Fall Rockfish Tournament Lures Anglers to the Bay
Father and Son Win Tournament - 47.9 lbs

Budd Cratty and son Mitch holding their 47.9 lb rockfish worth $17,000

(ANNAPOLIS, MD) - Anglers from Maine to North Carolina made their way to Maryland this past weekend to test their skills and promote recreational fishing on the Chesapeake Bay as the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association (MSSA), Icom, Alltackle, and Lateral Line hosted the 18th annual Chesapeake Bay Fall Classic, MSSA’s Fall Rockfish Tournament.

200 boats carrying over 1,100 anglers took to the water to try to reel in the big one for their share of the prize money and of course bragging rights. The MSSA and its volunteers set up 7 weigh stations from Sandy Point state park to Point Lookout.

“This tournament, like our others, lures anglers from Maryland and other states to the Bay and gives our local communities a little boost and of course gives our members one last chance to participate in this great fishery,” said Dave Smith, Executive Director of the MSSA.

This was the final tournament in the 2010 MSSA Tournament Series which consists of three total events including the largest spring rockfish tournament in the country the Championship on the Chesapeake.

Tournament Results

Bud Cratty and son Mitch of Severn, Maryland took first place with a 47.9 pound rockfish securing him $17,000 for their efforts. Cratty caught the winning fish around 7:45 AM just east of the channel near Bloody Point on day two of the tournament. Cratty said he caught the fish on a bait purchased at Alltackle the Wednesday before the tournament at the Captains Meeting. Interesting enough is that the bait is called Bloody Point Bait.

“My heart started pounding as soon as Mitch got the fish to the boat. Adventures like this will put a smile on both our faces forever”, said Cratty.

Rene Ward of Lusby, Maryland placed second with his 38.95 pound rockfish caught just in front of Point Lookout. While Ward placed second in the main tournament he did however place first in all of the Skill Levels bringing his total to $34,700.

Third place went to Chris Long of Avenue, Maryland. Long caught his fish near Raggedy Point early Saturday morning. Long and his crew will have a lot to be thankful for this holiday as they take home $14,800.

Also in the money from Owings, Maryland was Mike Clemes who took second place in the $50 and $100 Skill Levels with his 36.55 pound rockfish weighed in at Breezy Point. Clemes will be receiving $1,800 for his efforts. Darren Helwig of Chesapeake Beach also got in the money as he took third in the $150 and $200 skill levels bringing his total to $3,500. Helwig and Clemes checked in fish that weighed exactly the same amount. However, Clemes weighed his in at 3:43 PM so he will be placed ahead of Helwig in the $50 and $100 Skill Levels as Helwig weighed in his fish at 3:58 PM.

The MSSA gave away $85,000 in cash and prizes for the tournament and hopes to beat that mark next year. “This tournament is growing and we are certainly hoping to double our participation for next year”, Smith said.

Tournament results will be posted on the MSSA’s website. Smith said all results are unofficial until he and the Tournament Committee can check and confirm all fish weights and the winners pass their respective polygraph tests.

The MSSA, an organization of 7,000 conservation-minded members and the largest of its kind in the state, is most famous for its advocacy work protecting anglers’ rights and the largest spring rockfish tournament in the country, The Championship on the Chesapeake. The organization uses these tournaments to promote and encourage recreational fishing in the state of Maryland, with a special focus on the state's youth. “We are trying to get kids and adults involved and give them the access and opportunity to get out there and fish”, Smith said.

This year the MSSA and Alltackle teamed up and created a youth division and will award all the kids who weighed in a fish with a prize.

1.Robert Danford – 32.2 lbs Jimmy Tippett
2. Jimmy Tippett – 31.65 lbs
Jimmy Tippett – 30 lbs
Jimmy Tippett- 29.8 lbs
3. Jacob Pilkerton – 28.5 lbs
4. Eric Thibodeau – 27.65lbs
5. Jeffrey Stiles – 25.75 lbs
6. BobbyMcCormick–25.6 lb
7. Brian Akehurst – 21.5 lbs
8. Brennan Shute – 12.75 lbs
9. Dustin Radford – 11.25lbs

For more information on this tournament and the MSSA you may visit www.mssa.net or call 410-255-5535. You may also find us on Facebook
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