HOWARD POE’S KILL-N-ME IS THE BEST IN DIVISION 5’S OPEN CLASS!
by Jack Holmes

Over the years I’ve watched Howard Poe mature into a world-class angler. He was our National Champion in ’96 and has just notched another victory into his career belt. If he was to fish more I’m sure there is no mountain he couldn’t climb, but Howard is wrapped pretty tightly into his and his wife’s North Florida Contender dealership. Time is something Howard does not have a lot of plus he’s also fishing the Pros. Howard fished with his wife Donna, Mark Chappell and Chris Cathey. Together they caught a 33.04 in Fernandina, then scaled a big money fish in the Greater Jacksonville, a 43.40, and ended on top with the 33.10 caught at Ancient City. A 109.54 aggregate is a great aggregate!
Howard, like last year’s winner who fished the Pros, will get the recognition for his great victory, however he will not count when it comes to National invites. He is the top Mercury powered boat in the Open Division and will get the free trip to the big show.
Richard Iwanicki and David Tennyson bought Paul Massey’s Yellowfin. Either these guys are better than they think they are or a lot of the Massey mojo was left behind on the boat. I think they’re good. With girl friends Cheyenne Pacetti and Keadie Higginbotham, who will share in Top Lady Angler honors for the Division, the team caught a 33.20 at the big show in Jacksonville, then scaled a 37.03 in the Boater’s World tournament and ended in their home town event, Ancient City, with a 36.95 for 107.18 points. This team is young, energetic and disciplined. After a seventh place finish last year I don’t think anyone will dispute their credentials. They’re ready for the big leagues!
Chris Stephens and his Beer Money team of Jerry Richardson and Joey Kaylor couldn’t scale a fish last year but oh what a difference a season makes. Working harder than any other team I’ve seen in a long time, they led the Division going into the final event. Fishing a 25’ Hydra Sports, the team scaled a 33.04 in Fernandina, then weighed a 35.44 in the Boater’s World tournament, and ended with a 32.45 in St. Augustine. That’s a 106.99 aggregate and just two-tenths of a pound out of second. This team has a tremendous future and I won’t be surprised if they don’t take a lot of money home from the Nationals.
Jeff Parsons, Wayne Cone, and Mike Hurst and his sons Christopher and Jared earned fourth in the Division fishing the Final Approval. The Mercury powered Donzi team scored a three-fish aggregate of 105.07 points from a 39.30 in Jacksonville, a 35.02 at Boater’s World and their nice 30.75 in Ancient City. Jared and Christopher will share in the Top Junior Angler honors. Division 5 is proving to be a great training ground for these boys.
Rick Henley who fishes with his dad and Tom Smith on the Stock Options, a 25’ Mercury powered Fountain the Henley’s won ten years ago in the Kingbuster 400 tournament in St. Augustine, earned fifth place. Rick caught a 36.30 in this year’s Kingbuster and won the event, then picked up a 29.10 in Jacksonville, and ended in his home event with a 38.65. Rick also fishes the Pros as a team member on Randy Crabtree’s Vamoose.
Jeremy Carter and Jim Thomas have a shot at the title after qualifying sixth with a three-fish aggregate of 102.40. The Mercury powered Donzi team, Reel Quick, was in the Division’s basement last year but showed everyone they were a team to be reckoned with. They scaled a 28-pounder in Fernandina, a 37.85 in Jacksonville and then scaled a 36.55 in Ancient City. A great season, it may be the confidence builder to keep them at the top.
The Sweet Maria earned 101.05 points. At the start of the season Matt Henderson asked the SKA to count his points in the Open Division even though he fishes a 23’ Sailfish. He finished seventh. Imagine a 23-footer winning the Nationals in the Open Class. I wouldn’t bet against it, the team of Henderson, Matt Crowers and Alex Rodriquez are good. Look at their record, a 39.15 in Ancient City, a 35.20 in Jacksonville and 26.70 in the Boater’s World. Pretty impressive gamble that could pay off very well.
The Lucky 7’s 99.70 aggregate was good for eighth place. Shenan Foster, Chris Hutchinson, Charles Shiroky and Steven Anderson scaled a 33.90 at the Division opener, then smacked a fantastic 44.40 in the Jacksonville tourney and ended with a 21.40 in Ancient City. The Yamaha powered Contender team climbed the ladder to success very well.
Daniel Crowley’s Posse was expected to be near the top and he didn’t disappoint us. With Travis and Lucas Crowley, Tom Taylor and Charles Kalbfleisch, the team’s biggest fish happened at Fernandina, a 42.64. Then they got a 27.05 and a 29.30. A 98.99 aggregate, ninth place finish. Good job guys!
Rounding out the top ten was Timothy Sisler’s Reel Phetish II. His team of Ray Forbess Jr. and Ryan Keith didn’t make it to the big show last year but thanks to a three-fish aggregate of 95.49 they can make their reservations. Can they win the big one? Absolutely!
Bill Bazemore was our Top Senior Angler fishing on Kenny Crawford’s Crawfish.
This was a great year for the northeast Florida coast. Good fish, lots of drama. Last year it took 77 pounds to make the top 20, this year 83 pounds. That’s a big jump.
Good luck to all the teams going to Biloxi this year!