Team Bite Me wins inshore tournament
Team Bite Me got the bites, and the Smithfield-based team also got a victory at the Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina's fifth annual Inside and Out Tournament held Oct. 17 out of Portside Marina in Morehead City.
In spite of temperatures in the low 40s and gusty winds, 20 teams from across the state turned out to fish in the event that raised funds for the N.C. Artificial Reef Fund. Approximately $3,800 was raised, pushing the total total raised over the event's five editions to more than $18,000, tournament director Jay Dail said.
John Branch led Team Bite Me to a first-place finish in the Inside Division with help from a 5.4-pound red drum. The fish helped Branch, Steve Woodard and Scott Woodard to a winning weight of 7.15 pounds that earned a new Pro Series Power Pole, with installation provided by Custom Marine Fabrication in New Bern.
Second place went to Team Fly Away of Beaufort. Bert Owens and Rich Broughton, who weighed 5.22 pounds to win two Penn International rods.
The largest flounder was caught by Team E-Z Tackle of Goldsboro. The 3.65-pound fish helped Matthew Waddell and Jeremy Jeffes win third place and Ocean Waves sunglasses.
With the north wind blowing, several Out Division teams tried the king mackerel bite off the beach. Team Grady-White -- captain Jim Hardin, Glenn Alligood, Stuart Alligood, Tom Johnson and Bill Boulie -- came up with a 9.5-pound smoker. The team donated the $400 prize to the reef fund.
Second place and two Penn rods went to Team Fishin Buddies of Greenville and captain W.F. Bulow with a 9-pound king.
Southern Pines team wins bass contest
Talk about tough fishing.
Just seven keepers were weighed in, but Jeff Sumner and Todd Sumner of Southern Pines had two of them to win the Piedmont Two-Man Team Bass Classic held Saturday on Falls Lake at the Ledge Rock ramp.
The two bass totaled 7.19 pounds and brought the Sumners a prize of $575. Included in the bag was the event's big fish, which weighed 4.53 pounds and was worth $110.
Second place went to Durham's William Small and Lee Williams, who caught three fish for a total of 6.65 pounds and won $305.
Four of the 11 teams had fish to weigh in, event organizer Phil McCarson said. The temperature of the dingy water was about 73 degrees, and wind at 15 to 30 mph made conditions tough.
"The weather was great up until 15 minutes before weigh-in. Then the bottom fell out," McCarson said in an event news release. "The wind blew steady all day."
The Piedmont Two-Man Team Bass Classic Falls Lake Super Tournament will be held Nov. 8. Call 919-471- 1571 or visit www.piedmontcrappieclassics.com www.piedmontcrappieclassics.com .
