Kilpatrick wins Wal-Mart BFL Gulf Coast Division tourney - Major League Fishing

Kilpatrick wins Wal-Mart BFL Gulf Coast Division tourney

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Jason Kilpatrick of Satsuma, Ala., topped 54 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on the Tensaw River with five bass weighing 11 pounds. The catch earned him $2,045 and 200 points in the Boater Division. Angler: Jason Kilpatrick.
May 18, 2002 • MLF • Archives

STOCKTON, Ala. – Jason Kilpatrick of Satsuma, Ala., topped 54 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on the Tensaw River with five bass weighing 11 pounds. The catch earned him $2,045 and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Kilpatrick caught his limit on a 3/8-ounce spinner bait while fishing cypress trees. The catch topped second-place boaters Robert Robinson of Mobile, Ala., and Jerry Wigginton of Biloxi, Miss., by 9 ounces. Robinson and Wigginton finished tied with 10 pounds, 7 ounces each. Both men received $817. Robinson had five bass, and Wigginton had four bass. Wigginton also earned boater big bass honors and $270 with a 4-pounder that he caught on a crankbait.

Ted Marodis of Biloxi, Miss., (five bass, 9 pounds, 12 ounces, $491) and Lee Grandquest of Semmes, Ala., (five bass, 9 pounds, 10 ounces, $450) rounded out the top five boaters.

Steve Jones of Moss Point, Miss., received a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. He finished 11th with a five-bass catch weighing 7 pounds.

Chris Hults of Gautier, Miss., claimed first place and $1,022 in the 54-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 10 pounds, 3 ounces.Chris Hults of Gautier, Miss., claimed first place and $1,022 in the 54-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 10 pounds, 3 ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler Terry Lott of Ocean Springs, Miss., by 1 pound, 3 ounces. Lott finished with a four-bass catch weighing 9 pounds worth $511.

Boyd Phillips of Lillian, Ala. (five bass, 8 pounds, 12 ounces, $307); Sam Richardson of Vancleave, Miss. (four bass, 7 pounds, 7 ounces, $245); and James Gaines of Diamondhead, Miss., (four bass, 6 pounds, 12 ounces, $225) rounded out the top five co-anglers.

Gaines earned co-angler big bass honors and $135 with a 4-pound, 3-ounce bass.

Overall, 15 five-bass limits were caught during the tournament.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit the Pearl River Sept. 28-29 for the Gulf Coat Division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament, after which the boater with the most points will be declared the Yamaha “Be the Best” Points Leader and awarded $1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points by the end of the season will receive $500.

The top 30 Gulf Coast Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 29-Nov. 2 on Lake Hamilton near Hot Springs, Ark., where they will go up against top competitors from the Louisiana, Okie and Ozark divisions for a shot at qualifying for the Wal-Mart BFL All-American – one of the most lucrative post-season tournaments in competitive angling.

2002 BFL awards could reach $7 million based on full fields.