Jacksonville Trout Tournament 2008
Steve Myslinski and Richard Peterson accept their winnings in the Jacksonville Speckled Trout Tournament from Danny Sbrocco. The anglers weighed in a five fish aggregate of over 17 lbs. that they landed in Southwest Creek on live shrimp.
Although stiff northeast winds and plenty of rain forced anglers on the 25 boats fishing in the 6th annual Jacksonville Speckled Trout Tournament to suit up in foul weather gear and heavy clothing, the inhospitable conditions didn’t prevent them from hauling some fat speckled trout to the scales.
Steve Myslinski, of Richlands, NC, and Richard Peterson, of Swansboro, posted the winning five fish aggregate of 17.09 lbs., beating out the second place team by nearly five pounds. This was Myslinski’s second Jacksonville Trout win, as he and his son took first place in the inaugural event in 2003.
The winning anglers, after having fished only twice this year, keyed in on creeks off the New River in their search for leaderboard-worthy fish. They began the day in French’s Creek, but didn’t find the quality specks they were looking for. After moving to Southwest Creek, the action began picking up, and they landed all the fish they brought to the scales there.
Peterson caught the team’s largest trout, a 4.55 lb. citation fish that also took second place in the event’s big fish TWT.
For topping the TWT and the main aggregate category, the anglers took home $1300.
Doug Boucher and Evan Hines, both of Jacksonville, took home the $500 first prize in the TWT with a 5.68 lb. speck.
Swansboro anglers David Moore and Mike Phillips scaled five trout weighing 12.17 lbs. to take second in the aggregate category and $750.
Five specks totaling 11.13 lbs. earned third for Chris Sewell and James Dolph, also of Swansboro, who won $500.
Rich Angel, of Jacksonville, and Kenneth Garvey, from Hampstead, earned fourth and $400 with 10.21 lbs., and Swansboro’s John Gainey and R.D. Benedict rounded out the top five with 8.58 lbs. to win $300.
A 1.92 lb. speck earned Zack Mabee the event’s Top Junior Angler title and $50.
