Kayak Wars 2011 Mid-Season Tournament Update
Kayak Wars has had an amazing first half for the 2011 season. With nearly 20,000 eligible submissions, hundreds of anglers from around the entire United States have battled it out in salt and freshwater. Records this year have once again been shattered, for both individual species and submission count. New for 2011 was the very successful freshwater division covering across the whole country. Gamefish big and small have been landed and impressive catches are continuing to be submitted and amaze us daily. Being one of the largest Kayak Tournaments in the world (and free to enter at that), anglers have a chance at competing with others and creating their very own catch log, good for their entire Kayak Wars 'career'.
There are several different regions in which Anglers have been perticipating. In the Atlantic there is the North-east division (New England down to the Carolinas), the South-east division (Florida, Alabama, and Mississipi), and the South-central division(Texas and Louisiana). On the west-coast there is the West division (Washington & Oregon down to California). The distribution for freshwater teams is nationwide and counts as a seperate division.
New for 2011 as well is the 'Total Inches ' category... the largest of each species per angler per team get tallied (includes fresh and saltwater). So far this year there have been some spectacular catches and the submission counts are off the charts. Daily, recognized fish numbering up into the triple digits are being submitted by anglers. Some of the major gamefish being submitted are Tarpon, Shark, Permit, Bonefish, Sailfish, Mackerel, Amberjack, Dorado, Tuna, Snapper, Cuda, Redfish, Striped Bass, and Sea Trout. Each species has to meet an eligible length for submission to help keep the point system as fair as possible. In return, this means only QUALITY catches are really being submitted.
Lets take a look into the current standings and who has shined thus far...
South-East Division
The South-east Division is owned by the Florida power house 'Nauti-Dogs ' with 10785 points. ND are a new team for 2011 but have put up some very envious catches up and have topped the 10,000 point milestone in Kayak Wars in just over half a season! Nauti Dogs are led by Randall Seneff and Alexis Tejeda . The boys have 23 different eligible species submitted, with a total of 342 submissions thus far (however numbers would skyrocket without the monthly 'cap')
Second place in the South-east division is last year's top team, Team Neptune with 7685 points led by Brandon Denney . Third place is Team Sea Hunt powered by Ben Adrien and Brian Nelli with 4355 points. With fall coming soon, species will relocate and other teams will take advantage narrowing the gap.
Below: Randall Seneff of Team Nauti Dogs poses with the new KW Record Amberjack out of south Florida...
North-east Division
The North-east division is in it's second year of Kayak Wars, and a happy addition at that. Anglers have been duking it out in harsh weather for monster Stripers and other cool water fish. As of right this minute, there have been 33 North-east teams that have already ranked competing with each other. While their fishing season started a bit later due to the cold conditions, anglers have gone crazy and taken advantage of the beautiful summer weather and have laid into the fish.
Currently first place in the North-east division is team 'KBF Hook 1 ' with 8645 points led by the striper machine known as Eric Harrison with 7625 mind blowing points and his 233 Stripers ! Close behind in second is team 'KFA-NY Fleet 1 ' with 7985 points. KFA NY Fleet 1 is led by east-coast kayak monster 'Pat Gallagher ' and Striper-man 'Darren Mikula '. Rocking in very closely behind in 3rd place is the 'Neck Punchers ' with 7935 points. The Neck Punchers are led by Kenneth Roulier and Justin Michaud . There are many great fish from the North-east division coming in and expect them to go out with a bang before the winter approaches!
Below: Mark Konarski all smiles landing this 48" Striper from the North-east Division...
South-central Division
The South-central division is the oldest competing division, established originally for Texas and Louisiana. This is one of the toughest regions to fish due to being the most un-weather friendly. Winds blast the coast until early summer and cold front's begin to dominate late in the fall. However, like the North-east division, the calm summer brings absolute mayhem. Currently leading the South-central division is the pioneering Kayak Wars guru's, Team 'Rockstar '. Team Rockstar is led by Eric Ozolins and Kevin Eager who have contributed much of the team's 4970 points.
In second place on the tail of team Rockstar is the Texas Kayak Anglers , which is a force to be reckoned with. TKA currently has 4420 points and is closing the gap to first place. TKA is led by the Flounder Master, Jantzen Miller with 2475 points (and 159 submitted Flounder). Not far in 3rd place is the Team OSO Young Gunz with 3645 points led by the consistent and young Tino Mendietta . The south-central division will be eyed very close for teams are known to make astonishing submissions during optimal fall weather patterns. While Team Rockstar is on top, it is anyones game here.
Below: Rick Underbrink scores an early season Black Drum taping out at 50" for Team Rockstar...
West Division
The Western 'Pacific' Division is relatively new and actually has two sub-divisions, north and south. This year there have been more competing teams than ever in the West. Solid catches of Lingcod, Rockfish, and Cabezon have been submitted. Currently in first place for the West is Team NWKA1 with a rocking 5705 points! NWKA1 is led by Roy Marcum and Bill Liston . In second place is you guessed it, Team NWKA2 . NWKA2 is powered by Dana Hilden and his 7 eligble different species. Following in 3rd is The Angler's Big Catch led by Sonny Nguyen . This Western Division is a great newly added region and will watch it explode next year with great expectations of new teams and anglers in the mix.
Below: Florida Kayak Wars veteran John Chapman lands a smoker Yellowtail off the West Coast...
Freshwater and Total Inches Divisions
As stated, this is the first inaugural year of KW - Freshwater. There have been lunker Bass submitted, of all species from Largemouth to Peacock . The number one team in Freshwater as of right now is Team Nacho Fish with a rocking 5955 points. Nacho Fish is led by Bob Dainton and Joey Sullivan who have combined for 4620 points and have submitted 164 Largemouth Bass !! Coming in at 2nd thus far in the season is the South-east's 3rd place Saltwater Team, Team Sea Hunt with 3820 points. The top team anglers are Michael Findley , Brian Nelli , and Ben Adrien who have caught as many freshwater fish as Saltwater! Got to love Florida! Ringing in at 3rd in the freshwater division is the Basskickers with 2775 points led by Brent Wilson . The freshwater division has proven to be very exciting with an array of VERY RESPECTABLE catches ranging from Sturgeon to giant Blue Catfish. Some killer records have already been established and this division will be a thrill to continue to watch throughout the season.
In the total inches category (combines freshwater and saltwater species for a team), the top team is currently Team Nauti Dogs with 2337.25 inches ! The scoring system is based upon the largest of each species by an angler, and added with their teammates to create a total inches bracket. Team Nauti Dogs have a big lead but it's not over yet! Team Sea Hunt is in 2nd with 2200 inches and Team Neptune in 3rd with 1700.90 inches. This whole 'total inches' category is new for 2011 and really puts things in perspective in regards to the various species counts by an individual team.
Below: Rob Choi with his Kayak Wars Freshwater Record Flathead Catfish ...
What to expect for the remainder of the season?
Teams will continue to fish hard throughout the summer and fall. When weather turns poor then you will only see the hardcore anglers make it out. However, with the changing conditions brings different migrating fish in each region. Some teams will take advantage of this and unload many points and submissions helping close their gap on the lead. Once again, thanks to all the sponsors of Kayak Wars who help make this free-to-enter tournament one of a kind and the largest of Kayak Tournaments in the WORLD. Stay tuned to Kayak Wars at kayakwars.com for the remainder of the season and if not already competing, organize your team for next year with 2012 season starting in February!
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