NORTH EAST, Md. (June 27, 2005) - Boater Gerry Williamson of Westmont, N.J., earned $2,499 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Northeast Division bass fishing tournament on the Chesapeake Bay. The tournament was the second of five regular-season Northeast Division events and earned Williamson 200 points in the Boater Division.
Williamson's winning catch of five bass weighed 17 pounds, 5 ounces. He was flipping Zoom plastics around grass when he caught his bass.
Williamson earned an additional $1,000 as winner of the Ranger Cup award. Finishing second was Joseph Thompson of Ridley Park, Pa., with five bass weighing 17 pounds, 1 ounce that earned him $1,250. Rick Ash of Pottstown, Pa., claimed $817 as the third-place finisher thanks to five bass weighing 16 pounds, 4 ounces. In fourth was Richard Haber Jr. of Severn with five bass weighing 16 pounds, 2 ounces worth $636, and finishing fifth and earning $523 was Mike Torrissi Jr. of Hammonton, N.J., with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 11 ounces.
Lloyd Phillips III of Aberdeen took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $325 for a 4-pound, 12-ounce bass. He caught his big bass while flipping a soft plastic.
Brian Keister of Sicklerville, N.J., earned $1,250 as the co-angler winner, thanks to five bass weighing 12 pounds, 10 ounces that he caught on a spinnerbait.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Gregory Mallus of Gaithersburg (five bass, 12 pounds, $625); Darren Campbell of Nottingham, Pa. (four bass, 10 pounds, 12 ounces, $408); and in a fourth-place tie were Jacob Kupselaitis of Wall, N.J., and Dan Phillips Jr. of Aberdeen. Kupselaitis caught four bass weighing 10 pounds, 4 ounces and Phillips caught five bass weighing 10 pounds, 4 ounces. Both co-anglers earned $289.
Ryan Stratton of Lawrenceville, Pa., earned $163 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 4-pound, 8-ounce bass he caught on a crankbait.
The Northeast Division's next event will be held July 23 on the Hudson River near Catskill, N.Y., followed by an event on the Potomac River near Marbury Aug. 27. The Northeast Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 17-18 with a two-day Super Tournament on Lake Hopatcong near Cedar Knolls, N.J.