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LATITUDES’ 61.52 AGGREGATE IS BEST IN SAVANNAH!

by Jack Holmes

Savannah, Georgia - There were teams that needed a couple of good fish to stay in the chase for “Angler of the Year” but it didn’t happen. Mother Nature just wouldn’t give up her big fish this weekend. Fishing was still good but teenagers and low- to mid-20’s dominated the leaderboard setting the stage for a do-or-die finish for the Pros in Morehead City.

Richard Stankiewicz was having a so-so season. Certainly not the one he is capable of having, at least until this weekend. However, because of a death in the family, Richard sent his team and they came through, swelling the team’s bank account by $40,000. Nathan Stewart headed up the team of Hampton Khaley and David Garber, pushed their limits to the max, and came through with a 26.35 and the event’s biggest king, a 35.22, for a 61.52 two-fish aggregate. Two fish also make a big difference, pushing the Latitudes from 51st to 20th in the overall standings. Richard certainly has the opportunity to equal last year’s 14th place overall or better. They fish a Mercury powered Donzi.

Chris Jonsson’s Side Job team was sitting back in 44th, that is until this weekend. He moved to 22nd. Jonsson, Brad Richards, Otis Humphrey and Zach Jonsson scaled a 22.43 and a great 30.19 for 52.62 much needed points. The Mercury powered Yellowfin team is having a much better season than last, and should be a top 20 team this year. In case you’re not aware of the talent that fishes the Pros, a top 20 finish is a major accomplishment.

You can imagine how proud Russell Stuart, Captain of the Seafood Kitchen team, was when he watched his son pick up first place honors. But dad did just fine also, earning third with his Mercury powered Donzi. With Rocky Cusack and Buddy Dingman Jr., Stuart scaled a 27.96 and a 23.45 for 51.41 points. For the past several years Stuart’s Seafood Kitchen has been a top contender in the Pro ranks.

After the teams arrived in Savannah, it was determined that because of the gas shortage due to Hurricane Katrina to shorten the event to one day and allow the teams to weigh their two fish on that day. The overwhelming support of the decision led to the event’s success. Over 15,000 spectators showed up on River Street in downtown Savannah for the music, the arts and craft show, the great restaurants and shopping and of course the Yamaha Professional Kingfish Tour weigh-in. Savannah is a great city!

The 1998 National Champion Forrest Taylor and his Team Furuno / That’s My Dog team of David Hooks Jr., William Taylor and Josh Baker picked up fourth place with a 51.20 aggregate. This Mercury powered Yellowfin team scaled a 23.64 and a 27.56 and moved into 23rd place with just six fish. William Taylor was our Top Senior Angler in this event. Now they move to home waters which should improve their overall standings for the year.

The rookie team, Borderline Crazy, had a good tournament that moved them from 38th to 13th. This Mercury powered Donzi team headed by Eric Davis is a team to keep your eyes on. Davis, Patrick Galloway, Mike Minter and Matt Amie scaled a 23.66 and a 26.82 for 50.48 fifth place points.

In fact five rookie teams find themselves in the top 20 along with four more teams who are into year two in the Pros. Make no mistake, these are the best kingfish anglers in the country.

Scott Elliott has been near the top of the standings all season and his team is now poised to win it all in Morehead City. This weekend his Use of Proceeds team, Ted Davis, David Monda and Jon Pearman, earned sixth thanks to an 18.59 and 30.05. His team is in third overall just nine points out of the lead.

Mike Jones’ ½ Lit scaled a 30 and a 16.67 to earn seventh. Ken Wrangell, Tim Moore and Mike Edwards helped the Mercury powered Fountain team get a check and move up in the standings. The final event in Morehead, Jones’ hometown, will have a big effect on their final standings.

Tommy Rady, Mark Titus, Carl Titus and Nelson Railey, otherwise known in fishing circles as the Barely Legal team earned eighth in Savannah with a 46.66 aggregate. The Mercury powered Donzi team scaled a 25.76 and a 20.90. They are now in 12th place in the standings just two places shy of where they finished last year. Great consistency!

The 2002 Angler of the Year and National Champion, Ed Mecchella, found his team of Shawn Mecchella and Marc Pincus in ninth thanks to a 46.14 aggregate. They remained in 15th place in the overall standings.

Tenth place fell to the Rat Pak with 46.09 points. Darren Ratley, Jay Robertson, Bret Hayes, John Mott and Sonny Mills make up the Mercury powered Fountain team.

The R & W Fishing Team earned 44.86 points to capture 11th and give Rhonda Morris her first Pro Lady Angler win. Will Lamneck, Morris and Randy Comans make up the Donzi team.

Team Palmetto / Boater’s World sponsored Mikey Likes It earned 12th with a 44.66 aggregate. Mike Sr., Michael, Carolyn, and Billy Hubbard make up the Yamaha powered Palmetto team.

Miller Tyme is having a spectacular season. They are now in fourth overall in the standings just 12.86 out of first after scoring a 13th place 44.26 in Savannah. Joseph Miller, Doug Miller, Monty Peters, Chris Blackwell, Mark Blackwell and Brian Black make up the Yamaha powered Contender team. They finished 48th overall last season and here they are, knocking on Angler of the Year’s door. Regardless of their finish, this has been a tremendous season from this highly talented team.

The Kwazar Wolf team of Stacey Wester, Field Hucks and Brian Justice picked up 14th with 42.69 points while George Roberts’s Smooth Ride earned 15th. On board were Clayton Kirby, Thomas Meyers, Jayson Cain, Rick Stoker and K. Blake Roberts. They had a 42.44 aggregate.

Terry Johnson’s Final Strike team held onto the top slot in the overall standings after four events with a seven fish aggregate of 239.26 and still have a 15.83 drop fish but all the teams in the top ten have their sights set on knocking them off. Morehead City, the site of the final Pro event, should present us with one of the best finishes ever.

Thanks to everyone in Savannah who helped make this a great event.