Lake Worth’s Goldberg Grabs Co-angler Title

OKEECHOBEE, Fla. (Feb. 18, 2019) – Boater Kail Stevens of Boynton Beach, Florida, caught a massive five-bass limit Saturday weighing 32 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Gator Division tournament on Lake Okeechobee. Stevens took home $4,766 for his efforts.

“We had a little cold front come through and it slowed everything down leading up to the tournament,” said Stevens, who earned his first career victory with FLW. “On Saturday, though, it seemed like a new wave of fish moved up.

“I was around the Monkey Box and Harney Pond and was fishing for bedding fish,” continued Stevens. “I didn’t know whether they were in or out yet. I started inside, shallow, where I could see bottom and I caught some smaller bucks. That told me they might be coming in, but they’re not in yet. I went out midway toward the main lake and caught a 7-pounder flipping cattails.”

Stevens said he caught the 7-pounder flipping a 4.25-inch black and blue Gambler Stinger.

“I fished through there and ended up back where I started, and on my first cast back I caught an 8-pound, 11-ouncer,” said Stevens. “Three casts later I caught a 6-pounder. I Power-Poled down and picked off two more 5-plus-pounders. I went from having 12 pounds to 25 or 26 pounds in 30 to 40 minutes.”

Stevens said those fish came on black and blue- and green-pumpkin-colored Gambler Big EZ swimbaits.

“In practice the water was dirtier, so I threw lighter colors, but in the tournament it cleared up so I went darker,” Stevens went on to say. ”All of my fish came from the same 100-yard stretch. It was definitely a day I’ll never forget.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1^st:          Kail Stevens, Boynton Beach, Fla., five bass, 32-10, $4,766

2^nd:         Brandon Medlock, Lake Placid, Fla., five bass, 29-12, $1,883

3^rd:          Timothy Feller, Coral Springs, Fla., five bass, 27-2, $1,456

4^th:          Alex Terescenko, West Palm Beach, Fla., five bass, 26-1, $879

5^th:          Josh McDermott, Fishers, Ind., five bass, 25-2, $853

6^th:          Christian Greico, Tampa, Fla., five bass, 24-11, $690

7^th:          Trent Pardue, Troy, N.C., five bass, 24-3, $628

8^th:          Nicholas Anthony, Port Saint Lucie, Fla., five bass, 24-2, $565

9^th:          Val Osinski, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., five bass, 23-1, $502

10^th:        Chad Van Slyke, Cicero, N.Y., five bass, 23-0, $439

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Derek Savage of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, caught a 9-pound, 13-ounce bass – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $500.

Sam Goldberg of Lake Worth, Florida, won the Co-angler Division and $2,133 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 22 pounds, 5 ounces.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1^st:          Sam Goldberg, Lake Worth, Fla., five bass, 22-5, $2,133

2^nd:         Shawn York, Sarasota, Fla., five bass, 21-5, $1,142

3^rd:          Joshua Weaver, Monroe, Ga., five bass, 17-14, $627

4^th:          Bill Osceola II, Ochopee, Fla., five bass, 17-5, $439

5^th:          Doug Caldwell, Indiantown, Fla., five bass, 17-0, $377

6^th:          Dalton Hottle, Monmouth, Ill., five bass, 16-13, $345

7^th:          Kazunori Okuma, Moriyama, Japan, five bass, 16-9, $314

8^th:          Stephanie Hutcheson, Orange City, Fla., five bass, 16-8, $332

9^th:          Kenneth Guy, Miramar, Fla., five bass, 15-13, $251

10^th:        Ricky Martes, Lake Worth, Fla., five bass, 15-9, $220

Goldberg also caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 8 pounds, 4 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $250.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional Championship on Lake Seminole in Bainbridge, Georgia. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518L with a 200-horsepower outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518L with a 200-horsepower outboard.

The T-H Marine FLW BFL Gator Division tournament on Lake Okeechobee was hosted by the Okeechobee County Tourist & Development Council.

The 2019 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2019 BFL All-American will be held May 30-June 1 at the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland, and is hosted by the Charles County Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism and the Commissioners of Charles County. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.

For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

PLACE	ANGLER	CITY/STATE	DAY 1 WT (Fish)	DAY 1&2 WT (Fish)	WINNINGS
1	KAIL STEVENS	BOYNTON BEACH, FL	32 – 10 (5)	32 – 10 (5)	$4,766
2	BRANDON MEDLOCK	LAKE PLACID, FL	29 – 12 (5)	29 – 12 (5)	$1,883
3	TIMOTHY FELLER	CORAL SPRINGS, FL	27 – 2 (5)	27 – 2 (5)	$1,456
4	ALEX TERESCENKO	WEST PALM BEACH, FL	26 – 1 (5)	26 – 1 (5)	$879
5	JOSH MCDERMOTT	FISHERS, IN	25 – 2 (5)	25 – 2 (5)	$853
6	CHRISTIAN GREICO	TAMPA, FL	24 – 11 (5)	24 – 11 (5)	$690
7	TRENT PARDUE	TROY, NC	24 – 3 (5)	24 – 3 (5)	$628
8	NICHOLAS ANTHONY	PORT SAINT LUCIE, FL	24 – 2 (5)	24 – 2 (5)	$565
9	VAL OSINSKI	FORT LAUDERDALE, FL	23 – 1 (5)	23 – 1 (5)	$502
10	CHAD VAN SLYKE	CICERO, NY	23 – 0 (5)	23 – 0 (5)	$439
11	DERERK SAVAGE	PORT ST. LUCIE, FL	22 – 11 (5)	22 – 11 (5)	$895
12	CASEY MARSH	TAMPA, FL	22 – 4 (5)	22 – 4 (5)	$364
13	CHRIS MCBEATH	BRADENTON, FL	22 – 1 (5)	22 – 1 (5)	$352
14	MIKEY KEYSO JR	NORTH PORT, FL	21 – 12 (5)	21 – 12 (5)	$333
15	NATHAN THOMAS	WEIRSDALE, FL	21 – 5 (5)	21 – 5 (5)	$314
16	MARK LUNDGREN	SAINT CLOUD, FL	20 – 8 (5)	20 – 8 (5)	$301
17	JESSIE MIZELL	SARASOTA, FL	20 – 1 (5)	20 – 1 (5)	$289
18	JUSTIN MORGAN	OKEECHOBEE, FL	19 – 15 (5)	19 – 15 (5)	$276
19	JARED MCMILLAN	BELLE GLADE, FL	19 – 14 (5)	19 – 14 (5)	$264
20	GREG HARP	VERO BEACH, FL	19 – 11 (5)	19 – 11 (5)	$251
21	CHRISTOPHER JERDAN	CAPE CORAL, FL	19 – 10 (5)	19 – 10 (5)
22	MATTHEW WIETEHA	MIAMI, FL	19 – 6 (5)	19 – 6 (5)
23	NEIL NIX	OKEECHOBEE, FL	18 – 8 (5)	18 – 8 (5)
24	EDWIN BARTLETT	CASCO, ME	18 – 6 (5)	18 – 6 (5)
25	DONNY BASS	NAPLES, FL	18 – 5 (5)	18 – 5 (5)
26	ANTHONY FORD	NEW SMYRNA, FL	18 – 0 (5)	18 – 0 (5)
27	DEREK PETRUZELLI	SAINT CLOUD, FL	17 – 14 (5)	17 – 14 (5)
28	VAN SOLES	OSPREY, FL	17 – 12 (5)	17 – 12 (5)
29	JAMES MCLEES	EUSTIS, FL	17 – 7 (5)	17 – 7 (5)
29	SANTOS SOLIS	VERO BEACH, FL	17 – 7 (5)	17 – 7 (5)
31	THOMAS MCLINSKEY	LAND O LAKES, FL	17 – 2 (5)	17 – 2 (5)
32	DAVID ANDERSON	FORT MYERS, FL	16 – 14 (5)	16 – 14 (5)
33	DYLAN ETTINGER	FLEMING ISLAND, FL	16 – 13 (5)	16 – 13 (5)
33	SETH PATTERSON	SEBRING, FL	16 – 13 (5)	16 – 13 (5)
35	JAI HUNTER SR	DELAND, FL	16 – 6 (5)	16 – 6 (5)
36	JASON BLAIR	WEST PALM BEACH FL, FL	16 – 5 (5)	16 – 5 (5)
37	JOHN KEENE SR	FENELTON, PA	16 – 2 (5)	16 – 2 (5)
38	CHUCK WEBB	SARASOTA, FL	16 – 0 (5)	16 – 0 (5)
39	JAMES SOJKA	NEW PORT RICHEY, FL	15 – 10 (5)	15 – 10 (5)
40	JAE EVANS	BOCA RATON, FL	15 – 8 (5)	15 – 8 (5)
41	DENNIS CAMERON	TRAVELERS REST, SC	15 – 5 (5)	15 – 5 (5)
42	TONY DAVIS	WILLISTON, FL	15 – 1 (5)	15 – 1 (5)
43	RAYMOND GUERRA	PORT SAINT LUCIE, FL	14 – 15 (5)	14 – 15 (5)
44	DAVID SHEFFIELD	DAVIE, FL	14 – 6 (5)	14 – 6 (5)
44	BRADLEY MACQUEEN	WEST PALM BEACH, FL	14 – 6 (5)	14 – 6 (5)
46	STANLEY HUNT	JACKSONVILLE, FL	14 – 5 (5)	14 – 5 (5)
48	RODNEY SIMMONS	ZOLFO SPRINGS, FL	14 – 3 (5)	14 – 3 (5)
49	GARY MILICEVIC	LABELLE, FL	14 – 2 (5)	14 – 2 (5)	$300
49	TREVOR HAMLIN	CAPE CORAL, FL	14 – 2 (5)	14 – 2 (5)
49	LARRY BRANDENBURG	RICHMOND, KY	14 – 2 (5)	14 – 2 (5)
52	CHRIS CROW	LAKE PLACID, FL	14 – 1 (5)	14 – 1 (5)
53	MIKE VITITOE	LAKEWORTH, FL	13 – 14 (5)	13 – 14 (5)
53	BRETT CANNON	PARKLAND, FL	13 – 14 (5)	13 – 14 (5)
55	THOMAS LITTICH	CAPE CORAL, FL	13 – 12 (5)	13 – 12 (5)
56	NICHOLAS HOINIG	PORT ST LUCIE, FL	13 – 8 (5)	13 – 8 (5)
57	BILL TROYER	SARASOTA, FL	13 – 7 (5)	13 – 7 (5)
58	YOAN ALVAREZ	MIAMI, FL	13 – 6 (5)	13 – 6 (5)
59	LIONEL BOTHA	MALABAR, FL	13 – 4 (5)	13 – 4 (5)
60	KENNETH HARRIS	ZOLFO SPRINGS, FL	13 – 1 (5)	13 – 1 (5)
61	RICK MITCHELL	NAPLES, FL	12 – 15 (5)	12 – 15 (5)
62	JIM HURLOCK JR.	WEST PALM BEACH, FL	12 – 9 (5)	12 – 9 (5)
63	LLOYD MEYERS JR	JACKSONVILLE, FL	12 – 7 (5)	12 – 7 (5)
63	CHRIS KEITH	GAINESVILLE, FL	12 – 7 (5)	12 – 7 (5)
65	RONNIE BYERLY	SARASOTA, FL	12 – 4 (5)	12 – 4 (5)
66	CLAY BATSON	BRADENTON, FL	12 – 3 (5)	12 – 3 (5)
67	MIKE JACKSON	SAN MATEO, FL	12 – 2 (5)	12 – 2 (5)
68	ERIC JOHNSON	MILLIS, MA	12 – 0 (5)	12 – 0 (5)
69	ROBIN SHIVER	MAYO, FL	11 – 10 (5)	11 – 10 (5)
70	ROBERT CROSNOE	INVERNESS, FL	11 – 9 (5)	11 – 9 (5)
71	MASON BOYLAN	MELBOURNE, FL	11 – 8 (4)	11 – 8 (4)
72	WILLIAM SCHMITT	WEST PALM BEACH, FL	10 – 14 (4)	10 – 14 (4)
73	BRIAN MACDOUGALL	LA BELLE, FL	10 – 10 (5)	10 – 10 (5)
74	DOUG BACK	MONTICELLO, FL	10 – 6 (5)	10 – 6 (5)
74	MARK SOMMER	CORAL SPRINGS, FL	10 – 6 (5)	10 – 6 (5)
76	MIKE DAVIS	ALACHUA, FL	10 – 3 (5)	10 – 3 (5)
77	JONATHAN THOMPSON	SAINT JOHNS, FL	9 – 12 (4)	9 – 12 (4)
78	DENNIS REDD	OLD TOWN, FL	9 – 4 (5)	9 – 4 (5)
79	JONATHAN LECRONE	ORLANDO, FL	9 – 2 (5)	9 – 2 (5)
80	JOHN VIOX	HEBRON, KY	9 – 0 (5)	9 – 0 (5)
81	STEVEN LAKE	LORIDA, FL	8 – 11 (5)	8 – 11 (5)
82	DAVID BEAR	WINTER HAVEN, FL	8 – 10 (5)	8 – 10 (5)
83	GERRY BROUSSEAU	NAPLES, FL	8 – 8 (5)	8 – 8 (5)
83	TONY BENNETT	FORT LAUDERDALE, FL	8 – 8 (5)	8 – 8 (5)
85	JOHN TAVANO	SEBRING, FL	8 – 3 (3)	8 – 3 (3)
85	DONALD DUNNAM	OKEECHOBEE, FL	8 – 3 (3)	8 – 3 (3)
87	MATT KINNEY	BUNNELL, FL	8 – 2 (5)	8 – 2 (5)
88	JIM JOSEPH	OAKLAND PARK, FL	7 – 5 (4)	7 – 5 (4)
89	JOHN ADKINSON	WINTER HAVEN, FL	6 – 8 (5)	6 – 8 (5)
91	CEDRIC PERRY	CROSS CITY, FL	5 – 11 (2)	5 – 11 (2)
92	JOHN BITTER	MAITLAND, FL	3 – 15 (2)	3 – 15 (2)
93	RICHARD MONGIOVI	INDIAN LAKE ESTATES, FL	3 – 12 (3)	3 – 12 (3)
94	JOSHUA MORFIS	CAPE CORAL, FL	2 – 8 (3)	2 – 8 (3)
95	MICHAEL JOHNS	DAVENPORT, FL	1 – 1 (1)	1 – 1 (1)
	RAYMOND RUPP	THE VILLAGES, FL	0 – 0 (0)	0 – 0 (0)
	PAUL DUNN	NEW PORT RICHEY, FL	0 – 0 (4)	0 – 0 (4)
	TY FOX	PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL	0 – 0 (0)	0 – 0 (0)
	VICKY BRACKIN	OKEECHOBEE, FL	0 – 0 (0)	0 – 0 (0)
	DOUGLAS GRANT	TITUSVILLE, FL	0 – 0 (0)	0 – 0 (0)
	DANIEL BROWN	SATELLITE BEACH, FL	0 – 0 (0)	0 – 0 (0)
	RANDY TERRELL	SAINT LOUIS, MO	0 – 0 (0)	0 – 0 (0)