Tropic Bay Kayak Fishing Classics : Pine Island Classic

The overall winner of the Pine Island Classic, Josh Maitland, with a 22.8 inch trout.

The Kayak Fishing ClassicS held the Pine Island Classic on July 13, hosted by the famous Tarpon Lodge on Pine Island. The Gulf Division is still up in the air and the series championship will come down to the wire...again. Nothing was really settled as far as the Gulf series goes and it will be anyone's game at Ozello come September. One thing is for sure; it remains close, very close as a result of the Pine Island Classic. Here's how it played out.

On Friday, July 12 several top anglers pre-fished the famous digs of some huge fish. The water was muddy and stirred up as a result of the rains and winds of the past two weeks, or perhaps I should call it a monsoon, all courtesy of the Bermuda ‘High' that has been camped in the Atlantic. Joe Komyati landed a perfect 38” tarpon while pre-fishing and his partner Michael Julian did like-wise with a beautiful snook, so the fish were there and would eat. Or at least those two did.

The anglers found fish and caught some very nice ones if I do say so. The fresh water runoff was very evident and diffidently had an effect. Locating fish and getting them to chew was going to be the name of the game this tournament and would require some top fishing knowledge and skills.

At 4 AM on tournament morning the sky was clear as I watched the glowing meteors streak across the Milky Way. I always love to do that when I am on Pine Island. It's almost as if you can reach for the stars and some of the anglers were going to need that kind of luck to just find fish that would eat. Many angles located tarpon, snook, redfish and trout, all on the target list for this Classic, but they could not get any action. This could prove to be tough for the masses.

That was not the case for Josh Maitland however. The amiable young angler had a great day in fact. Josh scored a total of 72.4” of fish to capture first place and the overall win in the Pine Island Classic. He landed a 19.6” redfish on a DOA paddle tail, a 22.8” trout on a Spook Jr. and aced his victory with a 30” snook, also caught on a Spook Jr. Josh got into tarpon but just could not coax one to take his offering. Perhaps a RiverBum fly would have turned the trick? The poons would either nose a lure or just turn away immediately after the lure would splash down onto the surface, a lesson in frustration for sure. All of us at the ClassicS congratulate Josh Maitland for his decisive victory in the Pine Island Classic.

Ever present, Chuck Statham was right on his friend's wake and hooked second place with a total of 66.7” of fish. Chuck landed a 24.3” redfish, a 15.8” trout and a 26.6” snook, all on top water lures. We think he may have been using some of the new Live Target Lures, but mum was the word from the series leader of course. Great job Chuck, you are having a fantastic year and we'll see you in Ozello.

Joe Komyati would have given anything, well almost, to have landed that 38” tarpon on Saturday instead of Friday but that was in the stars. Joe did an awesome job to land a total of 63.2” total, also all on top water lures. He was also quiet as to which lures he was using. Joe is in second place in the series and only 20” behind the leader. Joe scored a 22” redfish, a 15.5” trout and a fat 25.7” snook for his third place podium finish. Nicely done Joe and sorry you used up all of your tarpon Mojo on Friday.

Article and Photos from Kayak Fishing ClassicS