Americana Outdoors E-Magazine November 2016

KAYAKANGLERTAKES HOMEMORETHAN $4,000

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."

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.