Ok 1st of all Team Alternative consisted of 4 people not 2. The Team was, S-B.com's own gang which was.
Fisherwoman-Jules
Baitcaster-Bill
Schoolie Monster- AKA Greg Johnston
Reelecstacy- AKA Chris Lincoln
If it were not for a team effort and alot of hard work yesterday, we would never have won. I drove the boat yesterday and these guys fished their butts off bigtime. We had agreed when we met a few days before the tournament that we were just gonna go fish and have a good time and if it is meant to be it will, and IT WAS!!!!!
We had a great time yesterday, we started out in the morning leaving the dock with the 1st set of 19 boats, we were fishing within 15 minutes. Our 1st fish came to the boat in 1/2 hour or so so we were pumped as it measured like 30 inches to the fork. decent fish and fat!!! Then we pulled a few short fish, tide went slack time for our 1st move. We headed north to look for some fish we had found the day before up on top and some were in the slot size we needed.
After our 20+min run, it was a little quiet as the tide was just starting to roll the other way. Then we see some birds, Chris plugged the front of the boat, while Bill and Greg jigged wire. Although we marked alot of fish, the bass and blues were mixed in with the majority of dog fish out there. So we caught one or 2 blues and a dog. The day befores situation was not happening. Ok no time to waist. Back to where we were and had the bite on the other tide. 20 min later we are back at spot one, and for the next 4 hours, these boys jigged the asses off. We ended up with around 15 bass of the day, and I think 4blues.
Schoolie Monster gets another decent fish. YES, 2nd fish in the box, OK now we are in the running baby!!! OK 3 hours left, hopefully we can upgrade fish one as it was smaller than fish 2. about a half hour later, BOOM fish on and its a good one. Baitcaster brings the fish to the boat, its a good one, please don't come off we are all saying to oursevles inside, fish in the net, yes 32 inches to the fork, YES upgrade fish number one!!! OK we are looking to upgrade fish #2.
Schoolie Monster hooks up again, nice fish peelin drag. Get fish to the boat, in the net. Too big!!! But what a nice fish 40 inches and about 26 lbs, got a picture for Greg, gotta let it go. See ya.
The guys kept rotating jigging, we picked up a few small fish after that. Not one big enough to upgrade. So we at least figure we are in the running for the top 10 hopefully.
Lines out we head to weigh in, boat is back to the weigh station by 3:30, we are the 13th boat to come in and the guys keeping track of who comes in asks us how many fish we caught. We have 2, he says well so far you guys are in 1st place as nobody had brought in 2 fish yet. OK so our hearts start pumping and RE has goose bumps all over him. We look at each other and i say, LOL as I am trying to keep calm, we got a ways to go, lets not get crazy here. There were 39 boats fishing this thing and things can change in a hurry. Chris and I go up and weigh in the fish while Greg and Bill watch the boat. Bang, 2 fish nice and healthy 28lb 12 oz. Cheeto's grins all around we are in 1st place.
I can't go up there and watch people weigh in their fish as I am so nervous I could just about
Chris and Greg are up there watching and Bill and I stay with the boat and BS with some guys for Jersey that fish the tourney.
OK hour later 13 boats left to weigh in or come in with out fish. OK heart pumping we go up to the staging area. all of a sudden its last call for weigh in and we don't see anybody else bringin in fish. Oh MY God, tell me this isn't real. Chris is jumping all around, Greg and I are just like, is this really happening and Bill has the Biggest cheetos grin you have ever seen that just won't go away. Alas the winner is announced and we are called to the stage. I am still in shock!!!
They do there tipical interveiws and photo's and the works. it was crazy. Then after all is done, we have to take the boat back to Quincy and I have to go back to a Best Western in Quincy to take a lie dectector test with a guy that just flew in from MS. That took an hour and a half and yes we passed with flying colors!!! I was handed a check for $20,000. and they gave us the actually hard board check that you hold up on stage that says $35000. The hole group from FLW were really great and very professional and helpful. We ended up finally gettin home last night around 9 oclock to pass out.
Just so you all know, we actually won $35,000. Not 20, but when I registered us for the tournament I had to put my name in the computer as team captain to pay the entry fee on line. But Bill's name is on the engine certificates and the boat not mine. But as An incentive from the tournament if you Had Yamaha engins you got a $15000 bonus on earnings if you won, so they are checking the numbers now and we will be all set in a few days with the full amount!!!
I want to thank both Chris and Greg for bustin the butts yesterday, and man did we have fun and laughed all day. I bet they are sore today. But if it weren't for us all clicking together yesterday and working as a team, this would not have happened.
I will do a post later on about how we thought the tournament was run. as for now I am beat to crap and need to rest today!!!!!
All I can say is LIFE IS GOOD!!!!!!!!!!
FLW Team Alternative kicked Butt!!! Wins $35000.
Awesome ==well earned from a great group ??? KIDO,S
A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS!!!....
...it finally happened, there are no more secret spots
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