John Buck
John's Club Report
Covering The Pensacola Hawg Hunters
2008 Season

Email: John Buck

Founded In 1975

Escambia River
Total Fish Caught 23
Total Dead Fish 0
Total Limits 2
Big Fish
3.61
Total Fish Weight 30.02 lbs

Total Year Standings
Total Fish Caught 57
Total Dead Fish 0
Total Limits 6
Big Fish
3.61
Total Fish Weight 74.06 lbs
Place Name Fish Weight
1. Lee Brannon 3 7.04
2. Mack Cramer 5 6.09
3. John Buck 5 5.32
4. Bill Myrick 3 4.29
5. Jim Bailey Sr 2 2.57

Big Fish Winner

Lee Brannon
3.61lbs
*** Tournament Winner ***
Lee Brannon
3 Fish - 7.04lbs
Also Fished
Glenn Kittrell - Frank Kelly - Ken Repine
Ron Fairbanks - Dewayne Kimbro
Guest Don Jahnky
Place Name Fish Weight
6. Randy Cole 2 1.89
7. Kevin Simmons 1 1.11
8. Jere Jaillite 1 .88
9. Jeff Weaver 1 .83

Big Fish Of The Year
Lee Brannon
3.61lbs

PENSACOLA HAWG HUNTERS
TOURNAMENT REPORT
DECEMBER 15, 2007


The Hawg Hunters fished the Escambia River this month. We launched out of Smith's Landing. We had 14 members and 1 guest fishing.
The weather was warm with a low around 58 and a high near 74. There was a heavy overcast throughout the morning and the river was clear both in creeks/lakes and in the main river also. Near midday we were hit with heavy rain bands, about 2 inches in 4 hours. It came in waves about 10 minutes apart. Thankfully the air temps did not drop. Water temps were in the low 60's in the lower sections of the river.

Glenn Kittrell and I were drawn as partners. He and I decided to fish the grass areas on the lower portions of the river delta. We were surprised that all but one other boat went north at the blast off. We tried buzz baits and worms to start with but got little action. Glenn caught a short fish on a worm, but we got no more bites in that area. We left that spot and tried a place where I had caught a couple of keepers the week before. We threw worms and spinners there with no takers. We found the fish on the third stop. I started throwing a spinner bait and caught 4 in about 10 minutes. The best thing was that 2 of them were keepers. After we had fished the area about 3 times, we left and tried a couple of other banks. I was able to catch 2 more including one more keeper again on the spinner. We went back to the bank we had left, and this time the bite had switched.
Glenn immediately caught 4 fish on a worm, and I hadn't had a bite on the spinner, so I switched to the worm and started catching fish again.
We ended up catching over 30 fish between the two of us. All were caught in the sawgrass and almost all were 11 ½ inches! They bit all day long even in the downpours. We got soaked but it wasn't too bad because it never got cold, and the fish were biting pretty well. When the lightning started popping we left and went to the launch area and found shelter. Several others who opted not to play games with mother nature were there also. After about 25 minutes the strong thunder boomers seemed to move past, and we went back out. I managed 5 small keepers over the day, but Glenn never got the keeper bite. He had several that were about ¼ inch too short on one end and could not make them stretch.

At the weigh in Lee Brannon took the top spot. He had 3 nice fish that weighed 7.04 lbs to get the win. He also had the lunker at 3.61 lbs. Mack Cramer had a limit that weighed 6.09 lbs for 2nd place. My little limit took 3rd weighing 5.32 lbs. Billy Myrick managed to snag the 4th slot with 3 fish weighing 4.29 lbs. Congratulations to all who fished and didn't give up with the heavy rains. While all of the fish Glenn and I caught came from spinner baits and worms, others caught fish on buzz baits, creature baits, flukes and floating worms, as well as crank baits. Preceding a cold front, the fish just seemed to bite almost anything that got in front of them.

Our next tournament is on the Tensaw Delta out of Scott's Landing on the causeway. Make plans to fish this tournament for sure as this is one of the best times of the year to fish the delta area. Merry Christmas to all and have a safe holiday season.

'Til next time...Keep your hooks sharp.
Creek Chub