Nation: Day 2 on Winyah Bay

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Every angler in a field of 346 competitors wanted to bring home one of these plaques.
Every angler in a field of 346 competitors wanted to bring home one of these plaques.
To do so, their team would have to be one of 17 others entered in this – the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Regional presented by Magellan Outdoors.
To do so, their team would have to be one of 17 others entered in this – the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Regional presented by Magellan Outdoors.
The tournament is taking place on the Winyah Bay system in Georgetown, South Carolina.
The tournament is taking place on the Winyah Bay system in Georgetown, South Carolina.
And to Georgetown’s Carroll Ashmore Campbell Marine Complex the anglers came. That’s where daily launches and weigh-ins have been held this week. In all, 17 states from the eastern U.S. entered, as did a team representing the Canadian province of Ontario.
And to Georgetown’s Carroll Ashmore Campbell Marine Complex the anglers came. That’s where daily launches and weigh-ins have been held this week. In all, 17 states from the eastern U.S. entered, as did a team representing the Canadian province of Ontario.
The heat has been blistering this week, even by South Carolina standards. The high temperature on both Wednesday and Thursday climbed to 99 degrees Fahrenheit. Still, the anglers went out their business in workmanlike fashion.
The heat has been blistering this week, even by South Carolina standards. The high temperature on both Wednesday and Thursday climbed to 99 degrees Fahrenheit. Still, the anglers went out their business in workmanlike fashion.
After all, the Top 3 boaters and non-boaters would advance to fish Friday when individual champions of this regional will be decided. Today was all about the teams – and what a battle was on tap!
After all, the Top 3 boaters and non-boaters would advance to fish Friday when individual champions of this regional will be decided. Today was all about the teams – and what a battle was on tap!
Every ounce would count, so even those bass that were just long enough went into the bag and got weighed.
Every ounce would count, so even those bass that were just long enough went into the bag and got weighed.
But before that could take place, anglers and fans were treated to the Star Spangled Banner by country music star Jason Michael Carroll.
But before that could take place, anglers and fans were treated to the Star Spangled Banner by country music star Jason Michael Carroll.
And then there were bass! There’s Travis Lugar of Team West Virginia who’s in third place among non-boaters with six bass over two days weighing 11-14. This 5-pound, 1-ounce biggun’ started the day off right!
And then there were bass! There’s Travis Lugar of Team West Virginia who’s in third place among non-boaters with six bass over two days weighing 11-14. This 5-pound, 1-ounce biggun’ started the day off right!
And Dan McGarry of Team New Jersey followed with this nice bass, which helped him survive the cut. He leads Garden State non-boaters here at Winyah Bay.
And Dan McGarry of Team New Jersey followed with this nice bass, which helped him survive the cut. He leads Garden State non-boaters here at Winyah Bay.
Did anyone travel farther than Kal Vaisanen and Team Ontario to compete this week? Nope. He made this nice bass count and is second among the Canadian boaters, which means he’ll fish Friday too.
Did anyone travel farther than Kal Vaisanen and Team Ontario to compete this week? Nope. He made this nice bass count and is second among the Canadian boaters, which means he’ll fish Friday too.
Chris Jones lives in Conway, about 40 miles up the road from Georgetown. He’s 21st in the boater field heading into Friday’s action.
Chris Jones lives in Conway, about 40 miles up the road from Georgetown. He’s 21st in the boater field heading into Friday’s action.
Look at the beauty caught by West Virginia’s J.C. Christopher. It weighed 4-8, but it was the only bass he boated on Thursday.
Look at the beauty caught by West Virginia’s J.C. Christopher. It weighed 4-8, but it was the only bass he boated on Thursday.
Paul Reter of Team Maryland is in 24th place among boaters with 10 bass weighing 14 pounds.
Paul Reter of Team Maryland is in 24th place among boaters with 10 bass weighing 14 pounds.
Mickey Soler of Connecticut will fish Friday. He’s 43rd among boaters with 12-7 over two days, but he’s in third place among boaters on his team.
Mickey Soler of Connecticut will fish Friday. He’s 43rd among boaters with 12-7 over two days, but he’s in third place among boaters on his team.
That’s Tyler Webb, who has been Mr. Consistency this week. He caught a limit weighing 9-4 on Thursday to follow his 10-11 limit from Wednesday. That has the West Virginia angler in second place overall in the boater filed. Keep an eye on him Friday repping the Mountain State.
That’s Tyler Webb, who has been Mr. Consistency this week. He caught a limit weighing 9-4 on Thursday to follow his 10-11 limit from Wednesday. That has the West Virginia angler in second place overall in the boater filed. Keep an eye on him Friday repping the Mountain State.
Brad Bressler of Team Pennsylvania has the Big Bass of the Tournament so far with this 5-5 toad he boated Thursday. The boater with the heaviest bass this week will win $500. The non-boater with big bass earns $250.
Brad Bressler of Team Pennsylvania has the Big Bass of the Tournament so far with this 5-5 toad he boated Thursday. The boater with the heaviest bass this week will win $500. The non-boater with big bass earns $250.
Hayes Hudson of Team South Carolina is sitting pretty in ninth place with a two-day total of 16-4. His is the leading boater so far for the home team.
Hayes Hudson of Team South Carolina is sitting pretty in ninth place with a two-day total of 16-4. His is the leading boater so far for the home team.
Adam Richardson of North Carolina is in 32nd place for the Tar Heel State with 13-7 over two days in the boater division.
Adam Richardson of North Carolina is in 32nd place for the Tar Heel State with 13-7 over two days in the boater division.
Mike Moran of Team Pennsylvania has a grip on these two bass, as well as 10th place in the boater field. He has 10 bass weighing 15-14 over two days.
Mike Moran of Team Pennsylvania has a grip on these two bass, as well as 10th place in the boater field. He has 10 bass weighing 15-14 over two days.
Florida’s Jeffrey Shaffer caught this 4-15 bass on Thursday. He leads Sunshine State non-boaters with a two-day total of 9-10.
Florida’s Jeffrey Shaffer caught this 4-15 bass on Thursday. He leads Sunshine State non-boaters with a two-day total of 9-10.
Here’s B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart talking with Florida boater Dave Turner after he weighed a 6-15 limit on Thursday. That paled to his 14-4 total on Wednesday, but it was enough to keep Turner atop the boater field heading into the third and final day of action on Friday.
Here’s B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart talking with Florida boater Dave Turner after he weighed a 6-15 limit on Thursday. That paled to his 14-4 total on Wednesday, but it was enough to keep Turner atop the boater field heading into the third and final day of action on Friday.
Turner said he may have to scrap his plans altogether on Friday to maintain the lead. The heat and a high tide hurt him on Thursday, he said, but he’s confident he can piece together enough weight to win the regional.
Turner said he may have to scrap his plans altogether on Friday to maintain the lead. The heat and a high tide hurt him on Thursday, he said, but he’s confident he can piece together enough weight to win the regional.
Robert Ramasci of Team Massachusetts caught this 5-3 bass Thursday to give him a 12-0 limit for the day. He’s the leading boater for his team and will fish Friday.
Robert Ramasci of Team Massachusetts caught this 5-3 bass Thursday to give him a 12-0 limit for the day. He’s the leading boater for his team and will fish Friday.
Kevin Rose Jr. of Team Connecticut is 12th among boaters with 15-12 over two days.
Kevin Rose Jr. of Team Connecticut is 12th among boaters with 15-12 over two days.
Paul Gietka of Maryland is in sixth place among boaters with 17-12.
Paul Gietka of Maryland is in sixth place among boaters with 17-12.
Wayne Burchett of Team Virginia had the big bag on Thursday with 13-14.
Wayne Burchett of Team Virginia had the big bag on Thursday with 13-14.
Jimmy Myers of Delaware is second among non-boaters with 12-12 over two days.
Jimmy Myers of Delaware is second among non-boaters with 12-12 over two days.
The fans who traveled all the way from Ontario are loving the action.
The fans who traveled all the way from Ontario are loving the action.
North Carolina’s Norman Mullinax is fifth among boaters with a two-day total of 18-5.
North Carolina’s Norman Mullinax is fifth among boaters with a two-day total of 18-5.
David Boyd of Florida is third among boaters with 19-10.
David Boyd of Florida is third among boaters with 19-10.
Ryan Parnell of Virginia caught the third heaviest sack of the day (10-10) and is in 22nd place among boaters.
Ryan Parnell of Virginia caught the third heaviest sack of the day (10-10) and is in 22nd place among boaters.
Mark Hogan of Delaware is eighth among boaters with 16-6 over two days.
Mark Hogan of Delaware is eighth among boaters with 16-6 over two days.
Jason Vaughn of Delaware is fourth with 18-8 in the boater field.
Jason Vaughn of Delaware is fourth with 18-8 in the boater field.
Steve Marks of West Virginia looks good in seventh place among boaters. He has a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 17-8.
Steve Marks of West Virginia looks good in seventh place among boaters. He has a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 17-8.
Hometown angler Gary Pope stayed atop the non-boater field, despite catching three bass on Thursday that weighed 3-9. He has a 13-13 total over two days, which is 1-1 better than Delaware’s Jimmy Myers.
Hometown angler Gary Pope stayed atop the non-boater field, despite catching three bass on Thursday that weighed 3-9. He has a 13-13 total over two days, which is 1-1 better than Delaware’s Jimmy Myers.
New Hampshire’s Mark Fournier is in 30th place among boaters, and he was all smiles after catching this 4-10 beauty.
New Hampshire’s Mark Fournier is in 30th place among boaters, and he was all smiles after catching this 4-10 beauty.
But no anglers were happier than the ones from Team Delaware, who won the team competition on Thursday. Ten boaters and 10 non-boaters teamed to catch 114 bass that weighed 172 pounds, 9 ounces. That was exactly one pound heavier than Team South Carolina and five pounds better than Team Florida.
But no anglers were happier than the ones from Team Delaware, who won the team competition on Thursday. Ten boaters and 10 non-boaters teamed to catch 114 bass that weighed 172 pounds, 9 ounces. That was exactly one pound heavier than Team South Carolina and five pounds better than Team Florida.
It indeed was a happy day for the team. The Winyah Bay fishery is much like the tidal waters the Delaware anglers know so well, and they capitalized on the similarity.
It indeed was a happy day for the team. The Winyah Bay fishery is much like the tidal waters the Delaware anglers know so well, and they capitalized on the similarity.
There were fist bumps to share.
There were fist bumps to share.
There were handshakes.
There were handshakes.
And even a few hugs.
And even a few hugs.
Delaware B.A.S.S. Nation President Shawn Taylor said it was a special victory for his team.
Delaware B.A.S.S. Nation President Shawn Taylor said it was a special victory for his team.
Ladies and gentlemen, Team Delaware is champion of the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Regional presented by Magellan Outdoors!
Ladies and gentlemen, Team Delaware is champion of the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Regional presented by Magellan Outdoors!