PALATKA, Fla. - Boater Preston Clark of Lake Butler earned $3,077 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Seminole Division bass fishing tournament on the St. Johns River. The tournament was the second of five regular-season Seminole Division events and featured 101 boaters vying for the win, which earned Clark 200 points in the Boater Division.
Clark's winning catch of five bass weighed 28 pounds, 1 ounce, and he caught them on a jig in Lake George. He also earned $505 as the big-bass award winner in the Boater Division thanks to a 9-pound, 4-ounce bass.
Finishing second was John Kremer of Sanford with five bass weighing 20 pounds, 7 ounces that earned him $1,539. Walter Johns of Starke claimed $1,046 as the third-place finisher thanks to five bass weighing 20 pounds, 6 ounces. In fourth was Allen Hopper of San Mateo with five bass weighing 19 pounds, 14 ounces worth $800, and finishing fifth and earning $677 was Kelly Borgh of Silver Springs with five bass weighing 19 pounds, 7 ounces.
Bryan Hudgins of Orange Park earned a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Billy Coleman of Holly Hill bested 98 Co-angler Division competitors to earn $1,529 as the co-angler winner, thanks to five bass weighing 10 pounds, 12 ounces that he caught on a Zoom Fluke.
Finishing second was James Gregg of Englewood with three bass weighing 10 pounds, 11 ounces worth $764. Tied for third were Ronald Bridges of Pensacola (three bass) and Robert Dice of Perry (five bass). Both men caught 10 pounds, 8 ounces worth of bass that earned them $458. Finishing fifth was Trenton with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 6 ounces that earned him $336.
Gregg earned $245 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 6-pound, 4-ounce bass he caught on a Senko.