Space Coast Bass Finatics arrived early at the Cypress Lake ramp mainly to get a better parking place for the truck and trailer but due to some recent changes it was even worse than last year. The facility seems to be trying to limit the boat parking along with truck and trailer turning and parking space, along with closing off the bathroom facilities and digging bigger ditches. The twenty-five teams succeeded but it was tight and some near misses occurred when trying to park and back out of the parking area. President Bill was busy meeting and greeting the new teams along with wishing all a good day. We now only have four spaces available for new teams which will make the thirty team roster full for this year so if you know someone who is thinking about or wanting to join a bass club now is the time to sign up.
President Bill reminded everyone about the need for safety in the canals connecting the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes before starting the tournament. The cool morning air was a reminder to some teams that fall has arrived and the long ride to Lake Kissimmee or thru the lock to West Lake Toho was going to be a little uncomfortable. The cooler temperatures affected the fishing for most of the teams as small fish dominated the day except for Justin Neal who landed a nice big blue Heron which he fought for ten minutes before retrieving his top water lure and releasing the bird unhurt. There were other problems as Brian Davidson and Vince Verzi broke down halfway down Lake Kissimmee and Thomas and Raymond Taylor broke down in the canal just before Lake Kissimmee but both teams made it back to the ramp safely. Hopefully it is not something serious and can be fixed quickly without to much expense. A special thanks goes out to Alan Elder , the designated recovery boat, who volunteered to retrieve the Taylor's boat and would have gone back for Brian and Vince if they ask for it. Club members should remember to signal others boaters, especially club members, for help or to transfer their fish back to the weigh-in. This will help the officers and members to make sure everyone returns safely so use you hands or the net above your head and get their attention but above all come back safely. This was another great tournament for the club as all twenty four boats returned and not one dead fish was weight-in. This has only happened a few times in the past years and is a tribute to the care that the club places on fish preservation and release.
The defending Triple Crown Winners from last year, Brian Wical of West Melbourne and Craig Cashion of Palm Bay, returned from West Lake Toho with a tremendous limit weighing 20.42 pounds to take first place. Brian and Craig reported that they used speed worms and horny toads around the grass edges and hydrilla mats which accounted for their bag which averaged slightly over four pounds a fish. Craig Cashion nailed the Big Bass of the tournament, a 6.48 pounder, using a speed worm or was it a horny toad over those mats. Either way it was a great fish and notched another win along with setting the mark for big bass for the year. Locking thru to West Lake Toho seemed to be the right call as all three of the top finishers made the trip there and came back winners.
Brian Cole of Sebastian and Erick Pickton of Indian Harbor Beach returned from West Lake Toho with an even 19.00 pounds to claim second place and in the process they took over the points lead in the AOY race. Their bait of choice was a speed worm or a skinny dipper which accounted for a 4.77 pound big bass and a limit that averaged 3.80 pounds a fish.
Rick Jenkins of Rockledge and his brother Joe of Merritt Island finally decide to make the move to West Lake Toho which turned out to be real good call as they turned in a limit weighing 16.06 pounds and a third place finish. Their bag was anchored by a nice 4.77 pound big bass and most of their fish were caught on a speed worm or flippin around the hydrilla in some cove there.
The team of Jack Berry of Rockledge and his grumpy old partner Jimmy Blount of Rockledge rounded out the top four with a respectable 13.48 pound limit which included a huge 5.61 pound big bass , second largest of the day. Their prize was again donated by Shawn Mecchella of Strike Zone of Melbourne which the club has been very grateful for his generosity. Lloyd and Jennifer Hamilton of Port Orange lay claim to the small creel prize, also donated by Shawn, with a fish that now claims the bragging rites for the smallest legal tournament fish weigh-in so far this year.
Our next tournament will be at East Lake Toho on the 18th of November, see you there!
