Robinson captures title on Pearl River - Major League Fishing

Robinson captures title on Pearl River

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Robert Robinson of Mobile, Ala., topped 29 Boater Division competitors on the Pearl River to earn $3,003 and 300 points for the win at the BFL Gulf Coast Division season finale. Angler: Robbie Robinson.
September 29, 2002 • MLF • Archives

SLIDELL, La. – Robert Robinson of Mobile, Ala., topped 29 Boater Division competitors on the Pearl River this weekend with a five-bass catch weighing 12 pounds, 5 ounces. He earned $3,003 and 300 points for the win at the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Gulf Coast Division season finale.

After qualifying for the final round of the two-day Super Tournament in second place with an opening-day catch of five bass weighing 8 pounds, 6 ounces, Robinson out-fished runner-up Herbert Dicharry of Gulfport, Miss., by 3 pounds, 13 ounces to take the win. Robinson caught his limit on day two using a black and blue jig.

Dicharry qualified for the final round in first place with five bass weighing 10 pounds, 3 ounces and finished up with a five-bass catch weighing 8 pounds, 8 ounces to win $1,501.

Randy Speights of Saraland, Ala. (five bass, 8 pounds, 6 ounces, $813); Jesse Draime of Long Beach, Miss. (two bass, 2 pounds, 3 ounces, $688); and Emery Burch III of Hattiesburg, Miss., (one bass, 1 pound, 14 ounces, $563) rounded out the top five boaters.

Speights earned a $500 bonus as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. Dicharry and Burch tied for boater big-bass honors with a 3-pound, 9-ounce bass. Each earned $145 for their big bass.

Steve Morgan of Grand Bay, Ala., topped 29 competitors in the Co-angler Division to take first place and $1,501 during the BFL Gulf Coast Division season finale.Steve Morgan of Grand Bay, Ala., topped 29 competitors in the Co-angler Division to take first place and $1,501 thanks to a final-round catch of five bass weighing 10 pounds, 2 ounces. Second place in the division and $751 went to Chris Hults of Gautier, Miss., with a four-bass catch weighing 5 pounds, 10 ounces, followed by Gary Garrick of Dickinson, Ala., in third place with one bass weighing 2 pounds, 11 ounces worth $407.

Michael Blackburn of Slidell, La., won the co-angler big-bass award of $145 with a 3-pound, 4-ounce bass he caught using a worm.

Draime is the Gulf Coast Division’s Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader, winning $1,000 for the 1,046 points he earned during five regular-season tournaments. Hults is the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader in the Co-angler Division. He earned $500 for his division-leading 1,072 points.

The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Gulf Coast Division 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 BFL All-American, one of the most lucrative postseason tournaments in competitive angling.

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

Sponsors of the 2002 Wal-Mart BFL are Wal-Mart, ALPO Pet Foods, BC Powder, BFGoodrich Tires, Castrol, Chevy Trucks, Conseco, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Evinrude, Faded Glory, Frito-Lay, FujiFilm, GARIN, Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, Minn Kota, Newell Rubbermaid, Pepsi, Poulan, Ranger Boats, Shop-Vac, Snickers, Stanley Works, Stren, U.S. Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards.