CLEWISTON, Fla. (March 17, 2003) - Tony Davis of Williston topped 200 Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Lake Okeechobee with five bass weighing 30 pounds. The catch earned him $5,000 and 200 points in the Boater Division.
Davis caught his limit pitching a gambler in the south bay area. His catch topped second-place boater Ken Fitton of Loxahatchee by 3 pounds, 10 ounces. Fitton finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 26 pounds, 6 ounces worth $2,500. Fitton earned a $500 bonus from Ranger for being the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. Davis and Steve Broughton of West Palm Beach tied boater big-bass honors. Each caught a 9-pound bass that won them $500.
Kyle Walters of Melbourne (five bass, 24 pounds, 15 ounces, $1,700); James Medlin of West Palm Beach (five bass, 24 pounds, 10 ounces, $1,300); and Tommy Hatfield of Kissimmee (five bass, 22 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,100) rounded out the top five boaters.
David Honsted of Ocala claimed first place and $2,500 in the 200-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 20 pounds, 6 ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler Edward Esgro of Lake Worth by 2 pounds, 9 ounces. Esgro finished with a five-bass catch weighing 17 pounds, 15 ounces worth $1,250. Esgro earned big-bass honors and $500 in his division with a 9-pound, 6-ounce bass.
Paul Blackman of Sebring (five bass, 17 pounds, 8 ounces, $850); David Lepsic of Kissimmee (five bass, 17 pounds, 6 ounces, $650); and Jeff Zablo of Naples (five bass, 17 pounds, 5 ounces, $550) rounded out the top five co-anglers.