Knowles Captures National Championship Classic
By Captain Pat Horrigan, Kayak Fishing ClassicS

Photos taken from

kayakfishingclassics.com

The Kayak Fishing ClassicS National Championship Classic was held on November 20^th & 21^st in Florida and everyone had their game face on. There was plenty to be serious about in the two day event. How about over $8,000.00 in sponsor gear prizes and cash? How about some serious bragging rights for a year? How about the fun and joy of winning a big kayak fishing championship? Or how about $1,000.00 from Yuenling Beer or a Freedom Hawk Kayak? Sound Good? It should and in fact, it was great!

The anglers enjoyed a ‘fish where you like’ format for day one. Everyone had a chance to fish their favorite Florida waters for big redfish. Day two was spent vying for ‘Big Red’ on Tampa Bay. The anglers were ready and so was Mother Nature. The weather was near perfect and the fishing conditions were excellent and that made for some hot action and some surprises. The two series favorites placed well but did not win the kayak, the cash or the championship.

The 2 PM Weigh In on Sunday was hosted by the fantastic Whiskey Joes Bar & Grill of Tampa where the anglers shared fishing stories and high hopes. Tampa angler Mark Knowles slammed the event by winning the Freedom Hawk Kayak, the lion’s share of the cash and sponsor gear, the bragging rights and all of the fun of winning by turning in two nice redfish measuring 28.25” & 29.6” for his victory. The modest and ever smiling Knowles was surprised and elated to say the least. Mark can use the new Freedom Hawk Kayak and the $500.00 from Yuenling Beer. And we all know that an angler can never have enough gear but this may prove to the exception to that rule. Mark also won gear from Deep South Fishing Rods, Aqua Design, Steve Whitlock Game Fish Art, High Roller Lures, IceMule Coolers, Ocean Waves Sunglasses, Plano Tackle Systems, PrecisionPak, RiverBum Flies, Talic, Jim Teeny Fly Lines, Temple Fork Outfitters and Linsey EyeCare. Sounds like Christmas came early for Mark.

Second Place went to Jose Chavez who also won the PrecisionPak Big Fish Award. Jose won using his TFO fly rod and RiverBum Flies. Jose turned in a huge 33” monster redfish that looked like it ate a football for breakfast. Jose also had an early Christmas and received $300.00 from Yuenling Beer and a kayak full of sponsor gear. Jose is rapidly becoming and expert fly angler and has recently developed a passion for the art.

Third Place was hooked by Derick Burgos who turned in 22.75” & 28” redfish for his victory and won a cool $200.00 from Yuenling Beer and enough gear to outfit one of his kayaks. Burgos led the series year to the last event of the regular series year and was unable to attend the 10^th and final series year event in October. It was nice to see him do so well in the Championship.

Fourth Place was captured by Series Champion, Chuck Statham by weighing in one redfish that was 31.5” and also looked big enough to pull a truck. Chuck received a bunch of sponsor gear to start his Holidays of right.

Fifth Place winner and also ever smiling went to Chris Ravelo with another big brute that measured a fat 31.25” to make it very close. Chris is an expert fly angler but went to his TFO/Gary Loomis Saltwater rod to capture his winning bruiser.