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NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – Jesse Wright, of Largo, Florida, measured a combined limit of 47.50 inches to win the final regular-season event for the 2018 Florida West Division of the IFA Kayak Fishing Tour presented by Hobie Fishing on September 16 at Ruskin, Florida.
Wright found his limit situated at drop-offs on the flats in the Clearwater area with paddletails.
“It was another good day on the water, great conditions,” said Wright. “It was unreal and the craziest days off ever.”
For first place, Wright won $1,000 in cash along with a Power-Pole Micro Anchor. The angler measured a 17.50-inch speckled sea trout and 30-inch redfish, which won the $100 Berkley Gulp! Big Redfish award. The angler caught his kicker red on a PENN reel giving him the $300 PENN Reels award. In total, the angler took home $2,250.
Second-place finisher Kasey Arrowsmith, of Apollo Beach, Florida, measured a 28.50-inch redfish and a 17.13-inch trout to take home $915, which included $375 in Anglers Advantage cash.
The kayak angler targeted schools of redfish around Weedon Island with Berkley Gulp! jerk shad.
“Conditions were tough, but I was expecting it,” said Arrowsmith. “Although the tide was slow, it turned out to be an awesome event.”
Derek Engle adds this third-place finish to one previous win, several second-place finishes and two Divisional Angler of the Year titles. The angler fished the Bay area and explored waters north of his put-in.
“It was a little windy today with a west wind that held the water in,” said Engle. “So, the reds did not show up as expected, but I am happy finishing in the top three.”
Eleventh-place finisher Tony Lai measured a 21.38-inch trout, which won the angler the $100 Berkley Gulp! Big Trout award and the $300 PENN Reels award for catching the longest trout on a PENN reel.
The next stop for the IFA Kayak Tour is Jacksonville, Florida, on September 30. Anglers who enter at least two events and compete in at least one event will be qualified for the 2018 IFA Kayak Tour Championship.
The fastest-growing kayak fishing tournament trail in the country, the IFA Kayak Fishing Tour Presented by Hobie Fishing events are catch-photograph-release tournaments, offering inshore kayak anglers from a multitude of states the opportunity to participate in competitive fishing tournaments with low entry fees and minimal travel requirements.
For more information or to become a member of the IFA, visit www.ifatours.com. To discover more about kayaking and Hobie Fishing go to www.hobiefishing.com.
IFA events are made possible through the sponsorship and continued support of these well-respected brands: Hobie Fishing, Ranger Boats, Cabela's, Mercury Marine, Berkley Gulp!, Berkley Gulp! Alive!, PENN Reels, Spiderwire, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Power-Pole, Valley Fashions, T-H Marine, ATLAS, G-Juice, Navionics, Garmin and Powertex Group.
IFA Kayak Tour – Florida West Division
Ruskin, Fla. (Top 6)
Jesse Wright – 47.50 inches
Kasey Arrowsmith – 45.63 inches
Derek Engle – 43.25 inches
Darren Frost – 42.00 inches
Logan Wongsepraser – 40.63 inches
Fred McClendon – 38.63 inches
Joel Rodgers – 35.38
Matthew Lentz – 27.25
Daniel Currey – 22.50
Olin Satterfield – 22.38
Media Contact: Greg Duncan
Blue Heron Communications
(405) 364-3433