James K. Shinn of New Castle, DE won the American Bass Anglers Ram Truck Open Series Maryland tournament, held April 22nd on the Chesapeake Bay.

Running out of Anchor Boats Marina near North East, Maryland, the New Castle, Delaware angler caught five bass weighing 21.33 pounds. He anchored his bag with a 5.49 pound kicker. For the Boater Division victory, Shinn took home a check for $5,000.

“I stayed on the grass flats all day,” Shinn said. “I was fishing in 3 to 7 feet of water.” His fish were caught on a ¾ oz. rattle trap, a slow retrieve was the ticket.

In second for the boaters, Adam Janerella of Jersey Shore, PA. Adam landed a five-bass tournament limit weighing in at 21.00 pounds with a 4.24-pound kicker. He collected $1,250 for the effort.

“I was fishing the flats, slow rolling a dirty jig swim jig, black and blue with a blue trailer” Janerella said.

Timothy Reams of Morgantown, WV took third for the boaters with five bass weighing 20.48 pounds. He anchored his catch with a 4.33-pound kicker to earn $900.

Reams said “I fished the grass flats all day slow rolling a White and Chartreuse chatter bait. “

Finishing fourth, David Kovack of Lancaster, PA landed a five-bass limit for 19.94 pounds including a 5.16-pound kicker.

John Vanore of Mullica Hill, NJ rounded out the top five boaters with five bass at 17.44 pounds topped by a 6.28-pound kicker.

The biggest bass for the boaters was caught, by John Vanore of Mullica Hill, NJ that weighed 6.29 pounds.  Vanore pocketed $660 for his fish.

In the Co-Angler Division, Cherif A. Zaher of Orangeville, PA won with three bass weighing 13.60 pounds. He sealed his victory with a 4.69-pound kicker to pocket a check for $1,700.

“I was slow rolling a white and blue chatter bait over the grass flats.” Zaher said.

Taking second for the co-anglers, John C. Doran Jr. of Millersville, MD. Doran Jr. brought in a three-bass division limit weighing 12.62 pounds including a 4.73-pound kicker. He collected $650 for the effort.

Doran said “I was also fishing the grass flats with a black and blue chatter bait.”

David T. Williams of Fredericksburg, VA placed third among the co-anglers with three bass weighing 10.98 pounds. He anchored his catch with a 5.06-pound kicker to earn $450.

Williams said “I was fishing wood with a 3/16 black shaky head and had all of my fish within the first two hours of the morning. “

In fourth place among the co-anglers, Kenneth L. Henderson of Milford, VA brought in three bass for 11.16 pounds.

Andy Jones of Pittman, NJ finished in fifth place with three bass at 10.42 pounds topped by a 6.89-pound kicker.

The biggest bass for the co-anglers was caught by: Andy Jones of Pittman, NJ that weighed 6.89 and Andy pocketed $290 for his fish.

Slated for May 13th, the next divisional tournament will be held on the Potomac river out of Smallwood state park near Marbury Maryland. At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance the 2018 Ray Scott Championship, slated for the Red River in Shreveport-Bossier Louisiana in April 2018.

For more information on this tournament, call Jeff Randall, tournament manager, at 256-777-6152 or ABA at 256-232-0406. On line, see www.ramopenseries.com .

About American Bass Anglers: American Bass Anglers is committed to providing low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler and at the same time offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers, the Ram Truck Open Series, the American Fishing Tour or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.