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XS RATED'S 153.10 AGGREGATE IS BEST IN DIVISION 7'S OPEN CLASS!

by Jack Holmes

Matthew Caldwell's XS Rated team turned in a stellar performance competing in Division 7's Open Class. The Ocean Springs, Mississippi Captain piloted a Mercury quad engine Yellowfin to the top of the standings with a three-fish aggregate of 153.10 and this from just four events. In '03 and '04 his team of Damien Bond, Zach Lewis, Mark Smith, Matt Smith and Kevin Higginbotham ran a boat called Black Magic but did not qualify either year. "Our goal was to get qualified so we can fish the Pros next year," said the excited Captain. The team weighed a 52.67 in Fourchon, then scaled a 46.26 in Cypress Cove and ended with a second place 54.17 in the Alabama Deep Sea Rodeo. They get the free entry to the Nationals thanks to Mercury.

Our Yamaha Pro Tour Championship winner, Creighton Parker and his Pensacola, Florida based Rag Tag team of Andrew Dennis, Matthew McLeod and Willis Condon earned second place with 145.74 points. Parker weighed a 47.49 in Fourchon, a 45.45 in Cypress Cove and a big 54.17 in Venice. Parker is a world-class angler who fishes harder than any team in the upper Gulf. It's good to see him on top again after a sixth place finish last year. Rag Tag is a Yamaha powered Contender.

Any event you enter in Division 7 you have to contend with the Dees family from Mobile, Alabama. This season they earned third. The Top Producer team, fishing a Yamaha powered Contender, is compromised of Mike, Sheree, Jeff and Jenny Dees. This year they scaled a 43.52 at Cypress Cove, added a 42.81 at the Rodeo and ended with their biggest king, a 52.80, at Venice for 141.23 points. Last year they finished 14th with 116.61 points, a big improvement. Sheree and Jenny share in the Top Lady Angler honors for the Division.

A name synonymous with winning in the upper Gulf, Kwazar, captured fourth with 136.48 points. Mobile, Alabama's Marcus Kennedy, his son Tyler who is our Top Junior Angler once again, Pete Shores, Max Williams and Robert Young weighed a 44.95, a 47.93 and a 43.60. This team has won more titles and tournament victories than any other team in the area. For two years now, while extremely consistent, they have failed to scale a fifty-plus-pounder which would have propelled them to the top. It's just a matter of time before that changes and everyone knows it.

The Obsessed Koonass, the finest wrapped boat on the circuit, picked up fifth place thanks to their 135.52 aggregate. Glenn Plaisance from Raceland, Louisiana, Dale Bergeron, Marty Daniels and Chris Staszak had a great 54.56 in Fourchon, and then went on to scale a 35.30 and a 45.66. The Mercury powered Fountain team earned 24th last season but we knew it was just a matter of time before they made their presence felt.

Sixth place went to Team Spear-It, a team who definitely has more fun fishing than any other team on the coast. The Johnson powered Mako team of Chris Denton from Biloxi, Ryan Byrd, Clay Courtney, Marty Wagner and Lee Buchanan also know how to catch big kings as evidenced by their 134.14 aggregate. Their biggest king, a 45.20, came at the Rodeo. Despite the party atmosphere they evoke, this team can fish; fish very well as a matter of fact.

David Van Lent from Belleair Beach, Florida, our 2000 Angler of the Year, loves fishing the upper Gulf and despite the fact he fishes the Pros has always qualified in Division 7 also, this year seventh. His wife Rose is also a Top Lady Angler and with Jeff Hall they are always in the hunt in any event they enter. If I had to pick the top ten overall teams in the country, In The Rough would be one of them. This year they amassed 133.27 points. They had qualified earlier in Division 11, seventh. Try that schedule some time! Van Lent fishes a Yamaha powered Contender.

Neal Foster's back. Yes I know, it's not the finish he wanted, but after a lay off to build his house he's shown the fishing fraternity that he's still got the touch. With a 132.72 aggregate there are a lot of teams who wish they had his touch. Foster fishes with his daughter Shea, Robby and Andrew Montgomery and J.J. Tabor aboard the Yamaha powered Contender, Intense. Foster's intensity will put him in the top three next season, and you can take that to the bank!

Jimmy Garrett from Gulf Breeze, Florida wasn't even close to qualifying last year but came roaring out of the gate this season, posting a 131.72 aggregate, good for ninth. Fishing with Andy Garrett and Clinton Wells the Out Of Control team is going to the big show. Their biggest king, a 47.26, came in Fourchon. They fish a Yamaha powered Contender.

Rounding out the top ten was Don Jackson's Sea Cruiser. The Mercury powered Donzi team racked up 130.87 points. I'm proud of this team who missed the cut last year but came back with determination and made the top ten. Jackson fishes with his son Donnie and Joshua Sevin.

Both National Champions came from the upper Gulf last year, teams that fish this Division. Now you have the opportunity to go outside your local waters and prove you can fish with the rest of the anglers from other Divisions. This is a golden opportunity and I'm sure you'll make the best of it.