Justin Neal caught a 9 pound 6 ounce giant at Blue Cypress Lake on Sunday, November 30, 2014 while practicing for our tournament in a few weeks. What a magnificent fish. She appears to be in pristine condition much like the lake she lives in. Surprise, Justin didn't offer any information on where he caught her or the bait she ate. Not that I bothered to ask. The good news for the rest of us is that she's still swimming around out there somewhere.

The Space Coast Bass Finatics brought their monthly team tournament trail to the Miami-Garcia Impoundment on November 16th. Santos "Junior" Solis of Vero Beach, fishing in his first tournament with the club and without a partner, bested the 19 boat field with 5 fish for 23.42 pounds. He set the all-time club record for one day total weigh for a solo competitor. He also caught a 7.22 pound lunker that was the tournament's biggest fish. Crankbaits early and flipping the rest of the day caught his winning weight with the early crankbait bite producing the bigger fish.

Mike Hampton of Malabar and Charlie Coleman of Sebastian flipped junebug colored soft plastics to amass 5 fish for 20.25 pounds earning a second place finish. Dwayne Haga of Sanford and Dave Metzler of Debary also flipped junebug colored soft plastics to total 5 fish for 16.49 pounds to round out the top 3.

David Lloyd and Bill Groseclose earned themselves this month's small creel award with 1 fish for 1.59 pounds. The prize was 2 bags of fishing stuff including baits, sunglass lanyards, and other useful items. It was sponsored by Dwayne's wife Elizabeth who encourages you to download the free Paid2Save app on iPhone or Android phones and enter referral code 42215. The app helps you find sales and discounts at your favorite stores including Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, Sears, Sports Authority, and many others. For more information on that you can call Elizabeth at 321-591-9847. Thanks Elizabeth!

There was an unfortunate incident involving a canoe in the E canal about the time our weigh-in started.

Governor Rick Scott signed an executive order reducing the cost of FL lifetime sportsman's licenses for people between the ages of 5 and 21 between November 24 and December 31 2014. Someone between 13 and 21 could save around $500 for a lifetime license to hunt, saltwater fish, and freshwater fish.

You can read the executive order and the details at the FWC website.

The Space Coast Bass Finatics took their monthly team tournament trail to Lake Kissimmee's Overstreet Landing boat ramp on October 26. Gary and Jake Hinman of Palm Bay flipped plastic worms to amass a 5 fish limit totaling 13.06 pounds to win the tournament. Jack and Sean Burt of Cocoa employed big junebug colored plastic worms to weigh 5 fish for 11.90 pounds to earn a second place finish. David Lloyd of Palm Bay, fishing without a partner in his first tournament with the club, found that his boat motor wouldn't start when he arrived at the boat ramp. Instead of giving up and going home, he made the best of the situation and caught a 5 fish limit on topwater frogs and spinnerbaits weighing 11.65 pounds to earn the third place prize money. Tony Ciavarella of Melbourne caught a 5.87 pound bass on a topwater frog around some lily pads in North Cove area of the lake that was tournament's biggest fish.

Randy Sanders, who fished with the club for a few years back in the early 2000s, died at the age of 44 on September 28, 2014. Randy operated his own guide service called Fish On Bass Fishing Excursions and could often be found at the Stick Marsh where he became affectionately known as the "Stick Martian". His personality and enthusiasm for bass fishing were infectious. He always seemed to be grinning. Our thoughts go out to his family. Rest in peace Randy.

Read his obituary at the Floriday Today website.

Memorial donations may be made to Central Brevard Humane Society, 1020 Cox Rd., Cocoa, FL 32926.

The Space Coast Bass Finatics kicked off the 2014/2015 season at East Lake Tohopekaliga on September 28 with 14 boats launching out of Lakefront Park. The team of Mike Calloway of Titusville and Cliff Semonski of Oak Hill weighed 5 fish for 11.22 pounds to win the tournament. Mike Hampton of Malabar and Tim Kopf of Melbourne brought 5 fish for 9.98 pounds to the scales to take second place. Third place went to the team of Jake and Gary Hinman of Palm Bay with 4 quality fish for 9.28 pounds. Their creel included a 3.08 pounder by Gary that was the tournament's biggest fish.

The small creel award went to the rookies Thomas Taylor and Brandon Veasey who narrowly edged me out with 1 fish for 1.47 pounds. The award was donated by Mike Calloway's Last Cast Products and included an assortment of punch skirts, jig heads, and some other items. Mike sells these items, rod sleeves, and other things and offers a 10% discount to club members. Just ask him about his wares at our next event. Thanks to Mike!

On August 31st, the SCBF's top ten teams in regular season points headed to the Miami-Garcia Impoundment for the annual invitation only classic tournament. For the second year in a row, the team of Mike Calloway of Titusville and Cliff Semonski of Oak Hill were victorious. This time, they sacked 5 fish for an impressive 25.32 pounds. Mike Hampton of Malabar and Tim Kopf of Melbourne took second with 5 fish for 21.39 pounds. Bob Barnette of Port St John and Dwayne Haga of Sanford finished third with 5 fish for
19.18 pounds.

The top two teams flipped hydrilla and hyacinth around the area known as "The Pit". The biggest fish caught by both teams came casting junebug colored trick worms however. Mike Hampton caught an 8.58 pound lunker on a Carolina-rigged junebug colored trick worm that was the tournament's biggest fish.

All of the club's all-time classic records that have stood since the 2003 classic at West Lake Toho were broken during this tournament. Classic records for biggest bass (8.58 pounds by Hampton), team total weight (25.32 pounds by Calloway/Semonski), combined total weight (151.90 pounds), and combined number of fish weighed (47) were all set.

Tim Iler and Larry Cruce bested the rest of us earning the coveted SCBF Bassmasters title for the 2013/2014 season. This is their 4th Bassmasters points championship title which is a club record. They also earned the heavy weight championship belt along the way with a club record total regular season weight of 186.43 lbs. The two men weighed a 5 fish limit all 12 tournament days this season, a feat that, to the best of my knowledge, hasn't happened before in the club, ever. Congratulations Mr. Iler and Mr. Cruce!

Tim Iler's 10.49 pound giant from Kissimmee on April 27, 2014 held up for the Big Bass of the Year beating out 9 1/2 pounders by Jackie Barber and Clyde Taylor. Congratulations Mr Iler!

The Space Coast Bass Finatics concluded the 2013/2014 regular season on July 27 at Lake Washington. The weather was hot and so was the bite. Don Hinman and his son Matt Hinman of Palm Bay caught a whopping 23.33 pound 5 fish limit to win the event. Tim Iler of Port St. John and Larry Cruce of Titusville weren't far behind with 5 fish for 22.81 to earn second place. Mike Calloway of Titusville and Cliff Semonski of Oak Hill weighed 5 fish for 21.72 to finish third. Calloway's 7.24 pound lunker was the tournament's biggest fish and the new all-time club record for biggest fish at Lake Washington. All of the top 3 teams surpassed the old all-time club record of 20.96 pounds for heaviest 5 fish stringer at Lake Washington set back in September of 2006 by Barnette/Haga.