Cape Fear Red Trout 2006
On the last weekend in October, 48 anglers paired up to fish with 24 local guides in a special tournament. Like most tournaments, the 4th Annual Cape Fear Red Trout Celebrity Classic is run with the goal of raising as much money as possible, but this tournament doesn’t even pay out money to the top finishers. In the Cape fear Red Trout Celebrity Classic, all the proceeds from the event go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, an organization funding research into enriching and elongating the lives of people affected by this genetic disorder.
Though the weekend’s forecast was windy with some rain, the 24 celebrity/guide teams found plenty of red drum and speckled trout to earn points in this all-release event. Qualifying fish earned each team 50 points if caught on bait (Bait Division), 75 points if caught on an artificial lure (Spin Division), and 100 points if caught on fly (Fly Division).
The Cape Fear Red Trout Grand Champion Angler was Jason Crowder, fishing with George Openshaw and Capt. Ricky Kellum. Crowder was also the Bait Division Champion, and he won the award for most trout caught. Kellum guided Openshaw and Crowder to a total of 22 trout on Friday, with fourteen coming on bait and eight on artificials. On Saturday, with tougher fishing conditions, they managed three red drum on artificial lures and a single trout on bait.
The Team Grand Champion award went to Raeford Trask and Rick Crowder, who were fishing with Capt. Douglas Cutting. Cutting put Crowder and Trask on three redfish and five trout on Friday, all on lures. Saturday they were able to come up with two trout on lures. And a 33” red drum that Crowder caught on Friday was the largest of the tournament.
Steve Wells, fishing with Capt. Walter Bateman, was the Spin Division Champion, as well as the Runner Up Champion Angler. Bateman helped Wells and his teammate find a total 11 trout willing to eat a lure on Friday.
Capt. Travis Dant guided Ed Stewart and Scott Heffernan to the Team Runner Up spot. Heffernan and Stewart caught five red drum and four trout on bait on Friday and three reds on bait on Saturday.
The Lady Grand Champion Award went to Jeanette Gallaher, fishing with Capt. Stuart Caulder.
John Sloan, fishing with Capt. Eddie Stuart, was the Fly Division Champion.
Capt. Chris Bellamy helped Paul Green find the largest trout of the tournament, a 25” fish.
Bill Holt, fishing with Capt. John Guggenheimer, caught the most redfish in the Cape Fear Red Trout Celebrity Classic. Guggenheimer guided Holt and partner Jay Cole to three reds on Friday and six on Saturday, all on bait.
All told, the 2006 Cape Fear Red Trout Celebrity Classic raised over $50,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic condition causing the body to produce a thick, lung clogging and digestion inhibiting mucus. It was considered a childhood disease as recently as the late 80’s because patients rarely lived to high school age. However, due to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation funded research, many persons born with CF now live into their mid 30’s or longer.
Tournament Co-Chair Pete Baxley wished to thank Silver sponsor Chaos Boatworks, as well as Bronze Sponsors Charter Lakes Marine Insurance and Hampton Inn-Landfall, for their support of the event.
