Team Steckler/ Davis Wins IFA Redfish Tour Event at Aransas Pass, TX
OutdoorHub 06.10.14
Jeff Steckler and Will Davis, both of Rockport, Texas, weighed a two-redfish limit that totaled 16.17 pounds to win the final regular-season event for the Texas Division of the IFA Redfish Tour presented by Cabela’s on June 7 at Aransas Pass, Texas.
Facing high winds, the anglers crossed the choppy waters of Corpus Christi Bay to reach the protected waters of Laguna Madre.
“It blew 20-30 miles per hour pretty much all day,” said Steckler. “Because of the wind, there were large amounts of people in the area. That’s one of the areas that stays somewhat clean.”
Although the high winds concentrated the competitors and weekend anglers, the windy conditions played into the team’s game plan.
“It made for a tough trip down to the lagoon, but it actually helps our program because it turns the water a bit off color,” said Steckler. “When it’s calm, the fish are spooky and tough to catch out of the boat.”
The anglers fished Berkley Gulp! on quarter-ounce jigheads in the big grass flats of the lagoon and had their limit by early morning.
“I’ve wanted to win an IFA for a long time,” said Steckler. “Some of the tournament series we fish don’t have many competitors. To win against 60 or 70 boats means a little bit more.”
Second-place finishers Kelly Baggett, of Taft, Texas, and Aron Baggett, of Corpus Christi, Texas, brought 14.78 pounds to the scales to finish second overall and win $3,811, including $1,330 in Anglers Advantage cash.
Fishing 40 miles south of the marina, the anglers threw spoons and Berkley Gulp! in dirty water to catch their limit.
Mason Lincoln and Melissa Lincoln, both of Corpus Christi, Texas, won the $1,342 third-place prize along with an additional $1,260 in Anglers Advantage cash. The anglers ran 25 miles to the Laguna Madre area and fished Berkley Gulp! and spoons.
Seventh-place finishers James Alexander and Monica Alexander won the $500 Berkley Gulp! Big Fish award for their 8.65-pound redfish, along with a $250 Cabela’s gift card, courtesy of Berkley, for catching their kicker fish with Berkley Gulp!.
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 Survival, iON Cameras, Valley Fashions, Powertex Group, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and Redfish Willie’s at Redfish Bay Boat House.
For more information or to become a member of the IFA, visit www.ifatours.com.
IFA Redfish Tour Championship – Aransas Pass, Texas (Top 10)
1. Steckler/Davis – 16.17 lbs.
2. Baggett/Baggett – 14.78 lbs.
3. Lincoln/Lincoln – 14.55 lbs.
4. Lynch/Clarkson – 14.29 lbs.
5. Sawyer/Jordan – 13.54 lbs.
6. ORiley/Delong – 12.91 lbs.
7. Alexander/Alexander – 12.16 lbs.
8. Ramon/Ramon – 11.87 lbs.
9. Gonzalez/Gonzalez – 11.79 lbs.
10. Price/Watson – 11.72 lbs.
