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SEA HAGG TEAM TOPS CLASS OF 23' IN DIVISION 7!

by Jack Holmes

There is one team in the upper Gulf that I would never bet against. Over the years their consistency has never ceased to amaze me. The Sea Hagg! From Grand Bay, Alabama comes Cecil Capps Jr., Earl Burbridge, Wesley Burbridge and Gerry Rucker, each a great fisherman in their own right but when together, look out. Last year, third in the Class of 23' in the Division, now first. That's consistency! They started the season off right, with a 52.38 in Fourchon, then scaled a 48.48 at the Alabama Deep Sea Rodeo, and ended with a 46.32 in Venice. Their 147.18 was the second best aggregate in the whole Division this season. You can imagine how excited Yamaha and Contender are also. Welcome to the big dance once again Sea Hagg, and it's on us. Roy (ToJo) White, George White, Nic White, Tony Sicola and Mark McPherson earned fifth last year and bounced right up to second this year. The Dirty White Boys, who run a Mercury powered Contender, picked up their biggest king, a 52.72 in Cypress Cove, then scaled a 45.15 in the Rodeo, and ended with a 41.30 in Venice for 139.17 points. You never hear a bad word from this team, just dedication to a sport the whole family can participate in. They are a delight to be around and I've never talked to any other competitor who had anything but praise for the team. They are truly winners in my book! Bob Wyres fishes with his daughter Melissa who is married to Aaron Wells. Together they make up the Purse Snatcher team. They graduated to a Mercury powered Fountain this year and I believe it has made a difference. The team had a great year, adding a win at the Rodeo, the largest saltwater tournament in the country, with a 60.92, the only 60-pounder seen in the upper Gulf this season, then added a 38.52 and a 38.74 for 138.18 points. A top-notch family team who has a lot going for them! Nathan Payton elected to fish the Pros this year, fishing a 23' Contender, and although undersized by Pro standards, he's earned the respect of his peers. His Mercury powered Contender team named Hardcore is made up of Payton, Rodney Willard, Paul Olson and James Doole. Together they earned 136.38 points with their biggest king, a 51.51 coming in the Cypress tournament. Nathan couldn't have picked a better name for his boat because he's as hardcore as they get. I've known him for many years and watched him hone his angling skills, plus he's put together an exciting team of accomplished fishermen. When the book on kingfishing goes to press and SKA's history is told Nathan will be one we'll talk about. This team is a winner! Stephen Barfoot, our 2004 Class of 23' Champion, turned in another great performance, earning fifth this year with 130.77 points. Add another great fish to his and Randy Barfoot, Kevin Butler, and Spencer Johnson's credit, a 56.10 they picked up in the Venice tournament. I'm sure the Snafu team will be at the Nationals to defend their title and as good as they are, just might be a repeat winner. It wouldn't surprise me! The Crumps, Harry, Benton and Judson, picked up sixth with 128.11 points. After a second place finish last year in the Division I'm sure Harry is not impressed but I am. The Yamaha powered Contender team's consistency shown over the years is nothing short of spectacular but Harry never settles for second best. That's what makes his team winners in the eyes of his peers. Harry has done a lot also to enhance and enrich the sport and has two sons to be proud of. A man can't ask for more than that. See you in the winner's circle in November, Harry! Another Alabama team, the Lined Out with Mitch Mosley, Bubba Carter and Charles Oberkirch, earned seventh last year and the same this season. The Yamaha powered Contender team picked up 127.33 points with their efforts. That's a 42-pound average! Know how many teams would love to have that average? Keep it up, you have the talent, that one big fish you need just hasn't come your way yet but it will. Cross your fingers, it may happen in November. Stephen Haidt, another Contender owner, didn't make the cut last year and here they are eighth this year and ahead of a team I think is one of the best in the country, Quietus. The team of Stephen, Daniel and Matthew Haidt have proved they can fish with the best of them with their 127.02 aggregate, another team with a 42-pound average. Keep up the good work; you'll be bouncing on that number one spot next season! Quietus won the Division last year but dropped to ninth this year. Nearly anyone who fishes the Class would be more than happy with this performance but I know how competitive J.J. Gilmore, Jason Andrews and David Rogers Jr. are. They had 125.9 points. I've always rated this team very highly and I'm not backing off of my assessment. This won't slow them down, I'm glad I don't have to fish against them next season. In fact I'll go on the record to say I believe they could have the best three-fish aggregate of all the teams fishing next year. Remember you heard it here first! Byrd Dog rounded out the top ten with 123.21 points. Ninth last year, tenth this year. Ritchie Byrd, Ron Wiggins and Art Owens caught a 47-pounder in the Rodeo so I know they can scale big kings. They had 123.21 points this season. This team is a top three team in the Class, I know it and they know it. They have a 23' Contender so they can run anywhere in the Gulf. Experiment, find those new holes or rigs holding the bigger fish. You can do it, I'm sure of it! This is a special group of fishermen who are capable of winning any event they enter. Lots of talent and energy. Are they up to fishing in new waters? Keep your eye on the leaderboard at the Nationals!