Pee Dee Student Anglers Fish SALTT Tourney Trail

McKinley Grooms and Daniel Rourk with an over-sized redfish

A new student angler saltwater tournament trail has been formed in the Pee Dee region of the Lowcountry and the first tourney was held in Georgetown on September 20. Dreary weather with no sunshine and blustery winds greeted the students as they launched from the Carroll Campbell boat landing. Some fished the Sampit River while others crosses Winyaw Bay to fish the North Inlet.

Tourney rules call for two-man teams, open only to middle school or high school students. Like most popular redfish trails, they can weigh-in only two fish on tourney day, for a cumulative weight total. Those fish must be alive in order to be eligible and they are all released after weigh-in. SCDNR rules also stipulate that a redfish must be within a slot limit of 15 to 23-inches in order to be eligible.

Ben Cooper with his winning fish

Congrats to Team Coward for winning the inaugural tourney with a total weight of 5.77-pounds for their two redfish. Angler Ben Cooper from Conway High caught both redfish, measuring 19-inches in length, winning Team Coward a plaque and a gift card. Taking second place was Team RED-iculous with a pair of anglers from Carolina Forest High. Jackson Denny and Hunter Vines weighed in one redfish that weighed 3.24-pounds, good for a plaque and a gift card.

Sportsmanship is always a key lesson when youth compete and the tough luck award goes to Team Sweet Tea for having a redfish that measured over the limit by 3/4-inch and was declared ineligible. Daniel McKinley and Daniel Rourk took the judge's ruling well though according to tourney organizer Rayburn Poston. In fact, many anglers caught large redfish on this day that were well over the limit. So it's safe to say that a fun time was had by all. For a listing of future tourney's click SALTT schedule.

To view past blog entries about the Lowcountry Redfish Cup click 2013 Finals.

To view past articles click Redfish Are Loving the Lowcountry.