Hill's Landing Catfish Stew Cook-Off & Catfish Tournament October 8, 2011

Oct 8 2011 Catfish Stew Cook-off Video

Catfish Stew Cook-Off Winner Gary Hale 1st Place Catfish Stew

61.2lbs. caught by Ronnie Johnson Oct 9, 2011

Oct 8 2011 Catfish Stew Cook-off Video

(Cross, SC) Hill's Landing located on the Diversion Canal in Cross hosted their 2nd Annual Catfish Stew Cook-off & Catfish Tournament Oct. 8th- 9th, 2011. 8 contestants cooked their favorite Catfish Stew recipes. Fighting off strong breezy gusty winds to keep their burners lit the catfish stew contestants started cooking early in the morning with the judging at 1:30 p.m. Many attended wandering from one stew to another comparing which ones they liked the best. Judging was done by: Gene King, Dub Ford, Telecia Ford, Mariah Jenkins, and Kay Hill. It was a close decision with a tie and the judges retested the top three to agree on which one had the right combination of ingredients to be the winning Catfish Stew.

Gene King announced the winners. "The runner up is Johnny Bowzard (shown right wearing red) . 2nd Place goes to Ronnie Yendall winning $50. And the 1st Place Winner with the drop dead catfish stew is Gary Hale winning $200."

Blast off for the catfish tournament was to be at 4 p.m. With a lake wind advisory in effect and winds whipping at 25 miles an hour with higher gust,  Jamie Courtney was concerned about the weather conditions. After a group discussion  anglers agreed and they cancelled the tournament.  Some anglers decided to go out on their own. Last years Catfish Stew Cook-off and Tournament 2nd Total Weight Winner, Ronnie Johnson who caught 132.6 lbs, came in Sunday weighing in a 61.2 lbs catfish.  Capt Tony and Monty Hall proved that after all this time there is still "Nuttin Better" catching a 50 lb Blue Catfish. Congratulations to Ronnie Johnson, Monty Hill and Tony Hall as this Month's Catch of the Month.

Ronnie Yendall   2nd Place Winner for the second time  and his 2nd Place Stew

Hill's host 2 other major catfishing tournaments a year, one in March and another in November.

Hill's Landing will hosting their 9th Annual BIG CAT Catfishing Tournament November 11-13, 2011.

100% Payback the event kicks off Friday night with a supper Captain's Meeting. Blast off is Saturday at safe light with the Weigh-in Sat 12th by 4 p.m. Final Weigh in- Sun 13th 10:30 a.m.

A Catch and Release tournament, no team may weigh-in more than ten fish (five Saturday & five Sunday). Fish must be weighed in by 4:00 p.m. Saturday, November 12th and from 7:30 a.m. through 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, November 13th. Tournament boundaries will be all waters navigable by boat from the top of the lock on Lake Moultrie to 1-95 on Lake Marion. Entry Fee is $150 per team if received postmarked by October 31, 2011. Any entry received after October 31, 2011 will be considered "late". Late Entry Fee is $185 per team. $20 from each entry goes into the Big Fish Pot. It pays out %50 for 1st Place, %30 for 2nd and %20 for 3rd. There is also a Youth Award and Lady Angler Award.

Hill's Landing's previous tournaments have all seen monster catfish caught. Last year, The 8th Annual BIG CAT Big Fish Winners were: 1st Place: Brian Thornhill.....48.4 lbs. 2nd Place: Mark Stanley...48.2 lbs. and 3rd Place: Tim Ferris....35.9 lbs. Total Weight winners were: 1st Place: Brian Thornhill.... 217.3 lbs., 2nd Place: Mark Stanley....201.0 lbs., 3rd Place: Tim Ferris....200.4 lbs, 4th Place: John Guerin.....193.4 lbs., 5th Place: Donnie Tesh....185.4 lbs., 6th Place: Howard Bray....168.5 lbs., 7th Place: Ronnie Johnson....164.4 lbs., 8th Place: Jr. Bowers....156.0 lbs., 9th Place: Ronald Jordan 150.6 lbs., and 10 th Place: Gene Hicks....148.4 lbs.

Monty Hill and Captain Tony Hall has had the fishing fever fishing the Santee Cooper Lake System for years. They have consistently won and placed in many catfishing tournaments. There was "Nuttin Better" when they had a record 1st Place weigh-in of 273.8 lbs of Santee Catfish at Hill's Landing Spring Fling March 7-8. 2009. This is the most caught in the Hill's Landing tournaments since Jamie Courtney began his tournaments. He also won 2nd Place Big Fish of 49 lbs. .

At the recent Hill's Landing Catfish Stew Cook-off and Tournament blast off wasn't until 4 p.m. Oct 8th 2011 - a night tournament with a 10 am weigh-in. Due to concerns about lake winds advisories the tournament was cancelled. Monty Hall and Capt Tony went fishing anyway and Capt Tony and Monty Hall proved that after all this time there is still "Nuttin Better" with this 50 lb Blue Catfish (shown above) See more about Capt Tony Hall  http://www.hillslanding.com/tonysguideservice.htm 

The 7th Annual BIG CAT was no exception. Anglers caught & released 6,671 lbs. of Santee Cooper Catfish! Winners were 1st Total Weight team, Captained by Joe Payne. They weighed in 290.1 lbs. taking the Grand Prize of $2,000! Fishing with him were Rebecca Banner, Chris & Barbara Lyles, and George and Elaine Weatherford.

Hill's Landing is situated in the heart of all that the Great Santee Cooper Lakes has to offer. Hill's Landing is family owned and operated, giving you and your family a friendly and clean facility for your enjoyment. The waterside Restaurant opens at 5:30 a.m. and offers great breakfast, lunch, and dinner specials. The general store stocks any fishing supplies you might need. There are also comfortable waterside accommodations.

For more information, accommodation reservations, or questions about the tournaments call Jamie Courtney 843-753-2731.

 

Catfish Stew Cook-off & Catfish Tournament Oct. 9-10, 2010.

Hill's Landing located on the Diversion Canal in Cross  hosted a Catfish Stew Cook-off & Catfish Tournament Oct. 9th- 10th, 2010. The 1st Place Prize of $250 went to the Catfish Stew Cook-off Winner, Bill Sweatman of Sweatman's Bar-b-que and John Hanes, both of Eutawville, SC. 2nd Place Catfish Stew Cook-off Winner went to Ronny Yendell winning $150.

The 100% Payback Catfish Tournament Blasted Off  at 4 p.m. Oct.9th. Weigh-In was 11 a.m. Oct. 10th. A great weather night for fishing. A 5 fish limit, Captain Terry Crow, Crowe's Guide Service (photo by Tenley Courtney- shown left) http://www.hillslanding.com/crowesguideservice.htm of Cross, SC caught the Biggest Fish of 40.8 lbs. and paid him $280.

The team of Gene Hicks, from Hartswell. GA,  Bill Parten, Jeremy Hicks, and Snapper Glanton took 1st Place Total Weight with157.9 lbs winning $800. Their biggest fish weighed-in at 40.6 lbs which missed Big Fish for the tournament by .2 lbs. (shown right - owner, Jamie Courtney awarding Gene Hicks and son, Jeremy. Photo by Tenley Courtney)

Shown below is Owner, Jamie Courtney congratulating the 2nd Total Weight Winner, Ronnie Johnson who caught 132.6 lbs and presenting him $320. (photo by Tenley Courtney)

Hill's host 2 major catfishing tournaments a year, one in March and another in November. Hill's Landing's previous tournaments have all seen monster catfish caught.  Last year's 7th Annual BIG CAT was no exception. Anglers caught & released 6,671 lbs. of Santee Cooper Catfish! Winners was the 1st Total Weight team, Captained by Joe Payne. They weighed in 290.1 lbs. taking the Grand Prize of $2,000! Fishing with him were Rebecca Banner, Chris & Barbara Lyles, and George and Elaine Weatherford.

Predictions are very good for another record weigh-in.

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