Misuraca’s 8.29-pounder takes the lead in eastern division
Three big speckled trout, including an 8-plus-pounder, jostled the names on the CCA STAR Tournament’s leaderboard over the Father’s Day weekend.
“We had a lot of lead changes in trout and in other categories,” said Rad Trascher, tournament director for Coastal Conservation Association Louisiana’s STAR. “A bunch of big stuff came in.”
The biggest speckled trout belonged to Vance Misuraca, who weighed in an 8.29-pounder at Venice Marina to take over 1st place in the east division.
Mark Deroche claimed 1st place in the west division by a mere 6 ounces after weighing in a 7.53-pound speck at Calcasieu Point Landing.
And Thomas Knippers caught a 7.47 pounder to take the lead in the kayak west division.
So far no one has claimed the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck for the first tagged redfish. One was caught on the tournament’s opening weekend, but the angler wasn’t registered for the STAR, Trascher said.
He has heard rumors that another tagged redfish was caught in Grand Isle by another unregistered angler.
“The story goes that one guy was registered and one guy wasn’t, so the guy who was not threw the fish back and they’ve been fishing there ever since since trying to catch him again,” Trascher said.
The first tagged redfish will win the truck, and the next nine tagged redfish will be eligible for a 21-foot NauticStar with 150 hp Mercury, he said.
Trascher encouraged anglers who catch a fish eligible for the leader board to go through the process and register their catch.
“Just because you know you’re not going to end up in 1st, put it on the leader board anyway,” he said. “You never know what’s going to happen. There are people that get disqualified every year. Some people win two divisions and can only claim one prize.
“So if you’re going to be on the leaderboard, weigh it in.”
According to the CCA website, more than 11,000 people participate in the tournament, and Trascher said that number might increase again this year.
“By all indications we’re going to break the record again,” he said. “This year we were way ahead in April, so we’ll have to see if the number grows or plateaus.”
The entry fee to enter the tournament is $25, but you must be a CCA member to participate. Memberships cost $25, but Trascher said spouse or associate memberships are available for $15.
Kids 17 and under fish the tournament for free, but still have to register and be CCA members. Youth membership in CCA costs $10, he said.
For more information about registering for the tournament, which ends on Sept. 1, click here.
