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St. Mary’s, Georgia – June 2nd marked the opening of the 2006 St. Mary’s Kingfish Classic, the second tournament in Division 4. Run in conjunction with the St. Mary’s River Festival, this event had a little something for everyone with free concerts, a BBQ cook-off, and a chili contest. “This event is one of the best of the best,” said SKA Field Manager John Zalud. With an incredible grand prize of a new Chevy Silverado 4x4 and $10,000, over 130 teams arrived at the Captain’s meeting for their chance, but it would prove to be Captain Ryan and the Rodeffers on Game Day who would take it home.

“We got some good information and it paid off,” smiled Ryan Rodeffer. “We made the big run 120 miles to the south,” he continued, “and it got sporty with some good three- to five-footers.” But their 31’ Yamaha powered Contender got them there whole and hearty and Captain Ryan, Jan, Dave and W.D. Rodeffer were soon catching them up. The Game Day crew had five small fish under their collective belts by noon and at 12:30 while trolling in 41 feet of water their big king made its presence known. A double pogy on the long line was hit and the Rodeffers gradually worked the fish to the boat and over the side. “It wasn’t until we put her in the bag that we were sure she was a good fish,” continued Captain Rodeffer. At the scale their big girl would tip the electronic needle to 37.18 pounds, naming Game Day St. Mary’s Champion. The team’s first SKA win, they did it in style with a multiple victory. In addition to the 2006 Chevy Silverado K1500 4x4 and $10,000, Jan was the SKA Top Lady Angler and Dave was the SKA Top Senior Angler.

Captain Scott Poppell and the Haulin “S” crew believe in that old saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and the strategy paid off to the tune of a second place, 26.43-pounder. “We went right back to the same spot as last week: Gray’s Reef,” reported Poppell. “The bite was a bit slow so we moved two miles east of Gray’s and got some good action very quickly.” The kings they were hooking were all small, but the team kept working hard looking for that big one. Haulin “S” had one low 20s in the box and a little pressure off, then at 1:30 a pogy in the prop wash was hit while trolling the 23’ Yamaha powered Contender in 65 feet of water. Shawn Boaen was the man of the hour as he brought the 26-pounder within gaffing distance, and Scott Goodwin put the finishing touch to the king. Second place earned this team a JaxWraps wrap package and cash bonus to take home to Savannah, Georgia. “I just hope our string of luck keeps up,” smiled Poppell.

Leading the Open Class going into this event, Jet Lag was another team that made a big run for a big payoff. “We hated to leave our area, but I heard of a good bite to the north and ran about 100 miles,” reported Captain Pete Owens. It was a long day on the water for Captain Pete and his Junior Anglers Josh and Will, as well as David Beam and Jason Varnadoe, and by 2:00 the Jet Lag had yet to see a king. Then, with no time left, a pogy on the long line was hit while trolling in 45 feet of water. David got the king to the side of the 31’ Contender as quickly as he could safely manage so they could get moving. “We put her in the bag and left for the scale at 2:57 p.m. We put my two boys in the bean bags and raced to the scale, hammer down! We got to the check-in boat at 4:58 thanks to our Yamaha powered Contender,” grinned Owens. It was a great day and a great king for the Jet Lag team, a solid 25.08-pounder, earning them a third place Raymarine electronics package and cash bonus as well as naming Josh and Will the SKA Top Junior Anglers. In addition, that 25-pounder gives the Jet Lag a 20-pound lead in the Open Class race.

Another Class of 23’ boat, the Southbound, is up next landing a big king to sneak in and steal the Open Class money. Captain Lon Bryan, Andy Miska and Ryan Keith won the Sapelo event the week prior, so you know they had their spot all picked out. “We gritted our teeth and made the run to the Elton Bottom,” reported Bryan. Fishing their spot for about three hours, the team had only managed four small fish. “I wasn’t hearing much on the radio, though, so we stuck it out.” Trolling the 23’ Yamaha powered Contender in 120 feet of water a pogy on the long line was snatched at 1:50 and Miska stepped up to reel in their catch. “I felt with the water conditions that we had a shot at a top five fish,” said Bryan, and he was right. Reaching the scale the Southbound’s king would weigh 23.14 pounds, earning this Jacksonville Beach, Florida team fourth place overall. Fifth place went to Captain Brent Bailey’s Roy’L C.

The Sea Ducer, Captain Todd Veal’s 31’ Yamaha powered contender out of Waycross, Georgia, is up next with a sixth place, 21.11-pounder. He was joined by wife Kelly, sons and second place Junior Anglers Rhett and Dillon, and Tom Whittingslow. Captain Jimmy Bruner’s Nette One is up next with a 20.24. He and Bryant Tatum, Drew Thomas, Daniel Dowdy and Amanda Bernard fish a 23’ Yamaha powered Contender. Additionally, Daniel was awarded third place Junior Angler for that king. Eighth place fell to the Gray Beard, Captain Jim Wilson’s 28’ Yamaha powered Grady White out of Amelia Island, Florida. He, Bob Gaster and George Lannon hooked a 19.45 for the position.

The Miss D took top honors in the Class of 23’ the week prior in Sapelo, and they came back again at St. Mary’s with an 18.63-pound, ninth place overall finish. Captain M. Dean Hinely, Bernard and Brandon Blair, Tommy Waddell, James Hinely, Sr. and Matthew Hinely fished a 23’ Mercury powered Pro-Line out of Jacksonville Beach, Florida. The Wright family on Just Wright round out the top ten with an 18.02-pounder. Captain Clayton, Bobby, Reba and Chase Wright fish a 23’ Mercury powered Fountain out of Manor, Georgia.

The Blue Ribbon’s Captain Michael Woolard came to the scale with an 11th place, 17.76-pounder. Next up is Get Reel, Captain Lee McCurdy’s Yellowfin, with a 17.22-pounder. Captain Sammy Perkins’ Knot On Call took the 13th position with a 16.44, and Captain Phillip Waters’ Double Down brought in a 16.24 for 14th. Team Footloose rounds out the top 15 with Captain Steven Trussell’s 14.94-pounder.

While many Class of 23’ boats landed large enough kings to earn Open Class awards, top money in the Class was awarded to Captain Geoff Stam and the Turn 3 crew. “We decided to stay close to home and get more fishing time, so we went to a spot we had pre-fished called the Amber Jack Hole,” reported Stam. The action was a bit slow for Captain Geoff and Monica Stam and Steve McEvoy, and they had only had three teenagers that they had released when their big king finally came at 3:00. Trolling the 23’ Yamaha powered Contender in 88 feet of water a ribbon set at 70 feet was hit and Geoff made short work of the king. “We fished a little longer, but on cigar,” smiled Stam. Still, top honors in the Class were good for a guaranteed payout of $1,000 to take home to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Reel Wild, Captain Johnny Wilde’s team, came to the docks with an 18.33-pounder to earn second place in the Class. Captain Johnny and Joey Wildes, Taite Crews and Courtney Herndon fished off Matanzas Beach, and had a leisurely day of it. “Fishing was very slow for everyone that we talked to in the area,” reported Wildes, “by 3:00 we had only found a couple of small dinks that we released.” But at 3:15 the Reel Wild got its chance when a pogy on the short line was hit and Courtney grabbed the singing reel. She brought the team’s only keeper to the gaff in short order and the team soon had the 23’ Yamaha powered Contender headed back to the scale. Third place in the Class went to non-member Cassidy Ann with a 17.63-pounder.

St. Mary's Final Standings

1.   GAME DAY..................................... 37.18
      Contender/Yamaha
      Ryan Rodeffer
      W.D. Rodeffer 
      Dave Rodeffer
      Jan Rodeffer

2.   HAULIN “S”................................... 26.43
      Regulator/Yamaha
      Scott Poppell
      Scott Goodwin
      Shawn Boaen

3.   JET LAG......................................... 25.08
      Contender/Yamaha
      Pete Owens
      Jason Varnadoe
      David Beam
      Josh Owens
      Will Owens

4.   SOUTHBOUND................................ 23.14
      Contender/Yamaha
      Lon Bryan
      Andy Miska
      Ryan Keith

5.   Roy’L C........................................... 22.19

6.   SEA DUCER.................................... 21.11
      Contender/Yamaha
      Todd Veal
      Kelly Veal
      Rhett Veal
      Dillon Veal
      Tom Whittingslow

7.   NETTE ONE................................... 20.24
      Contender/Yamaha
      Jimmy Bruner
      Bryant Tatum
      Drew Thomas
      Daniel Dowdy
      Amanda Bernard

8.   GRAY BEARD................................. 19.45
      Grady White/Yamaha
      Jim Wilson
      Bob Gaster
      George Lannon

9.   MISS D.......................................... 18.63
      Pro-Line/Mercury
      M. Dean Hinely
      Bernard A. Blair
      Brandon A. Blair
      Tommy Waddell
      James Hinely, Sr.
      Matthew Hinely

10. JUST WRIGHT............................... 18.02
      Fountain/Mercury
      Clayton Wright
      Bobby Wright
      Reba Wright
      Chase Wright

11. BLUE RIBBON................................ 17.76
      Regulator/Yamaha
      Michael Woolard
      Richie Deloach
      Neal Anderson
      Walt Rogers  
  
12. GET REEL ..................................... 17.22
      Yellowfin/Yamaha
      Lee McCurdy
      Dennis Dowdy

13. KNOT ON CALL .............................. 16.44
      Sailfish/Yamaha
      Sammy Perkins
      Brandi Durrence-Perkins
      Zach Bowman

14. DOUBLE DOWN .............................. 16.24
      Hydra-Sport/Evinrude
      Phillip Waters
      Chris King
      Tyrone Joyner
      Walter Ray

15. TEAM FOOTLOOSE ......................... 14.94
      Contender/Yamaha
      Steven Trussell
      John Trussell
      Jerry Bohannon

Class of 23’

1.   TURN 3 .......................................... 19.44
      Contender/Yamaha
      Geoff Stam
      Monica Stam
      Steve McEvoy 

2.   REEL WILD .................................... 18.33
      Contender/Yamaha
      Johnny Wildes
      Joey Wildes
      Taite Crews
      Courtney Herndon

3.   Cassidy Ann .................................... 17.63
     
SKA Top Lady Angler
Jan Rodeffer........................................................... Game Day

SKA Top Junior Anglers
Sponsored by Coastal Marine Center

1st Josh & Will Owens.............................................. Jet Lag
2nd Dillon & Rhett Veal............................................ Sea Ducer
3rd Daniel Dowdy.................................................... Nette One