05-01-2012, 10:10 PM
The Bailey Brothers, Jessie from Daphne and Brandon from Mobile, Ala., won the inaugural event in the Alabama Inshore Championship Tournament Trail, held April 21 at Isle Dauphine, located at 100 Orleans Drive on Dauphin Island south of Mobile, Ala.
Under the tournament rules, each two-person team could weigh in one slot redfish, one speckled trout and one flounder. Fighting stormy conditions and intermittent rain, Team Bailey weighed in three fish for 16.46 points. Each pound of total weight equaled one point, plus a five-point bonus for weighing in a three-species slam.
"We fished deeper structure on the west side of Mobile Bay," Jessie said. "We caught our redfish on subsurface hard baits and our flounder on jigs with nuclear chicken soft plastics. We caught our trout on live shrimp. We didn't catch a lot of fish, but did catch some nice ones."
Team Renegade, the husband and wife combo of Michael and Tina Wilson took second place with 15.48 points. They also picked up five bonus points by landing a three-fish slam.
"We had a good day and caught a box full of fish," Michael said. "We fished shallow water in the lower part of Mobile Bay. We caught a lot of fish early on a red and white Bomber Badonk-A-Donk topwater bait. I broke off a 25.5-inch redfish that Tina had on when I went to net it. The redfish we weighed was about a 17-incher, so that big one would have made a big difference."
In third, Team Loophole, the father and son duo of Darryl and Zac Vincent from Theodore, accumulated 15.04 points with a three-fish slam. They caught their redfish in Mississippi Sound on a popping cork and ran all over looking for other fish. While fishing in Fowl River, Zac landed a 5.55-pound trout that helped their total weight.
"I caught the big trout on a pogie under a popping cork," Zac revealed. "Within 10 seconds of casting it out, the cork went down. About a month earlier, I caught a 27-inch speck in the same area. That one weighed about 6.5 pounds."
Anglers could also enter an optional Speckled Trout Jackpot with the biggest single trout taking the cash prize. Team Harrison, consisting of O.P. and George Harrison, a fishing guide (251-367-7685/www.harrisonfishing.com), brought in a 7.78-pound spotted behemoth to win the pot.
"We caught the big fish in Theodore Canal on live shrimp in about 12 feet of water," George said. "We had to work for our fish. It didn't hit until about 1 p.m. We were almost ready to quit fishing."
Teams accrue points in each of four tournaments in the trail. The next event will be held June 23 at Fly Creek Marina, followed by events on Aug. 18 at Fowl River Marina and Sept. 15 at Bayou La Batre. The top points earners will be invited to participate in a championship tournament, slated for Oct. 13 at the causeway, to crown the first Alabama Inshore Champion anglers.
"Our first tournament was a great success," said Alan White, tournament director and publisher of Great Days Outdoors magazine. "Even with the weather forecast looking less than perfect, we had 69 anglers fish! Part of the proceeds went to benefit Alabama Hunger Relief. Many of our fishermen donated the fish they caught to the charity and we had more than 500 pounds of fresh fish at the end of the day."
Media Contact
Alan White (800) 597-6828
Under the tournament rules, each two-person team could weigh in one slot redfish, one speckled trout and one flounder. Fighting stormy conditions and intermittent rain, Team Bailey weighed in three fish for 16.46 points. Each pound of total weight equaled one point, plus a five-point bonus for weighing in a three-species slam.
"We fished deeper structure on the west side of Mobile Bay," Jessie said. "We caught our redfish on subsurface hard baits and our flounder on jigs with nuclear chicken soft plastics. We caught our trout on live shrimp. We didn't catch a lot of fish, but did catch some nice ones."
Team Renegade, the husband and wife combo of Michael and Tina Wilson took second place with 15.48 points. They also picked up five bonus points by landing a three-fish slam.
"We had a good day and caught a box full of fish," Michael said. "We fished shallow water in the lower part of Mobile Bay. We caught a lot of fish early on a red and white Bomber Badonk-A-Donk topwater bait. I broke off a 25.5-inch redfish that Tina had on when I went to net it. The redfish we weighed was about a 17-incher, so that big one would have made a big difference."
In third, Team Loophole, the father and son duo of Darryl and Zac Vincent from Theodore, accumulated 15.04 points with a three-fish slam. They caught their redfish in Mississippi Sound on a popping cork and ran all over looking for other fish. While fishing in Fowl River, Zac landed a 5.55-pound trout that helped their total weight.
"I caught the big trout on a pogie under a popping cork," Zac revealed. "Within 10 seconds of casting it out, the cork went down. About a month earlier, I caught a 27-inch speck in the same area. That one weighed about 6.5 pounds."
Anglers could also enter an optional Speckled Trout Jackpot with the biggest single trout taking the cash prize. Team Harrison, consisting of O.P. and George Harrison, a fishing guide (251-367-7685/www.harrisonfishing.com), brought in a 7.78-pound spotted behemoth to win the pot.
"We caught the big fish in Theodore Canal on live shrimp in about 12 feet of water," George said. "We had to work for our fish. It didn't hit until about 1 p.m. We were almost ready to quit fishing."
Teams accrue points in each of four tournaments in the trail. The next event will be held June 23 at Fly Creek Marina, followed by events on Aug. 18 at Fowl River Marina and Sept. 15 at Bayou La Batre. The top points earners will be invited to participate in a championship tournament, slated for Oct. 13 at the causeway, to crown the first Alabama Inshore Champion anglers.
"Our first tournament was a great success," said Alan White, tournament director and publisher of Great Days Outdoors magazine. "Even with the weather forecast looking less than perfect, we had 69 anglers fish! Part of the proceeds went to benefit Alabama Hunger Relief. Many of our fishermen donated the fish they caught to the charity and we had more than 500 pounds of fresh fish at the end of the day."
Media Contact
Alan White (800) 597-6828