JACKSONVILLE, FL - MAY 3, 2008 – Capt. Roger Bump of Jacksonville, FL led 340 kayak anglers to claim the top prize in the 2008 Jacksonville Kayak Fishing Classic, the world’s largest kayak fishing tournament. The catch-photo-release charity event, run by JaxKayakFishing.com, raised over $28,000 for danielkids, Dignity-U-Wear, and the Shriners Hospitals for Children. "We are thrilled to be associated with such a world-class event, and want to thank the kayak anglers, the sponsors, and everyone that made the Classic happen for their generous support ", said Jimmy Kelly, Daniel’s director of donations.

Capt. Bump said he launched and fished in three different locations, the Buckman Bridge, Dunn’s Creek, and Clapboard Creek in pursuit of his winning 65.5” slam, which consisted of a 29.75” red, a 19” trout, and a 16.75” flounder. He won a fully-rigged Hobie Revolution fishing kayak with an Accent Diamond paddle for his efforts.

An overcome Bump related “I’ve been fishing this tournament for years, and finally got it right. I only caught three fish all day but they were the right ones, and thankfully my fish pictures were good”. Bump was closely followed by Jacksonville’s Dan Arvin with 61.7”, Jon Ward of Riverview, FL with 60.8”, and 12-year old Daniel Ganoe of Jacksonville with 59.2”.

According to tournament director Mike Kogan, “Although the inshore bite has been challenging recently, the bite certainly was on this weekend, especially the trout.” Eric Doughty of Atlantic Beach won the trout division with an outstanding 27” gator trout and took home a new Emotion Grand Slam kayak. Top redfish honors went to Joshua Burley of Jacksonville with a 34.5” red and he scored a Malibu X-13 kayak. Leading the way in the flounder category was John Gill of Jacksonville with a 20.65” flattie that was good for a Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140 kayak. All winners and placers also received custom paddles courtesy of Accent Paddles.

Twelve year-old Daniel Ganoe not only placed 4th in the slam competition but also won Jr. Angler. Patty Greene won Lady Angler in addition to 4th place in the trout class. Sixty-six year-old Donald Lohman won Sr. Angler with a nice red and a trout, and Rich Santos took Fly Angler honors with a 23” red and a 23” trout.

The Classic pulled together all of Jacksonville's kayak and fishing retailers into a world-class event led by Strike-Zone Fishing, Black Creek Outfitters, Dick's Sporting Goods, Army Navy Outdoors, All Wet Sports, and Gander Mountain to name just a few of the over 100 sponsors. According to Kogan, “the great efforts of our volunteers, the generosity of our terrific sponsors from Jacksonville’s local retailers to the manufacturers whose products they carry, and the support of the kayak fishing community have made this event an unqualified success.”

Slam
1 – Roger Bump – 65.5"
2 – Dan Arvin – 61.7"
3 – Jon Ward – 60.8"
4 – Daniel Ganoe – 59.2"

Redfish
1 – Joshua Burley – 34.5"
2 – John Chapman – 30.75"
3 – Jason Barnard – 29.25"
4 – Troy James – 29"

Trout
1 – Eric Doughty - 27"
2 – John Lee – 24.8"
3 – Brad Funkhouser - 24"
4 – Patty Greene – 23.4”

Flounder
1 – John Gill – 20.65"
2 – Jeff Bivins –- 20.65" (tie broken by check in time)
3 – Jeff Altman – 19"
4 – Jeff Altman Jr. – 18.5"

Lady Angler Award – Patty Greene
Junior Angler Award – Daniel Ganoe
Senior Angler Award – Donald Lohman
Fly Angler Award – Rich Santos
Best Dang Tackle Box – Jason Kellog