The annual super moon lit up the sky on Sunday June 23rd to signal the beginning of a super event on Sam Rayburn Lake. It was the start of the very first National High School Open fishing Tournament held on Big Sam. Before it was over 86 teams of high school anglers from 5 states would need to fight the near 100 degree temperatures to compete for scholarship awards and bragging rights on one of the premiere bass fishing lakes in America.
Andrew Y'Barbo and Caleb Ramsey had been on the phone for two days trying to locate a boat captain for the Inaugural Sam Rayburn Open after their boat captain had to drop out. An hour before registration started Friday night at Jackson Hill Marina, the pair found local lady angler Stephanie Hemphill who agreed to take the pair out for the day.
That combination of a timely call, a little good luck and the skills honed from years of fishing with their proud parents on Big Sam landed the pair a day to remember as they brought in a five bass limit at 10:30 am that had a net weight of 22 lbs 6 oz. They still had to wait out the rest of the day at the weigh in site to win the Inaugural event that was hosted by the San Augustine Chamber of Commerce and Jackson Hill Marina. The pair not only conquered Sam Rayburn Reservoir, but also the other 85 teams who registered for the event that launched out of the beautiful Bill and Emily Shelton Pavilion.
"This was probably the greatest day of fishing I have ever had," stated Andrew. "We fished off a deep ledge that dropped from 18' down to around 30'. It was just an awesome morning of fishing" he added. "When you start out the day with an 8 lb 9 oz beauty as your first fish it sure pumps up your confidence and enthusiasm" reported partner Caleb Ramsey. Andrew caught their big fish on a deep diving crankbait but after 30 minutes produced nothing more the pair moved up Harvey Creek where they added two small keepers. They returned to their ledge about an hour later and Andrew again hooked a big fish around 7 lbs. using a Carolina Rigged Worm. As they moved out from their sweet spot they noticed a school of suspended fish and under the advisement of their boat coach Stephanie Hemphill, Caleb tied on a jigging spoon and sent it down below the school. It was the right move as a fat five pounder blasted Caleb's breakfast special.
Then the trouble began and decisions needed to be made quickly. The two small keepers were dying and with slim prospects of culling a five pound fish they decided to call it a day racing back to try and save their fish.
The winning weight helped the pair earn a scholarship award from Stephen F. Austin University and the San Augustine Chamber of Commerce along with a prize package donated by several sponsors, a beautiful trophy, and East Texas Bragging rights for the next year.
Finishing second was Ryan Satterfield and Jordan Lemley from Genoa Central High School in Arkansas who also had a very respectable five fish sack that weighed in at 16 lbs 11 oz. That limit outdistanced Bo McGraw and Dillon Harrell of Houston who boated 14 lbs 14 oz to finish third.
Brendan Burford from the Buna Cougars won men's big bass honors with an 8 lb 12 oz big girl and Taylor Sells from Genoa Central took the women's big bass prize with a 3 lb 10 oz large mouth.
Local Broaddus Bulldog anglers Randy and Robert Morgan finished a respectable eight place fishing with their dad while other hometown favorite sons Tom Vardemar, Zaryon Scott Price, Hunter Curry, Tayler Stewart, Brett Byley and Hunter Williams vowed to be back next year to win it all.
All the anglers in this event were treated to an angler celebration on Friday evening that was hosted by the San Augustine Chamber of Commerce. The group was invited to a downtown High School block party where several pro anglers and vendors met with the teams and their families. "The response from the community and the anglers was terrific and this event promises to grow in the future" said Mark Gintert National youth Director for TBF. " "On a scale of ten San Augustine gets a 9.8 and we can't wait to see what they have in store for next year" he added. Anyone who would like to see the entire standings can find them at highschoolfishing.org. You can also see an entire photo album of the event at Jackson Hill Marina on facebook.
