. Shawn Mecchella and Jim Folks welcomed everyone back from last year along with the few newcomers at the kickoff meeting held at the store on US192 on Wednesday February 1st. Jim met everyone at the ramp Sunday February 5th and after some boat jousting the tournament began at daybreak.
The team of Jimmy Blount and Jack Berry out classed the entire field with 17.02 pound limit which included a 5.6 pounder to take first place and big bass honors along with the Calcutta side pot. This clean sweep of all three catagories netted the team a nice payday of nearly two grand and the grudging congratulations of the other team members. Jack and Jimmy reported that they used a watermelon red speed worm in the pads on the south end of the lake accounting for most of their weight.
Bill Groseclose and Fred Reid came in a very close second place with 16.10 pounds and collected a nice check for their efforts. Bill and Fred said that swim baits, speed worms, sinkos and a white chatter bait were their best lures.
There was a odd tie for third place as two teams weighed in identical five bass limit weights and identical big bass weights. The only thing to do was split the monies equally but most people wanted to see a fish off on who could catch the first keeper bass or arm wrestling for the win.
The other SCBF members of which there were about 20 or 25 made a good showing at the tournament.
Congratulations to the winners and the other members for their great work.
