2023 American Striped Bass Challenge - Santee Cooper Country

Team Blazer Boys claim First Place

The second Striped Bass Challenge at Santee was fished on December 2. Thirty-three teams went onto the Santee Cooper Country Lakes in search of Striper during a foggy, cool and windless day. A forecast for heavy rain did not materialize and teams were able to fish hard all day. The Drive-thru weigh-in at Santee State Park begins at 3 where the SCDNR freshwater tank trucks are awaiting to receive the striped bass. The tournament fish are weighed in alive, with teams weighing in two fish each, and then they are to be released back into the lake by SCDNR. 

Team Laid Back waiting on a Striper to Bite

Team Blazer Boys won first place with a two-fish aggregate weight of 29.9-pounds, good for the First Place prize of $14,150-dollars. Angler Dusty Pearson helped this team by weighing in a 20.7-pound striper that also won for heaviest fish of the day. His father Rocky Pearson and crew member Jason Brock came from Edgefield to fish the Santee tourney. The Top Ten places were awarded a prize, and so were the best youth angler and best lady angler. In addition to tourney prizes, a $6000 donation was made to Christian Adoption Services as a way to give back to the community.

Damon Melcho weighs in his Stripers

Santee State Park Ranger, Santee Cooper
Country Rep Jane Powell, and DNR staffers

To view past blog entries from Santee Cooper click on 2023 Crappie Camp - 2022 Crappie Camp - 2016 Duck Hunt TV Show - 2011 SCWA Duck Hunt - 2011 Gator Hunt - 2010 Duck Hunt - 2009 Duck Hunt