Tournament was held May 3
The sixth annual Brody Bates Youth Redfish Open, presented by Sportsman Boats and held by the Student Angler League Tournament Trail (SALTT), was held May 3 in Charleston, SC.
A record number of teams competed in this year’s event, thanks to the expansion of the SALTT. Anglers, who were made up of students in grades 1 – 12, competed for a total of $33,000 in scholarships, thanks to funding by Sportsman Boats and other sponsors. Money was also raised for the Brody Bates Foundation, which provides scholarships to youth who have lost a sibling.
An additional $3000 in prizes for a free raffle was provided by Costa Del Mar, Z-Man, Vudu Baits, Coastal Marine, and Perry’s Bait and Tackle.
Capt. Rayburn Poston, director of SALTT, provided an encouraging message for the anglers. Capt. Jason Burton of Murrells Inlet Fishing Charters, along with Ryan Marsh of SALTT, ran the weigh-in station.
The tournament is broken into three classes: Elementary, Middle, and High School.
Elementary Division
Taking 1st place in the Elementary Division was Finn Brown of Charleston with two fish that totaled 5.67 pounds, good for $5000.
He was followed by Harry Parnell of Charleston in 2nd place, earning $3000, and Parnell was also awarded another $1000 for the Big Fish Award for his 4.1-pound fish.
Russ Glover of Murrells Inlet finished third, winning $2000 for his two fish that totaled 2.99 pounds.
Middle School Division
In the Middle School Division, Finn Clark of Georgetown and Rhett Benford of Summerville finished 1st, winning $5000 for their two fish that weighed 8.27 pounds.
Ayden Rouhselang of Conway took 2nd place with two fish totaling 7.53 pounds, good for $3000.
Cole Steele of Winston-Salem finished 3rd. He won $2000 for his two fish, which totaled 7.3 pounds. He also pocketed another $1000 for the Big Fish Award, thanks to his 4.18-pound fish.
High School Division
With two fish weighing in at 7.23 pounds, Elliot Duckworth of James Island finished first in the High School Division, winning $5000.
Corbin Todd and Carsten Huggins of Conway finished 2nd with two fish weighing 6.87 pounds, and won $3000
Callie Calhoun and Riley Jordan of Conway took 3rd place for their 6.68-pound bag of fish.
Jacob Hardick of Hartsville took the Big Fish Award, weighing in a 4.10-pound whopper.
The Student Angler League Tournament Trail is in its 12th season, and is open to students registered in public, private, home, or virtual schools. Members do not have to have a team or club at the school to participate.
Teams can have up to two student anglers and two boat coaches. (Elementary Schools are expected to provide at least two boat coaches for safety).
To get your student or school involved in SALTT, visit salttfishing.com or email director Rayburn Poston at rayburnposton@gmail.com.
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