There were some big questions answered at the Ozello Classic held on May 5. Questions like who would win this all important Classic as it is the halfway mark in the series year. Who would win the Ozello? Who would be the series leader after this event? Would the series still be near deadlock at the top? Could it be any closer and oh yea, who would catch the biggest fish at Ozello?

Well we have answers now and they are all good. To begin with, two time national champion Mark Knowles won the Ozello Classic with a total of 43.8 inches and the First Place Podium. The Second Place Podium was captured by Kyle Staton & D.O.A. who weighed-in 40.2 inches and Otis Coblentz hooked up with MirrOlure to score 36.8 inches and the Third Place Podium. Coblentz also won the RAILBLAZA Action Photo Award with a great shot of a snook jumping while doing battle with him. This brings us to the Fourth Place Podium and Marty Meakin who was 35.3 series points behind the leader going into this tension packed Classic. Marty scored 34.6 inches using D.O.A. shad tails and was followed by William Lusk with 29.9 inches caught on MirrOlure MirrOdine and the Fifth Place Podium. James Foy caught the largest fish, a 25.5 inch redfish that looked more like a red buffalo. We congratulate the Top Five and all of the contestants that fished in the Pecks 3rd Annual Ozello Classic.

Let's see, that answered a few questions. What about the series standings now that we are halfway through the series year? Two tournaments ago less than 40 points separated the top five and only .02 or two tenths of a point separated Rick Klosicki, in first at the time and Marty Meakin. That's very close competition. Then onto the Everglades for the 10,000 Islands Classic where Klosicki pulled ahead of Meakin and the rest of the pack by 35.3 points and a breath of fresh air.

Then fishing happened. Klosicki had a tough day in Ozello, Meakin scored a podium and other anglers were smelling blood in the water as the drums of change were pounding. The difference in series points earned at the Ozello Classic was too great for Klosicki to hold onto the top, at least for now. Marty Meakin had surpassed him with a series standings score of 472.6 points for the top spot. Rick Klosicki came in at the halfway point with 469.7 points for a very strong second place in the standings. Are we back to square one with only 2.9 points separating the two fishing Titans? It looks like it but let's have a look at the rest of the top as other contestants have been quietly at work. Otis Coblentz is in third place in the series with 393.1 points and added nearly 86 series points in Ozello. Johnathan Ross is in fourth place with 334.4 series points followed by Bill White who has 299.6 points and William Lusk right behind him with 298.7 points. The top ten anglers are separated by only 253.7 series points and the top five are only 173 points apart with five more Classics to go between now and October. That is all very, very close competition. It is still anyone's game and a come from behind victory is not out of the question at all.

As I like to say, fishing happens. We will see how the kettle cooks in Sarasota on June 16 at the Old Salty Dog Tarpon Fever Classic. For all of the Series Standings and more information, please visit the Classics at www.KayakFishingClassicS.com Thanks for reading and see you there.