Scott Mozingo "surfed" the tides to win the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, operated by American Bass Anglers, Maryland Division 21 tournament, held June 12, 2010, on the Potomac River out of Smallwood State Park in Marbury.
The 28-year-old angler from Midlothian, Va., landed five bass weighing 16.95 pounds to win the Boater Division. He anchored that bag with a 5.77-pound lunker that secured big bass bragging rights. For the win, Mozingo pocketed the guaranteed $5,000, plus another $545 for the big bass.
"I ran south about 10 miles and let the tide catch me," Mozingo related. "Then, I just surfed it back up north. I caught one fish on a frog, but everything else on a 1/2-ounce black and blue Seduction jig fished in grass about five to seven feet deep. I culled twice and caught a lot of small fish."
Aaron Hastings, 37, of Middletown, Md., also ran south, but stayed in one area all day. He finished second with five keepers exceeding the 15-inch minimum length for 16.65 pounds with one 4.50-pound kicker. Fishing his first ABA event, Hastings pocketed $1,952.
"I practiced one day, but I've fished the Potomac for 20 years," Hastings said. "I caught most of my on a black and blue jig, but caught a couple on a frog. I caught about 35 bass in practice, but only caught seven keepers during the tournament."
In third, Thomas Hicks of Richmond, Va., landed a five-bass tournament limit weighing 16.34 pounds including one 3.95-pounder. He also took top Triton Gold honors.
"I caught most of my fish by swimming a finesse jig," Hicks said. "I had a limit by about 7:30 a.m. After that, I started flipping a heavy jig with a Sweet Beaver, punching through mats and caught bigger fish doing that. I used a green pumpkin jig with a little purple."
John Hutchins of Culpeper, Va., finished fourth among the 109 boaters with five bass going 16.14 pounds. Edward Dustin of Fredericksburg, Va., landed in fifth with five bass for 16.09 pounds with one 3.93-pound kicker.
In the Co-Angler Division, another ABA rookie won. Nelson Mejia, 36, of Baltimore landed three bass for 10.68 pounds, but a penalty gave him an official weight of 10.18 pounds. He cashed a check for $2,500.
"We were punching through the grass," Mejia said. "I was throwing a craw in watermelon spice. I didn't catch my last fish until the last hour, so never give up."
Andre Wynn of Windsor Mill, Md., took second among the non-boaters with three bass going 10.09 pounds including a 3.84-pound kicker. In third, Justin Moffat of White Plains, Md., landed a three-bass division limit for 10.07 pounds, followed by Michael Nelms of Hartwood, Va., with three bass at 9.07 pounds including a 4.22-pounder. Robert Steiner of Abingdon, Md., took fifth with three bass at 8.85 pounds. Steve Picott of White Plains, Md., took division lunker honors with a 5.07-pound bucketmouth.
About American Bass Anglers: The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series provides weekend anglers a professionally operated competitive tour with a path the world championship of bass fishing the Bassmaster Classic. American Bass Anglers commitment is to provide low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler and at the same time offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers and the American Fishing Tour, The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, The American 150 Series or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment