This past Friday night, at about the same moment that anglers participating in the 2014 Kayak Fishing Classic National Championship Invitational and their guests were wrapping up the captains’ meeting and kickoff party, a cold front started to roll across Tampa Bay bringing wind, rain, and, of course, lightning–it is Tampa, after all.

The kick off party was held at Whiskey Joe’s on the Courtney Campbell Causeway, and the Whiskey Joe’s crew kept everyone well fed and well hydrated. But, despite the great food and company, and National Tournament Director Pat Horrigan’s encouraging words, most everyone was paying attention to the weather radars on their mobile devices as bands of red, orange, and yellow made their way across maps of the bay leaving most of us at the event wondering if there would be fishing the next day.

Saturday morning  began with scattered storms popping all over the bay area. Rain, wind, and lightning kept things difficult in the morning, but with enough anglers fishing in a variety of places around the bay, fish were being caught and points adding up. The wind slacked off enough for anglers to get in several hours of solid fishing before it kicked up the bay into a froth of white caps.

By the time of the 2:00 check in back at Whiskey Joe’s, nearly all participants had at least one of the three required species–redfish, snook, trout–to register points. But, ultimately, it was Adam Calderon who took the championship title with the largest aggregate full slam to register.

Adam took home a great prize package including an Old Town Predator 13, a Bending Branches paddle,  Flying Fisherman sunglasses and hat, and an EGO S2 Slider net.

Second prize went to Patrick Nespeca, who took home an Ocean Kayak Powler Big Game II and other great sponsor prizes.

Third prize went to Andrew Mixon whose prize included an Old Town Predator MX.

Joshua Harris took fourth place and received a prize package that included an Ocean Kayak.

 

Jose Vidal took fifth place and received a KC Kayak.

Calvin Hollowell took sixth place and also received a KC Kayak. Hollowell was also recognized for having caught the biggest fish of the tournament.

Tom Baker, Joe Henary, William Lusk, and Olin Satterfield took places seven through ten, respectively. These winners each received prize packages from sponsors including Plano, DOA, Live Target, Skwoosh, Yak Gear, Boomerang Tool Company, Yo-zuri, Mirrolure, and Intova,

 

Robert Brown was honored as the Series Champion for the 2014 season.

 

All in all, the season and championship were pretty spectacular, and next year  looks to be even better, if not more competitive. The tournament series will be reduced in overall numbers of qualifying tournaments, but the prize packages for each will increase in value with first place at all qualifying tournaments being awarded a kayak.

Don’t forget, too that the post-season Kayak Fishing Festival will be held October 31, 2014 through November 2, 2014 at Ft. DeSoto Park in St. Petersburg, Florida. For more information visit http://www.kayakfishingclassics.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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FISH ON!

 

Bending Branches, Boomerang Tool Company, DOA, fish, Fishing, Flying Fisherman, Intova, Kayak Fishing Classics, KC Kayak, Live Target, Mirrorlure, Ocean Kayak, Old Town, Plano, Predator, Skwoosh, Tournament, Yak Gear, Yo-Zuri

By Sid

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