PROSPERITY, S.C. (Feb. 18, 2008) - Boater Justin Harvey of Gaffney, S.C., won the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League® South Carolina Division tournament on Lake Murray Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 18 pounds, 8 ounces. The victory earned Harvey $3,793 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Albemarle Sound Regional Championship in Elizabeth City, N.C., Oct. 9-11, where he could ultimately win a new 198VX Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Harvey caught his limit fishing pockets and points in the lower lake with a brown buckeye jig and soft plastics.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Neil Huffstetler of Pomaria, S.C. (five bass, 17-01, $2,232); Kenneth Huntley of Matthews, N.C. (four bass, 16-13, $1,489); Andy Owens of Camden, S.C. (five bass, 16-06, $1,041) and Matt Arey of Shelby, N.C. (five bass, 15-15, $893).
Mario Colangelo took home the Boater Division Snickers Big Bass award, earning $640 for a 7-pound, 4-ounce bass he caught on a crankbait.
Scott Peavey of Ridgeway, S.C., earned $2,232 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 15 pounds, 12 ounces that he caught on the backs of creeks and rock piles in the upper lake.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Mark Osborne of Union, S.C. (five bass, 12-04, $1,116); Tommy Lindler of Lexington, S.C. (five bass, 11-07, $743); Brian Ruppe of Gaffney, S.C. (five bass, 10-15, $521) and Alex Singleton of Ravenel, S.C. (four bass, 9-05, $446).
Russell Steen earned $320 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 5-pound, 9-ounce bass on a white ChatterBait.
South Carolina Division anglers will visit Clarks Hill in McCormick, S.C., March 8 for their second regular-season event, followed by an event on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, S.C., April 12. The division's fourth qualifying event will be held on Lake Wateree in Camden, S.C., June 14. A two-day Super Tournament, the division's fifth and final event, will be held on Lake Wylie in Lake Wylie, S.C., Sept. 27-28.