South Carolina Fishing News

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - The 2nd Annual Berkley Big Bass Challenge on the Delta is in the record books. The event, hosted by Vince Harris and Anglers Press, saw more than 300 anglers vying for over $16,000 in cash and a new 2009 Toyota Tundra truck valued at over $25,000. Also on the line was a day on the water with 2009 Bassmaster Classic Champion Skeet Reese, which was won in a raffle by Brett Walsh. Tony Ragona, Tracy, Calif. native, won the Toyota Tundra against the other hourly winners of the tournament.

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - Berkley is proud to announce the upcoming Berkley Big Bass Challenge to be held June 6-7 on California's Delta Lake. The hourly weigh-in format allows any registered angler to bring one fish to the scale each hour to compete for one of seven hourly checks, plus a shot at driving home a new 2009 Toyota Tundra Double Cab truck with a retail value of over $25,000. The first 150 anglers to register will be in a special raffle on Sunday to win a day on the water with 2009 Bassmaster Classic Champion Skeet Reese.

CLEMSON, South Carolina - Jeff Coble of Manson, North Carolina, won the Walmart Bass Fishing League® Savannah River Division tournament on Lake Hartwell Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 19 pounds, 8 ounces. The victory earned Coble $4,315 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Lake Norman Regional Championship in Lake Norman, N.C., Oct. 22-24, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.

Charleston, SC - In response to the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council's (SAFMC) decision to close the red snapper fishery, a groundswell of grassroots support has united the recreational and commercial fishing communities, two distinct groups that are often on opposite sides of the fisheries management spectrum. At issue to Southeast coastal fishermen is the use of arbitrary rebuilding timeframes and NOAA Fisheries' refusal to use all available science in fisheries management decisions.

CLEMSON, South Carolina - The Savannah River Division of the $8 million Walmart Bass Fishing League® will visit Lake Hartwell in Clemson, South Carolina, April 18 for the third of five regular-season events. As many as 200 boaters and 200 co-anglers are expected to compete in the tournament, which will award as much as $45,000 in cash, including a top award of $6,000 in the Boater Division.

LAKE WYLIE, SOUTH CAROLINA- The South Carolina Division of the $8 million Walmart Bass Fishing League® will visit the Lake Wylie in Lake Wylie, South Carolina, March 28 for the third of five regular-season events. As many as 200 boaters and 200 co-anglers are expected to compete in the tournament, which will award as much as $45,000 in cash, including a top award of $6,000 in the Boater Division.

LAKE WYLIE, South Carolina - Gary Cline of Lexington, North Carolina, won the Walmart Bass Fishing League® North Carolina Division tournament on Lake Wylie Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 22 pounds, 12 ounces. The victory earned Cline $4,385 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Clarks Hill Lake Regional Championship in Appling, Ga., Oct. 15-17, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.

Friday the 13 proved unlucky for four South Carolina anglers when a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officer seized their entire catch of 1,268 freshwater fish. The case is believed to be the largest of its kind ever filed in Polk County by the FWC.

SENECA, South Carolina - Jayme Rampey of Liberty, South Carolina, won the Walmart Bass Fishing League® Savannah River Division tournament on Lake Keowee Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds, 9 ounces. The victory earned Rampey $4,385 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Lake Norman Regional Championship in Lake Norman, N.C., Oct. 22-24, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - The Berkley Conservation Institute (BCI) presented Aurora Bassmasters of the Ontario BASS Federation Nation with its annual Berkley Conservation Award. Aurora Bassmasters worked in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources to establish a historical record for the Lake Simcoe Bass Tagging Program. Wil Wegman, of the Aurora Bassmasters, was on hand to accept the award.