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Weigh In Day 2: A nice Saturday turned into a nasty Sunday for the final day of competition for the anglers of the 2009 Hooters HT Professional Redfish Series.  Fishing in Delacroix, La. this weekend, the anglers were finding huge redfish, the question is, could they get them to bite just 1 week after the ESPN Redfish Cup was in town. 

The answer for some was no but for others, it was absolutely!  Jason Leblanc brought in 2 fish on Sunday for a 16+ pound limit to take the win with a 2 day, 4 fish total weight of 32.13 pounds.

Jason took home $3,000.00 for first place and $400.00 for big fish on Saturday and $400.00 for big fish on Sunday for a grand total on just the pro/boaters side of $3,800.00.  Jason paid just a $350.00 entry fee and only had to top 22 other pros for this top prize.

Second place was LA Landry with 30.24 pounds after 2 days and took home $1,250.00.  Third was Barnie White who tied with 4th place pro, Sean Oconnell with identical 2 day totals of 29.05.  The first tie breaker with HT is the biggest single fished weighed and Whited edged out Oconnell with a 7.68 to Sean’s 7.65.

White took home $800.00 for 3rd place while Oconnell took home $500.00 for 4th.  The 5th place prize of $350.00 went to Paul Dufrene who weighed in 28.66.  The final check (6) on the pros/boaters side went to Tony Grose for his 28.62 pounds netting him a check for $150.00.

The non boater winner was Kory Matherne who took home $1,175.00 by paying just a $150.00 entry fee and topping 22 other non boaters.  Second place and $500.00 on the non boaters division went to Chris Kennedy while 3rd was captured by Steve White who took home $400.00.  The non boaters checks finished out with Ryan Pruett in 4th winning $300.00, Lance Reynolds in 5th and taking home $150.00 and Sal Fontana netting $75.00 for his 6th place finish.

It was a great weekend, except for the weather, with 46 anglers in 23 boats competing for 14 checks.  Next up for the Series is Venice, La. September 19-20.  Headturners will be at the South Pass Empire Tarpon Rodeo this week and concluding this road trip with the RFRI folks at Myrtle Grove, Saturday Aug 22.  Points Chase after this event, click here.

Weigh In Day 1: Jason LeBlanc weighed in 2 redfish for his first day lead of 15.53 pounds.  On stage with Kory Matherne these two topped the field but by the slimmest of margins.

Second place is Britt Ordes with 15.26 pounds, just 27/100 behind LeBlanc.  Third place is LA Landry who weighed in 15.01 pounds while Paul Dufrene weighed in 14.93 pounds for fourth.

The top 5 finishes out with Delta Marina owner, Darren Angelo weighing in 14.64 pounds.  The big fish of the day was captured by LeBlanc with an 8.17 pounder.  However, Ordes 7.93 pounder was just 25.5″ long, a full 1.5″ below the allowable 27″.

If I can catch a 26.75″ pound fish it should weigh 9 pounds or better, Ordes told the crowd watching the weigh in.  Day two should prove to be a tight finish with a lot of anglers stating they are seeing plenty of fish, they just have to get them to bite.

When these Louisiana giants turn on, upper teen weights are well within reach.  17 even 18 pound 2 fish limits are not out of these pros’ reach.  Anglers will launch again at safe light and will weigh in between 2:30 and 4:00 pm.  JL flooring provided a great jambalaya for the anglers after the weigh in and Captain Chris Calloway was a real trooper bumping fish while suffering from double ear infections that had him at the doctors as late as last Wednesday.  We appreciate what each of these 2, JL flooring and Chris did for the anglers of the trail today.

Launch: Day 1 finds 46 anglers launching at Breton Sound Marina.  The anglers enjoyed a cool morning after a good rain but feel certain while the coolness will wear off, forecast have the rain sticking around.

A great facility to stay in is one of ESPN Redfish Cup angler, Charlie Thomason’s camps.  These beautiful, spacious homes away from home are a great place to kick back after a big day on the water.

The HT Series tournament truck had a first yesterday as it boarded the Belle Chase ferry to cross the mighty Mississippi.  Just moments after loading the truck on the ferry I was summoned to the wheel house.

The captain wants to see you, a deck hand told me.  I thought, what did I do, I just parked where they told me to.  As I climbed the stairs and entered the wheel house I could not figure out what I could of done.  Hey Pat was belted out by the Captain, I immediately felt better.

It was Captain Dave a friend from Lafitte, La. who recognized the truck and allowed me to enjoy the view from the driver’s seat.  A short trip across the river and the HT truck was back on the road and on it’s way to what may literally be the end of the world.

Anglers will weigh in day 1 at Breton Sound at 4:00 pm, immediately following the weigh in JL flooring will be providing the white beans, chicken jumbalaya and other fixings they are known for.

HT Pros’ Choice Redfish Series Hooters HT3 Redfish Series Results Final Results 8/08- 8/09/2009 Delacroix, La
		Division: RED CHOICE Participant Angler# #Fish Wgt Pnlty Bonus B/F Total YTDB Points 1 JASON LEBLANC 1 4/ 4 32.13 8.39 32.13 100.00 32.13 2 LA LANDRY 2 4/ 3 30.74 .50 7.66 30.24 100.00 30.24 3 BARNIE WHITE 102 4/ 3 29.55 .50 7.68 29.05 100.00 29.05 3 SEAN OCONNELL 109 4/ 4 29.05 7.65 29.05 100.00 29.05 5 PAUL DUFRENE 101 4/ 4 28.66 8.11 28.66 100.00 28.66 6 TONY GROSE 113 4/ 4 28.62 7.37 28.62 100.00 28.62 7 BRITT ORDES 12 4/ 4 28.61 7.93 28.61 100.00 28.61 8 LARRY KIRBY 103 4/ 4 27.70 7.74 27.70 100.00 27.70 9 RAYMOND REISER 110 4/ 4 27.55 6.98 27.55 100.00 27.55 10 TOMMY BURKE 108 4/ 4 27.36 27.36 100.00 27.36 11 BILL LANDRY 104 4/ 3 27.66 .50 6.95 27.16 100.00 27.16 12 ADAM ALBARADO 7 4/ 3 27.20 .50 7.74 26.70 100.00 26.70 13 JACK FAIRCLOTH 105 4/ 4 26.41 26.41 100.00 26.41 14 BLAKE CHAMPION 8 4/ 4 26.24 7.59 26.24 100.00 26.24 15 CHRIS SCHIEBLE 106 4/ 4 24.65 24.65 100.00 24.65 16 DAMIEN PEREZ 9 4/ 2 22.72 1.00 5.60 21.72 100.00 21.72 17 BUCKY BOONE 5 3/ 3 20.38 6.11 20.38 100.00 20.38 18 RONNIE DANIELS 112 3/ 3 19.28 7.30 19.28 100.00 19.28 19 DARREN ANGELO 11 2/ 2 14.64 7.41 14.64 100.00 14.64 20 ROCKY THICKSTUN 107 2/ 2 13.07 13.07 100.00 13.07 21 GRITTER GRIFFIN 4 4/ 4 12.60 6.12 12.60 100.00 12.60 22 MIKE LAMBERT 3 2/ 2 10.39 5.96 10.39 100.00 10.39 23 STARR BOYKIN 111 4/ 4 9.97 5.64 9.97 100.00 9.97 1 KORY MATHERNE 1 4/ 4 32.13 8.39 32.13 100.00 32.13 2 CHRIS KENNEDY 2 4/ 3 30.74 .50 7.66 30.24 100.00 30.24 3 RYAN PRUETT 109 4/ 4 29.05 7.65 29.05 100.00 29.05 3 STEVE WHITE 102 4/ 3 29.55 .50 7.68 29.05 100.00 29.05 5 LANCE REYNOLDS 101 4/ 4 28.66 8.11 28.66 100.00 28.66 6 SAL FONTANA 113 4/ 4 28.62 7.37 28.62 100.00 28.62 7 BLAKE CAMPO 12 4/ 4 28.61 7.93 28.61 100.00 28.61 8 DWAYNE MILLS 103 4/ 4 27.70 7.74 27.70 100.00 27.70 9 PAT RICHLEY 110 4/ 4 27.55 6.98 27.55 100.00 27.55 10 JUSTIN BURKE 108 4/ 4 27.36 27.36 100.00 27.36 11 CHUCK MORESI 104 4/ 3 27.66 .50 6.95 27.16 100.00 27.16 12 BARBARA SCOPELITIS 7 4/ 3 27.20 .50 7.74 26.70 100.00 26.70 13 STEPHEN SEWELL 105 4/ 4 26.41 26.41 100.00 26.41 14 BOB FOSTER 8 4/ 4 26.24 7.59 26.24 100.00 26.24 Total Fish Weight: 937.66 Average Fish Weight: 6.70 Total Fish Weighed: 140 Average #Fish/Participant: 3.78 Total Fish Released: 130 ( 92.86%) Average Weight / Participant: 24.68
			August 9, 2009		Page 1

      Scott Stephens, of Mobile Al., and friend of Team Frontline competed in his first Spearfishing tournament July 25th and 26th out of Orange Beach, Al. Although a newcomer to    competitive spearfishing, Scott is anything but an amateur in the world of diving and spearfishing. He has been diving and fishing for more than 20 years, and has honed his skills  in the water from Hawaii to the Gulf of Mexico. 

     Scott placed 2nd in the Amberjack division with a  73.25# monster (only 2 oz. out of the top spot ), and also took 2nd place in the Barracuda division. Nice work for a newbie on  the tournament circuit to say the least.

    Congratulations Scott, keep up the good work! 

 —- Blake Champion, Team Frontline