Jackson wins Wahoo Challenge

RICK GOINES

I am not ashamed to admit that I am a little bit “old school,” and sometimes baffled by computers. I am not computer illiterate, but I am computer “dumb” on occasion. Several months ago, I lost contact with my Havelock fishing friend Jerry Jackson. He was getting my e-mails, but I was not receiving his. Wife, Linda, my family computer expert, finally stepped in and corrected the problem. Duh!

Now the good news! Jerry Jackson and crew, aboard Jackson’s “Ava D,” won the mid-October Wahoo Challenge with a 54.8 pound fish caught in the vicinity of Swansboro Hole. “Ava D” won $25,312.50. Way to go guys!

Forty-five boats participated in the event out of Morehead City. Professional golfer, Curtis Strange, who is an avid fisherman, and has an eastern North Carolina connection because he is married to a lady from New Bern, came in second with a 54 pound fish. JJ and crew were holding their breath as they weighed in Curtis’ fish. That eight tenths of a pound made a $10,000 difference between first and second place.

Rumor has it that the “Ava D” crew fed their Wahoo Vienna Sausages on the way in. Could that have been the weight difference? I’m kidding, of course.

Just think, for the rest of his life, Jerry can tell people he beat Curtis Strange. They don’t have to know it was fishing, not golf. OK Jerry, you out-fished Curtis Strange, but please don’t let him talk you in to a friendly wager on a round of golf. I don’t think you can win that one.

I hope JJ bought a lottery ticket in late October because he was on a roll. One week after winning the Wahoo Challenge, Captain JJ and his crew entered the Hatteras Wahoo Hoo-Ha tournament and won that one, too. Jerry admits the competition was not as formidable as the week before, but a big “W” in the win column all the same. Jerry captains his “Ava D” but is quick to give credit to his crew. This type of fishing is truly team work. Everyone has a job to do to help get that fish to the scales. Congrats JJ and crew!

The “Ava D,” built in Harkers Island, is a 2009 sixty-one foot Gilliken Custom Carolina boat. It is named after Jerry’s lovely wife, Ava Denise, whom everyone calls Denise. Beautiful like its namesake, the “Ava D” cruises at 31 knots, and has a top end of 36 knots. Talk about getting to where the fish are! “Ava D” can cover a lot of water in a short period of time. Wow, what a fantastic fishing machine that boat is.

We have 2 very worthwhile projects going on that need and deserve your support.

Toys for Tots needs new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages. Toys for Tots collection boxes are all around or you can drop off your donation at Roberson & Dupree Shoe Store, Main Street, Tarboro. I can’t stand the thought of a wide-eyed child waking up Christmas morning to discover Santa did NOT visit them Now THAT hurts my heart! Let’s avoid that ugly situation if we can....

SPCA Alliance of North Carolina is selling $1 raffle tickets for a drawing for a Remington M887 Nitro Mag 12 gauge shotgun. Drawing is December 19. To make arrangements to buy raffle tickets, call 252-823-6551 or 714-2128. Of course, it’s for the animals that can’t help themselves. They need YOUR help!

Hotspot of the week: Too much rain has local fishing in the hurt locker, but things should be back to normal in a few days. Even flood-like conditions couldn’t keep Wayne Harrell home. He just knew that his good buddies, the largemouth bass, would be up in the creeks trying to stay away from the flood waters. Of course Wayne-O was right! He caught four nice bass on crank baits and spoons, the biggest a 3-pounder.. Before the monsoon, Wayne caught a personal best 25 inch 5.5 pound speckled trout. I asked him where he caught it, and he said, “In the lower lip.” Serious trout fishermen would rather have an IRS audit than guide you to their favorite “trout honey-hole.”

Rick’s Soapbox: I love baseball. I am a big New York Yankees fan, so I was tickled pink to see them win the World Series. New York City is NOT one of my favorite places to visit, and the half dozen times I have been there, I couldn’t wait to leave. So why do I follow the Yankees? Because they are an entertaining, crazy organization whose ownership, management, and players could keep a whole staff full of psychiatrists confused and busy. They don’t call it the Bronx Zoo for nothing. Never a dull moment with the Yankees daily ongoing “soap opera” and they get max media coverage, which makes them very easy and fun to follow.

Your stories, photos, tall tales, and believable lies are welcome at CarolinaAngler@Gmail.com See you on the water, my friend!

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