PALATKA, Fla. (Feb. 13, 2006) - Boater Mike Jackson of San Mateo, Fla., earned $3,386 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Seminole Division bass fishing tournament on the St. Johns River. The tournament was the first of five regular-season Seminole Division events and earned Jackson 200 points in the Boater Division.
Jackson's winning catch of four bass weighed 22 pounds, 12 ounces. Jackson threw a Carolina rig to catch his bass. One of his fish, an 8-pound, 5-ounce largemouth, earned him an additional $425 as winner of the big-bass award in the Boater Division.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Jerry Stalvey Jr. of St. Augustine, Fla. (five bass, 18 pounds, 10 ounces, $1,693); David Burch of Jacksonville Beach, Fla. (five bass, 16 pounds, 3 ounces, $1,129); Ryan Worthington of Middleburg, Fla. (five bass, 13 pounds, 1 ounce, $790) and Larry Cahan of East Palatka, Fla. (five bass, 10 pounds, 8 ounces, $677).
Heath Annin of Tallahassee, Fla., earned $500 as winner of the Ranger Cup award.
Rusty Berry of Lake City, Fla., earned $1,623 as the co-angler winner, thanks to five bass weighing 11 pounds, 7 ounces that he caught on a Yamamoto Senko.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Leon J. Roy III of Tallahassee, Fla. (four bass, 11 pounds, 5 ounces, $812); Joseph Hetu II of Middleburg, Fla., (four bass, 8 pounds, 12 ounces, $541) Kenneth Henry of Monticello, Fla., (three bass, 7 pounds, $379) Everette Back of East Palatka and Chad Cox of Jacksonville tied for fifth place. Back caught four bass weighing 6 pounds, 14 ounces and Cox caught five bass weighing 6 pounds, 14 ounces. Both anglers earned $311.
Michael Wiles of Perry, Fla., earned $195 as the co-angler big-bass award winner thanks to a 5-pound, 4-ounce bass he caught on a Rat-L-Trap.
The Seminole Division's next event will be held March 18 on the Harris Chain of Lakes near Tavares, Fla., followed by an event on the Apalachicola River near Wewahitchka, Fla., April 8. The fourth event will be held April 29 on Lake Seminole near Snead, Fla., and the Seminole Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 23-24 with a two-day Super Tournament on the St. Johns River near Palatka.