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NEWSMYRNABEACH, Fla. –MathewVann, ofPen-
sacola,Florida,measuredacombinedlimitof
106.50inchestowinthe2016IFAKayakTourCham-
pionshippresentedbyHobieFishingonOct.8at
PanamaCity, Florida.
Thetwo-daychampionshipevent marksthefirst win
forVanninhisfouryearsfishingtheIFAKayakTour.
VannfishedhishomewatersaroundPensacolaand
batledgaleforcewindsandextremeconditionsto
bringhomethechampionshiptrophy.
"Eventhoughwewerenotclosetothehuricanethe
conditionswereextreme,"saidVann."Ondayone,
thewindwas15to20mphwithstronggustsbuton
daytwoitwasevenworse.Thewindwassteadyat
20to25mphwithgustsof30plus. Thereweretwo
tothre-footrolersandwavescrashingoverthe
bowofmyHobie."
KAYAKANGLERTAKES
HOMEMORETHAN
$4,000
Theangler fishedsuspendingtwitchbaitsfor trout first thinginthemorningsandchasedschoolingred-
fishaseachdayprogresed.
OndayoneI caught anicetrout earlyandwasabletoconcentrateonredfish. Daytwowasalitletough-
er. ThepaternIhadfoundforthetroutfelapart, butIeventualycaughta21-incherinaspotIknew
alwaysholdsfish."
TheanglerwonaHobieMirageProAngler12Kayak, valuedat$3,299, aPower-PoleMicroAnchorand
spike, valuedat$699, and$330inAnglersAdvantagecashforhisfirst-placefinish.
"Thiswinisadreamcometrue,"saidVann. "It hasbenagoal ofminetowinanIFAChampionshipsince
Istartedfishingtheseeventsfouryearsago.TheIFAfeaturessomeofthebestkayakanglersinthe
worldalongwithfiercecompetitionandgreatpayouts."
EliotStevens,ofBatonRouge,Louisiana,wonsecondplacewithatwo-daycombinedtotalof86.75
inches. Theanglertraveledapproximately20milesintwodaystofisharoundPort St. Joe. Althoughthe
anglerwasfarawayfromhishomewatersofLouisiana, Stevensfeltcontentwithhisperformance.