BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. (March 24, 2003) - Barry Fallon of Slidell, La., claimed $2,030 as the winner of the Bass Fishing League Gulf Coast Division's third regular-season bass fishing tournament, held on the Bay of St. Louis. Fallon led the field of 54 boaters with a four-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 5 ounces.
Fallon caught his bass Saturday on a Brush Hog. Fallon's catch topped second-place boaters Robert Robinson of Mobile, Ala., and Steve Jones of Moss Point by 3 pounds. Robinson and Moss each finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 5 ounces worth $852. Jones also earned a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats for being the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, and he earned $270 as the boater big-bass winner thanks to a 5-pound, 11-ounce bass.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Chuck Koski of Brandon (five bass, 11 pounds, 1 ounce, $528); and Ross Watkins of Carriere (five bass, 10 pounds, 6 ounces, $447).
Jeff Miller of Crestwood, Ill., topped 52 Co-angler Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 13 ounces that he caught flipping the grass with a half-inch spinner bait. Miller earned $1,021 for the win. Miller also earned co-angler big-bass honors and $130 in his division with a 4-pound, 2-ounce bass.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Sam Richardson of Vancleave (four bass, 9 pounds, 14 ounces, $511); Bill Smith of Ocean Springs (four bass, 7 pounds, 15 ounces, $347); Chris Hults of Gautier (five bass, 7 pounds, 12 ounces, $266); and Glen Meranto of Bay St. Louis (five bass, 7 pounds, 9 ounces, $225).