David Heavinridge and his Team Spectre / Top Gun team, Ron Kien, David and Joshua Heavenridge, and Warren Williams, could only scale a 24.80 on the first day of the Gator’s Fall Classic. Having won this event two years ago, Heavenridge decided to make the big run 85 miles west of John’s Pass on day two. It was a spot where he and the team have found big fish before. It was no problem for the Yanmar powered Spectre boat but the five-foot seas were a little uncomfortable for the team. In 140 feet of water the winning 47.84 pound king was their only bite in the hour they fished. The team picked up $10,000 for their efforts and Josh won Junior Angler honors.

Idle Time, a Mercury powered Fountain, caught a 43.20 on day one and finished second. They were fishing a spot 70 miles west of Johns Pass in 190 feet of water. Matt Tarrance, Ed Gunn, Steve Soroka, and Doug Paul, caught 12 kings in the thirties before the big girl hit a blue runner on the downrigger set 50 feet below the surface. “We just knew a big fish was there and kept working the area,” said Tarrance, the Captain of the team. “It was worth the effort but it did take us over three hours to get back in. We were fighting 6 to 8 foot seas all day.” They won $4,000.

You always know that when you see Brian and Bill Hasson on their Knot Me Mercury powered Fountain in an event that they will end up somewhere on the leader board. This weekend was no different, they earned third and $3,000 with a 37.60. “We fished Blind Pass on the beach in 25 feet of water,” said Brian Hasson. “We basically fished all day for one fish which came at 3’oclock.” The team was also the events Top Class of 23 boat and picked up an extra grand.

Sam Maisano, Joe Maisano, Beth Maisano, and Morgan Kien, had a good weekend. They earned fourth with a 37.28. The Insta-Gator, who won the Gator’s event in the spring, fished north of Johns Pass on the beach. “We were in 15 feet of water when she hit a blue runner on the surface,” Sam told me. “It was an early fish, about 7:30.” Beth was the tournaments Top lady Angler. They fish a Suzuki powered Donzi.

Rounding out your top five was Mark Vaughan’s Reel Crazy, a Mercury powered Cape Horn. Vaughan, fished with Robert and Brandan Vaughan, Matt Simanteris, and Kamri Vaughan. The ’06 winners of the Gator’s fall event went to Blind Pass also and fished in 22 feet of water. “She hit a long lined blue fish at 2:15,” said the Captain. “We stuck it out at the pass and it paid off.”

Sixth place fell Skip Justice who was running the Mercury powered Triton, The Bondsman. The team caught a 35.28. With Skip were Stan, Chad, and Zach Justice. They ran 20 miles on Saturday to fish the Ditch in 80 feet of water. They caught their king using a blue runner off the downrigger set 41 feet down. It was this teams best finish to date.

The KC Scooper team with Kevin Chepren, Brian Chepren, Jerry Orlando, and Fred Gould on board, fished the beach and scaled a 34.88 at 9 AM. “We fished Blind pass because of the weather and it worked,” said Kevin. “She ate a mullet in the prop wash,” The team fishes an Evinrude powered Angler.

Eighth place fell to another Spectre team, the Silver Bullet. Brett Clark scaled a 32.96.

Steve Hayes’ Surreel scaled a 31.68 to pick up 9th while Jay Mastry ran the jaybird into tenth on the strength of his 31.04.

Jack Vasilaros picked up second place in the Class of 23 with a 28.24 fishing his Team Everglades boat and Lynn Zirkle earned third with a 26.40 fishing the Tampa Bay Angler.Com boat.

The 2007 season has now come to an end for Division Six.