Sunday August 25, 2024 saw the top 10 teams and a Wild Card travel to their favorite “Mud Hole”, the Miami-Garcia impoundment for the 2024 SCBF Classic. On arrival they were met with the customary hoards of hungry mosquitoes. At safe light the teams took off in their order of finish for the year with Fred Reid and John Kinchen leading the pack. The Wild Card team of Raymond Taylor fishing alone did the honors of calling boat numbers.
As the teams spread out across the lake trying to find an area to fish that wasn’t choked with hydrilla, it didn’t take long for Mother Nature to show herself as heavy rains moved in around 8:30. What started as a small shower turned into a steady rain for an extended period. Luckily there were no high winds or lightning except for a single bolt to the southwest. Later in the day another storm blew thru, also with a single bolt of lightning.
All teams survived to bring a limit of fish to the scales except for Raymond Taylor who experienced a trolling motor issue and had to leave early. Hopefully it wasn’t too serious Raymond.
Capturing 1st place with a healthy 5 fish limit totaling 20.42 lbs was the team of Don Hinman and Ken Winter. Congratulations Don and Ken. In 2nd place, also with a limit, was the team of Mike Calloway and Micheal Morrison weighing 17.64 lbs including Big Bass of the tournament by Calloway with a respectable 5.52 lb largemouth. Following in 3rd place with a 16.65 lb limit was the team of Brian Cole and Alt. Greg Clark.
Winners of the two StrikeZone gift cards was the team of Keith Braun and Cliff Semonski. As always a special thanks to Shawn Mecchella and StrikeZone for their continued support. Also thanks to Ron Norris of Titusville and Mike Mai of Mai Boat Service of Orlando for their support of the Classic. If you are in need of quality fiberglass work, Mai Boat Service does excellent work. There is also a 10% discount to any current club member.
Congratulations to the club on fish care for this season. The 2022-23 season saw 34 of 836 bass that didn’t survive for a 95.93% survival rate. The 2023-24 season saw a decrease in dead fish, 18 of 687, for a 97.38% survival. Thank you for the care of your fish while in the live well. Let’s see if we can improve next year also.
The first tournament of next season will be at East Lake Toho out of Ralph V. Chisholm Park, Sunday Sept 29, 2024. Starting the new season, we will return to our normal 3:00 weigh in. If you know of anyone interested in joining the club, this would be the time to do it. They can contact any club officer by phone or email thru the club website www.scbf.us Remember club membership, $25 each member, will be due at that tournament along with the normal $50 per team entry fee. You must be present to pay your membership. The complete 2024-25 schedule will be posted to the club website prior to the tournament. A meeting will be held following the weigh in to discuss club business, hand out plaques for last seasons AOY, BB of the year, Classic 1st place, Classic BB and vote on any new rules or rule changes. So please hang around to vote and voice your opinions.
Let’s make 2024-25 the best year yet.
SO MANY BASS…………..SO LITTLE TIME
