The Red Drum Challenge

 

  Click here for information about purchasing this print by Duane Raver Jr. All proceeds go to the Conservation Fund of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries.
North Carolina's Saltwater State Fish

 

The Eastern Carolina Saltwater Fishing Club

vs.

The Fairfield Harbour Fishing Club

 

 


 The Eastern Carolina Saltwater Fishing Club and the Fairfield Harbour Fishing Club are located on the two sides of the Neuse River in New Bern, North Carolina.  Both clubs emphasize conservation and proper fish handling, so it was no surprise that proper fish handling and minimizing harm to the fish was at the forefront when the ECSWFC first challenged the FHFC to a Bull Drum contest in 2007.

Attempting to weigh and measure large, heavy fish in excess of 35 pounds, particularly after a long protracted fight, puts the fish at risk. But it takes very little time to count the spots and take a quick picture verifying the count. Thus the basis of the Challenge Rules was born. The emphasis is on fun, meeting other anglers, and hoping for a lot of spots!

Thanks to Whitaker Point Marina in Oriental who graciously agreed to host the event at their beautiful new facility--which just happens to be about as close as you can get to the best Red Drum fishing in the United States. We'd also like to thank Dave Stewart of Minnesott  Beach Bait & Tackle and KneeDeep Custom Charters who delivered coolers full of fresh mullet to the participants.

The 2008 Challenge
 

First Place

Offially counted as six spots. Without space between them, they count as one spot.
 



Congratulations to Henry Frazer of the Eastern Carolina Saltwater Fishing Club. The six-spotted First Place winning fish was caught on his boat.
 

Second Place












Lee Chylko  had second place with a four spotted fish on Ron Zielinski's boat. Ron had two fish boated.






Other Notable Fish













Henry Frazer with a  nice Bull Drum.




 Dwayne Brown  had a nice size fish on Phil Ambler's boat
--but it had just one spot.



















Geoffrey Gable with his  fish.






Vinnie Infinito (above) and Larry Knapp (below) had two nice Reds
on Bob Bruggeworth's Old Salt. 
Unfortunately, they were both single spotted.






The setting sun signaled the end was near for the 2008 Red Drum Challenge.

Thanks to Ron Zielinski, Gerry Manfredi and Geoffrey Gable
for organizing this year's event.


Send additional photo's or information to
lawrenceknapp@suddenlink.net


The 2007 Challenge


 
Bob Bruggeworth joined Jerry Manfredi of the FHFC and Ron Zielinski of the ECSWFC as Bob's grandson Aric Bruggeworth received his plaque for winning the first Red Drum Challenge.

Doesn't look too happy?

 

FHFC angler, Aric Bruggeworth, won the plaque and the money for his 42 inch citation Red which had at least nine recorded spots. Aric was fishing with Larry Knapp and Gus Villanova on his grandfather, Bob Bruggeworth’s boat, Old Salt. The complications that arose in counting the spots on this fish led to a clarification of just what a spot is.

 

Members of the Fairfield Harbour Fishing Club met with members of the East Carolina Fishing Club on the porch of the Whittaker Pointe Marina just before the 2:00 o'clock start for the fishing. The target was Red Drum over 40 inches but the emphasis was on conservation and minimal damage to the fish. Only barbless circle hooks were allowed and rather than risk injury to the fish by weighing them, the "challenge" was to catch a big Red with the most "spots."
 
Send comments or submisions to
lawrenceknapp@suddenlink.net
 
Tight lines to all