30th Annual Wolfson Childrens Hospital Tournament raises over $300,000!!
By Vance McCullough
Heavy weights and big numbers prevailed as the 30thAnnual Wolfson Children’s Hospital Bass Tournament drew 389 entries and raised over $300,000.
“We had 377 boats show up to fish today,” said emcee Mike Oglesbee from OGS Tournament Trails.
Among those 377 boats were some of the sport’s biggest names from the FLW Tour and Bassmaster Elite Series including Preston Clark and 2-time FLW Tour winner Glenn Brown, just to name a couple.
Big numbers also showed up on the weigh in stage as Cole Kite and Kenneth Owen put 28.84 pounds on the scale for the win. Their sack was anchored by a 10.87-lb fish, the big bass of the tournament.
There were 11 limits of better than 20 pounds.
Even in Friday’s VIP round Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Cliff Prince and partner Robin Shiver, Jr weighed 28.18 only to finish 2ndto Darrell Finley and Carl Guinn, Jr who weighed 28.32 pounds of St Johns River bass.
Father/son Peter Thliveros and Nick Thliveros had big bass of the VIP round with an 8.90-lber that Nick caught in a foot-and-a-half of water.
You will recognize “Peter T” Thliveros as a Tour-level veteran with a brilliant career on the Bassmaster and FLW circuits. His son, Nick has picked up the family tradition and won the Costa event on Okeechobee in February.
Cliff Prince placed 3rdin Thursday’s Lads and Lasses tourney while fishing with Gracie Prince. The had 19.72 lbs.
Brian and Michelle Sousa were 2ndwith 23.04.
Chris and Nikki Cercy won the coed event with 24.03 pounds.
Bass are still spawning on the river. They are in all stages, including prespawn and most look very healthy.
“There is no eel grass from the middle of Lake George to Jacksonville,” said the elder Thliveros as he guided the Progressive Bass Wrap Up TV crew so we could bring you all the action on NBC Sports next month. “But the fish have adapted and there is a lot of spatterdock (lily pads) which they are now using for cover. They are very shallow as the shad and bream spawn have gotten underway.”
It’s a great time to come to St Johns River country and catch the fish of a lifetime. Thliveros is guiding both freshwater and saltwater. Look him up on Facebook at Peter Thliveros.
2019 Wolfson Children_s Hospital Tournament Results
How Do i see tge video from the 30th annual Wolfson tournament they spoke with me on the water
It will air sometime in August or September on Saturday mornings on the Discovery Channel. Keep an eye on the website here or our facebook page for exit dates. Thanks!