Tournament fishing is hot

**Ancient City Game Fish Kingfish and Backwater Challenge conclude today**

The Four Reel team has fished together since grade school. At the end of Saturday weigh-in for the 21st annual Kingfish Challenge, the teenagers were on top of the leader-board with a two-fish aggregate weight of 79.82 pounds.

At the request of members, the Ancient City Game Fish Association changed the format for this year King-fish Challenge. Anglers could weigh two fish on Saturday and two fish today. Only the two heaviest fish from both days of fishing will be added together for a final two-fish aggregate weight. That means every team has a chance to put their two heaviest fish on the board Sunday, and possibly knock the Four Reel team out of first place. That is, unless Four Reel goes out and betters their first-day efforts.

Hayden Englert, Michael Syrakas, Jack Richardson, Cade Macri, Hansen Englert and Harrison Englert caught one fish about 10:30 a.m. and the other much later around 4 p.m. The team fished in about 130 feet of water using blue runners they bought from Lee Live Bait. Harrison was closest to the rod when the reels went off. Both fish hit a runner on top and came to the boat without incident.

The young men hope their current aggregate will hold up until 4 p.m. today at the end of the final weigh-in.

Perched in second place is team Rebecca Ann with a two-fish aggregate of 70.29 pounds. Stephen Strickland, Jacob Belanger, Frank Strickland and Ryan Leary put out a spread of bluerunners in calm seas running 2 to 3 feet with 5- to 10-knot winds.

About 11 a.m., the shotgun line went off and Stephen Strickland picked up the rod.

“It was hooked in the tail, said Jacob Belanger. “Not the meat, the fin. And the hook fell out as soon as I touched it.

That was the heaviest of the two kings they weighed on Saturday  39.25 and 31.04 pounds.

Some of the teams ran all the way to Canaveral. It paid off for Clayton Kirby and Luke Hawthorn on the boat named “Vengeance. Theyre sitting in ninth place with an aggregate weight of 56.45 pounds.

Another seasoned kingfish team made the same run and didnt bring a fish to the scales. But they plan to head south again Sunday.

Robbie and Erica Beck made the run to Canaveral on the “Nauti-Gale and put two fish on the board, outside the top 10. They bought bait before checkout, but found plenty of blue runners where they were fishing. Small fish hit early in the day using the purchased bait. The larger fish after 2 p.m.  one on the downrigger and one up top on the shotgun  on the runners they caught down south.

Most of the kings on weighed on Saturday were caught in deeper water, 60 feet and deeper. But Andrew Bartlett on the Little Mule caught a nice king in 23 feet of water near the school of pogies where he caught bait. “It was sketchy finding bait, Bartlett said. “But, the more challenging the better!

“Hopefully Ill have two of these tomorrow, he said, speaking of today final day of fishing.

**BACKWATER CHALLENGE**

Scotty Notes and Ashley Bryant fished together in the Backwater Challenge  a redfish tournament with the same format as the Kingfish Challenge. Anglers could weigh two fish Saturday, two fish Sunday, and take the aggregate of the two heaviest fish.

At the end of the day Saturday, Notes had a two-fish aggregate of 13.50 pounds and sat on top of the Backwater Challenge leaderboard.

Less than a pound behind, Keith McBride put two fish on the scales for a 12.80-pound aggregate. His fish were near twins at 6.50 and 6.80 pounds.

Third place is still less than a pound out of first going into day two of the tournament. Jesse Blasingame put two reds on the scale for a 12.65-pound aggregate.

The leading weights are pretty close, so today weigh-in might prove to be a real nail biter.

The final weigh-in for the Kingfish Challenge and Backwater Challenge is from 2 to 4 p.m. at Camachee Cove Yacht Harbor. From 2 to 7 p.m., the ACGFA members will put on a fish fry with fish donated over the weekend. Hot dogs and hamburgers, soft drinks, beer and cocktails are also available on site. Parking is available at the Vilano Boat Ramp with a free shuttle to the tournament site. Awards will be presented at 7 p.m.

**First place in the King-fish Challenge is $10,000 based on 100 boats  107 entered the tournament.**

**Also based on 100 entries, the Backwater Challenge had 134 registered anglers.**

**First place is a boat, motor and trailer package valued at $6,000.**

***online See a slideshow from events staugustine.com***

**PHOTOS 1** BY [email protected] the Four Reel team of Hayden englert, Michael syrakas, Jack Richardson, Cade Macri, Hansen englert and Harrison englert weighed two fish saturday in the Ancient City Game Fish Association Kingfish Challenge for a 79.82-pound aggregate.

**PHOTO 2** scotty notes and Ashley Bryant fished together in the Backwater Challenge on saturday. notes had a two-fish aggregate of 13.50 pounds and sat on top of the redfish tournament leaderboard.

**PHOTOS 3** BY [email protected] Jeremy Carter, left, holds up the 36.47-pound kingfish he caught in the Ancient City Game Fish Association Kingfish Challenge on Saturday. Jill Elder holds a nice snapper and 3-year-old Jaylee Carter. The Reel Quick team had a day one aggregate of 62.35 pounds.

**PHOTO 4** Jacob Belanger, pictured, Stephen Strickland, Frank Strickland and Ryan Leary with a two-fish aggregate of 70.29 pounds fishing on the Rebecca Ann in the Ancient City Game Fish Association Kingfish Challenge on Saturday.

**PHOTO 5** Keith McBride put near twins on the scales for a 12.80-pound aggregate. His fish were 6.50 and 6.80 pounds in Saturday Ancient City Game Fish Association Backwater Challenge.

**IF YOU GO**

what: 21st annual Kingfish Challenge where: **Camachee Cove Yacht Harbor** weigh-ins: 2 to 4 p.m. today