Team Henne Jr./White Wins IFA Redfish Tour Even at Port Aransas, TX
OutdoorHub 04.08.14
Ron Henne Jr., of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Brad White, of San Antonio, Texas, weighed a two-redfish limit that totaled 17.44 pounds to win the first regular-season event for the Texas Division of the IFA Redfish Tour presented by Cabela’s at Port Aransas, Texas, on April 5. The team took home a fully rigged Ranger boat powered by a Yamaha outboard, valued at over $25,000.
Starting the day off late due to battery issues, the anglers fought tough, windy conditions all day. One the way across Corpus Christi Bay the team’s boat took a huge wave over the bow, breaking their trolling motor.
“Despite battery issues, weather condition and the toll taken on the boat and equipment, we kept our focus and game plan,” Henne Jr. said.
The anglers long drifted Berkley Gulp! jerk shads in the upper Laguna Madre area for their winning limit.
Second-place finishers Cody Barton and Bobby Lambright, both of Port Lavaca, Texas, brought 16.89 pounds of redfish to the scales to take home $5,578 in winnings, including $2,709 in Anglers Advantage cash.
“It was very windy,” said Barton. “We used drift socks and slowly worked spoons and Berkley Gulp! in the Corpus area. We fished hard all day and didn’t make any mistakes.”
Father-and-son team Jay Watkins, of Rockport, Texas, and Ryan Watkins, of New Braunfels, Texas, took home the $1,564 third-place prize and almost doubled up their winnings with an extra $1,296 in Anglers Advantage cash.
“The fish held shallow all day and the water was dingy,” said Watkins. “We did not miss a single fish that we needed and released 15 or more redfish 20 to 24 inches. It was a great day with my son.”
Despite only boating one keeper – a 10-pound lunker – twenty fourth-place finishers Tammy Jo Patrick and Bo Patrick took home the $500 Berkley Big Fish award, plus a $250 Cabela’s gift card, courtesy of Berkley.
For more information or to become a member of the IFA, visit www.ifatours.com.
IFA events are made possible through the sponsorship and continued support of these well-respected brands: Hobie Fishing, Ranger Boats, Cabela’s, Lucas Oil, Yamaha Outboards, RAM, Berkley Gulp!, Berkley Gulp! Alive!, PENN Reels, Spiderwire, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Power-Pole, Amphibia, Arctic Ice, Protect the Harvest, General Tire, Bob’s Machine Shop, Blue Point Fabrication, SuperClean, Progressive, Mustang, iON, Valley Fashions, Powertex Group, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and Laishley Park Marina. The IFA also partnered with Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce/Tourist Bureau.
IFA Redfish Tour Championship
Port Aransas, Texas (Top 10)
1. Henne Jr./White – 17.44 lbs.
2. Barton/Lambright – 16.89 lbs.
3. Watkins/Watkins – 16.49 lbs.
4. Shaw/Dooms – 16.34 lbs.
5. Flinn/Land – 16.09 lbs.
6. Baggett/Baggett– 15.66 lbs.
7. Harper/Moccia – 15.51 lbs.
8. Barton/Barton – 15.28 lbs.
9. Survant/Harris – 14.35 lbs.
10. Akin/Hornsby – 14.26 lbs.
