First TPT Fishing Tournament Held 

            With 20 boats entered and close to 100 attending the fish fry the evening before, the first TPT Bay Fishing Tournament was a huge success.  The Red’s Grass/C&G Spreader Team of Clarence Piwonka,  Rhett Hollaway, Greg Cummings and Ronald Kirby took the Heaviest Stringer Award with a weight of 27.9 pounds.  Teams could weigh up to five trout, two redfish and a flounder.

            Second place went to the Bonus Crop Team led by Steve Barton with a weight of 18.6 pounds.  The Grimes Grass Team of Mike McBee, Garrin Schmidt, Paul Charanza and Bobby Gardner place third with a total of 17.3 pounds.

            The Largest Trout was caught by Coy McDonald, of Triangle Turf.  Coy’s trout weighed 6.2 pounds.  Mike McBee had the largest Redfish that weighed 9.1 pounds.  The Largest Flounder weighed 2.15 pounds and was caught by Ryan Weaver of Horizon Turf.  An award was also given for the Red with the most spots, landed by Keith Sanborn of Tip’s Turf. 

            The goal of having the event was threefold:  1), to get TPT members together in an informal setting to visit; 2), to serve as a fundraiser; and 3), to just have some fun.  By all accounts, all three goals were achieved.  Members enjoyed the fellowship at the pre-tournament dinner, $4,000. was raised to further the goals of TPT and all seemed to enjoy the event.  So much so that there is talk of making it an annual event.