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TEXAS CONTENDER WINS OPEN CLASS IN DIVISION 8 WITH 149.75 POINTS!

by Jack Holmes

Brett Donnahoe, Danny Atchison, Royce Binnion Jr. and Brian Gaudin had one goal: to win Texas' Open Class in Division 8. Not only did they reach their pinnacle of success, they shattered last year's top aggregate by over 20 points and get to go to the Nationals on us. Fishing a 31' Yamaha powered Contender aptly named Texas Contender, the team scaled a 50.25 at Tiki Island, then went to Port A for a 49.70 and ended with a 49.80 in Freeport. That's 149.75 points and just shy of a 50-pound average. This is a highly confident team that has learned the game and won't settle for second best. They deserve all the accolades and praise we can give them.

Jose Reyes Jr.'s Papotanic has always been in the hunt. Last year and this year they earned second place but the stakes were raised this year. They, too, were forced to step it up a notch and the team did, with a three-fish aggregate of 147.32 also 20 points better than last season. Marc Bledsoe, Bill Platt, Aaron Reagan and Ian Jones weighed a 48.78 at Tiki, then another high forties, a 47.50, at Freeport and ended with a 51.04 at the Texas King Mackerel Association event. Another superb performance from this team.

Without a doubt the best team fishing from Texas is the duo of Albert Vrazel and Bobby Schoenfeld. Their Lured Away team not only fished the Division to a third place finish but is banging on the door of being the SKA's Angler of the Year. They are currently in seventh on the Yamaha Professional Kingfish Tour. Morehead City will tell the tale and please remember that this is only their second year fishing the Pros. As they are the top Mercury powered boat, they get a trip to the Nationals on Mercury. In Texas they weighed a great 54.38 in the season opener, then backed it up with a 45.00 and 41.53 for a three-fish aggregate of 140.91. On the Mercury powered Donzi team is Elvin Chamorro, James Garrett, Win Haggard Jr., Sharon Kamp who picked up the Division's Top Lady Angler honors, and Carla Schoenfeld. This is one of the top ten teams fishing in the country today! Chris Machacek fished his McKee Craft, Force Ten, to a fourth place finish, up from eighth last year. The team of Machacek, D.J. Kuchar, who is our Top Junior Angler for this Division, Terry Pool and Darrell Rittiman weighed the winning king, a 56.42 in Tiki, then a 37.70 in Freeport and ended with a 36.39 at the season's finale. That's 123.53 points. A good consistent team that takes care of their sponsors.

James Howell's Easy Come, Easy Go had a good season earning 123.54 points. With Evan and John Gardner and Casey Cundieff on board, the team was extremely consistent with all three kings in the low forties. The Yamaha powered Contender team moved up a couple of notches this season. They have been on the brink of busting their performance wide open, next year perhaps, but I'd rather see them peak at the Nationals.

Larry White was one of the first people who joined the association when we came to Texas. He fished with us consistently over the years, always in the top ten. This year White, Jerry Gattis and Mark Zapalac fished the Yamaha powered Century Reel Screamer to sixth with 122.59 points. Their biggest king, a 46.37, was caught in the season opener. This is one of the best looking, professional teams we have fishing the circuit today. Congratulations on another great year!

Frank Stockstill fished a Cobia last year and did squat but what a difference a year has made. With a new Grady White and his sons eager to reach the winner's circle, the Tangled Lines team picked up seventh on the strength of a three-fish aggregate of 117.59. The team's biggest was a 49.58 caught in the season opener. I think we can say that it was a great season for a first-year effort. As the sons grow, and with just a little more experience under their belt, this team will be challenging for the top spot. Take that to the bank!

Our winner of the Division last season, Team Yellowfin, dropped to eighth this season. John Dusek started the season with a 55.94 in Tiki and I thought it was '04 all over again. Then the team of Heather Niles, Pat Vargas and Duane Davis got snake bit only scaling a 35.60 and 24.54 in two other events. That's fishing but make no mistake, this was just a glitch. The team will be banging back on that number one spot next season. They're too good not to!

Mark Williams made it into the top ten with his Yamaha powered Contender, Go Time. It's his first trip to the magic list but I suspect it won't be his last. Williams, Brian Carroll, Jason Pataschke, Kirt Wells and Vince Howard had a three fish-aggregate of 115.28. They had a 42.98 in Tiki and a 44.10 at Freeport, but a 28-pounder in Port A diminished their hopes for a higher finish. When you're fishing in this league you can't afford hiccups. But seeing it was Port A and you probably never fished there before, you're excused but I expect this team to be challenging for a top three finish next year. The signs are there that say you can do it!

Rounding out the top ten is Chris Zube's Freebird with 112.48 points. Carl and Chris Christoph, Marvin Jones and Pat Thomas make up the team, a team loaded with talent I might add. If Zube can harness all their combined experience, this team will be number one next year. Come on, make Fountain proud!

James Medearis earned Top Senior Angler honors from this Division fishing with Team Notorious which qualified 13th.

Now it's on to the Nationals. The top Texas team last year was a Class of 23' boat. Come on guys you're better than that. Where's that Texas determination? Work together, plan, and let's crown a Texan National Champion this year!