9th Annual BIG CAT Catfishing Tournament Photo Gallery

RECORD WEIGH IN, LADY ANGLER CATCHES BIG FISH

9th ANNUAL BIG CAT CATFISHING TOURNAMENT NOV 12-13, 2011

Hill's Landing, located on the Diversion Canal in Cross, SC hosted their 9th Annual BIG CAT Catfishing Tournament November 11-13, 2011. 100% Payback the record weigh-in event kicked off Friday night with a BBQ with Richie Shuman of Shuman Foods http://www.shumanfoods.com and Captain's Meeting. Door prizes were awarded by Easterlin's Sea Anchors http://www.carolina-girl.com/ . Easterlin's Sea Anchors designed this sea anchor for the fishing guides on Santee Cooper Lakes. Santee Cooper Fishing Guides wanted a drift sock to control the drift of the pontoon boat in the 14 mile wide lower lake. It gives their fishing parties a fun day of fishing. Easterlin's Sea Anchors have found there way all over the USA. Hawaii , Jamaica, Mexico, Japan, and Alaska.

Blast off had 29 teams at safe light. 5 fish limit Weigh-in Sat 12th by 4 p.m. An optional weigh-in at midnight and Final 5 fish limit Weigh in- Sun 13th 10:00 a.m.

Past BIG CAT Tournaments have brought in Santee Catfish that the Santee Cooper Lakes are known for world-wide. This year the winning team of Jr Bowers caught and released 333.9 lbs of Santee Cooper Catfish which broke the previous weigh-in record that was set by the Team of Thornhill at the Spring Fling Catfish Tournament in 2010 weighing in 217.3 lbs.. The team of Bowers also took the Lady Angler Big Fish. Libby Bowers cleaned house to the delight of all the other lady anglers with her Lady Angler Big Fish of 57.6 lbs. (shown above) Bowers also won the BIG Fish pot with their 54.6 lb catfish.

2nd Place was the team of Keith Leggett bringing in 250.5 lbs. (shown right)

3rd Place went to Joe Montaigne with 237.4 lbs.

John Guerin finished 4th with 234.8 lbs.

Donny Tesch came in 5th with 232.8 lbs.

6th Place was Adam Burton with 224.7 lbs.

James Matherly came in 7th with 212.7 lbs.

8th Place went to Linwood Thornhill with 209.3 lbs.

Justin Edwards finished 9th with 200.5 lbs.

10th Place went to George Brooks with 179 pounds.

The 2nd Place Lady Angler- Lu Mims with her 45.7 lbs. catfish. (shown left)

The Youth Awards went to Mathew Brooks, "Little Man" with his 40.8 lbs catfish. 2nd Place Youth went to Jake who was fishing with Billy Parten with his very close weight of 40.5 lbs. All youth who fished the tournament were awarded a rod and reel.