It’s difficult to point out the single statistic that best indicates how the bass fishing just keeps getting better in the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes. There’s the fact that there were two 30-pound, five-bass limits weighed Sunday, including Luke Palmer’s 33-pound, 5-ounce big bag of the tournament.
But that’s just for starters. A 20-pound bag was a yawner for the big crowd gathered at the John C. Land III Sport Fishing Facility, since 22 of 47 competitors on Day 3 topped that mark. With Championship Monday looming, the top four anglers have a shot at topping the 100-pound mark and earning a coveted B.A.S.S. Century Belt – first place Drew Cook with a three-day total of 80-12, second place Brandon Palaniuk with 76-6, third place Palmer with 76-3 and fourth place Caleb Kuphall with 73-14.
The average weight of the 214 bass brought to the scales Sunday was 4.16 pounds. Palmer’s 9-pound, 4-ounce largemouth took big bass honors. Six- and 7-pounders were common. When that many big bass are increasingly moving shallow to spawn, like they have been this week, every one of the top 10 finalists Monday is thrilled about the chance to simply fish one more day at Santee Cooper Lakes.
“It’s going to be a shootout,” Palaniuk said. “Whoever catches 30 pounds is going to win.”
Here’s a list of the top 10 heaviest five-bass limits from Santee Cooper in this tournament:
1. Luke Palmer 33-5
2. Drew Cook 31-13
3. Caleb Kuphall 31-4
4. Caleb Kuphall 29-10
5. Bryan New 29-2
6. Drew Benton 28-13
7. Greg Hackney 27-14
8. Brandon Palaniuk 27-7
9. Todd Auten 27-2
t-10. John Cox 26-13
t-10. Clifford Pirch 26-13