2013 TJM Kayak fishing tournament

The 2013 TJM kayak fishing tournament was excellent as always. Hook, Line and Paddle in Wilmington, NC puts on this great event and is the main sponsor. I was having a difficult time deciding where to fish. Two weeks earlier I had fished Fort Fisher at crossover #4 down the beach with a small flounder and a 17" redfish to show for it. Since we were suppose to have a dead low tide at 5:30am and we could not launch till 6am I made. Last minute decision to launch at the Fort Fisher basin. I was greated by about 40 kayaks when I arrived. We launched at 6 am and I went to catch bait. I knew once the tide came up it would be hard to locate and catch bait. I filled my tank and off I went trolling a Billy Bay Halo shad. This was new water for me so I scouted around and found a nice point that had everything I was looking. It had bait, water flow, oyster rocks, and a grassy point. I setup shop with three lines and started catching redfish. With several reds landed and released up to 21 3/4" I was on the board. I was checking baits and in comes a 12 1/2" flounder that just ate the bait and settled back in. This is typical with flounder to eat the bait and the hook. Now all I needed was a trout for the slam. I boated a 13" trout and as I get the camera he hops over the side. I am hurt but not discouraged. I say a nice little prayer to The Lord. Nice bait goes off and it is a heavy trout. I get him on the board and he is 18 3/4". I know I have a contender since last years winning trout was only 16".  I keep fishing and after a few more smaller trout and reds I head in the the ramp and check in. I see that there is a 19" trout and it ended up holding up and edging me out for 1st. Well 2nd isn't bad out of 75 anglers and 53" total for 3 fish. Looks like my slam would have put me in the 4th or 5th spot since 3rd was 55". It was a great turnout for a great cause. Come join us next year. Till next time.