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Dustin Durbin was the FIFTH CERTIFIED WINNER of the 2023 Texas Ford Dealer’s Red Tag Redfish Division. He drove off with a 2023 Ford F150 XLT Super Cab connected to a Haynie 23’ Bigfoot with a Mercury 150 L Pro XS Optimax and Coastline Trailer.

Angler Report
Tag Color: Red
Surfside Marina
Tag #1524
Date: Tuesday, July 18
Caught: Bastrop Bay

Here’s his STAR Story:

I set out at 5:30 am and arrived at Bastrop Marina, where I noticed a low tide, west wind, and murky water. Normally, these conditions would not bode well for my brother Donald and me. Despite this, we launched the boat and discussed our options for the day. We decided to head towards Bastrop, focusing on redfish while waiting for the tide to come in and the sun to rise. At approximately 6 AM, we anchored our boat and began wading. While crossing a reef that is usually submerged, I had a feeling to fish in a pocket of water next to the reef. With the wind pushing the water into the pocket, it looked like the perfect spot to catch a redfish. After only 20 casts, I was hooked. When I netted the fish, it jumped out, revealing a string of algae. I thought, “This couldn’t be a tagged redfish, could it?” After confirming the tag, I excitedly shouted to my brother, who initially thought I was joking. However, he soon realized the truth and shared in my amazement. What started as a less-than ideal day became a dream come true, especially since we were fishing in an area where we often fished with Geeb Leman. We felt that Geeb was watching over us that morning.

Congratulations, Dustin!

Alonso Guerrero was the FOURTH CERTIFIED WINNER of the 2023 Texas Ford Dealer’s Red Tag Redfish Division. He recently drove off with a 2023 Ford F150 XLT Super Cab connected to a Haynie 23’ Bigfoot with a Mercury 150 L Pro XS Optimax and Coastline Trailer.

Angler Report
Tag Color: Red
South Shore Bait & Tackle – Port Isabel, TX
Tag #1452
Date: Friday, July 14
Caught: South Bay, South Padre Island

Here’s his STAR Story:

On July 14, 2023, I woke up bright and early at 6:30 in San Benito, Tx, eagerly anticipating a fishing trip with my friend Sergio at 9 am. Before heading to LIV, I stopped at the Laguna Vista Circle K to grab a delicious taco and refreshing drinks for our adventure. Upon arriving at LIV, I quickly prepared the boat, loading two fishing rods, coolers, drinks, and ice. We set off onto the water just after 9 am.

Once out on the water, we used a cast net to catch some mullet in the channel. Despite the high tide and scorching hot weather with wind speeds of around 18mph, we persevered and were rewarded for our efforts. We headed to our first spot, Mexiquita Flats, where I caught a beautiful 19-inch red that I released back into the water. Sergio also had some luck and caught a toadfish and catfish.

We moved to my favorite spot in the middle of South Bay on the right of the tabletop after not getting any bites for about 45 minutes. Once at the spot, we anchored, and I had two lines out, one with live finger-size mullet and the other with cut mullet. The rod with live finger-size mullet got a strike pretty quickly, and I caught my first-ever snook, a keeper measuring 24.5 inches. It was exciting to catch the fish, and it put up a good fight. After that, I re-baited my line, cast it out, and caught a small redfish. The bite slowed down after that, and we caught several catfish, which we released. The wind was picking up, and the bite slowed down even more. At that point, Sergio suggested we try another spot, but I suggested we wait another 10 minutes. Soon after, I got a good bite on my line with cut mullet, but the fish needed to take the bait. However, it returned shortly after and got hooked. I reeled it in, and it fought me for a few minutes before Sergio netted it. Once on the boat, I noticed that it had a CCA red tag covered in seaweed on one side. I removed the seaweed and realized what it was, so I had Sergio record the catch, tag removal, and release of the fish on my phone. I called my wife to tell her the good news, and we headed to South Shore B&T to turn in the tag and fill out paperwork. After that, we cleaned the boat and called it a day. It was a one-in-a-million opportunity, and I’m grateful for God’s blessings.

Congratulations, Alonso!

Steven Bledsoe was the THIRD CERTIFIED WINNER of the 2023 Texas Ford Dealer’s Red Tag Redfish Division. He recently drove off with a 2023 Ford F150 XLT Super Cab connected to a Haynie 23’ Bigfoot with a Mercury 150 L Pro XS Optimax and Coastline Trailer.

Angler Report
Tag Color: Red
POC Fishing Center
Tag #1461
Date: Wednesday, June 7
Caught: Mud Island

Here’s his STAR Story:

As we drove to South Texas, my son Chris and his friend Justin read the rules and playfully discussed who would catch the first tagged redfish. I mostly listened to their banter without saying much but interjected with the thought that someone catches these tagged fish every year, so why not one of us? Although, I secretly had my doubts.

We started our journey from Copano Bay and traveled around 15 miles to reach one of our favorite fishing spots. While approaching the spot, I observed another boat moving alongside us towards the same location. To avoid any interference, we waited to see where they would anchor. Two fishermen from the other boat got off and waded towards the south, while one stayed in the boat and followed them using a trolling motor. We noticed the water was filled with bait, and some fish were under it. Therefore, we decided to wade around 1,000 yards from the other boat. I went towards the south while the other two went towards the north. We managed to catch and release an 18-inch trout, but unfortunately, the wind died down, and we didn’t get any other bites.

After returning to the boat, we set off towards the North. The wind started to increase, but it was blowing in a new direction. We decided to pause at Allyns Bight as there seemed to be some bait activity. Despite this, the three of us managed to catch three undersized trout. We continued our journey and headed further North towards the Spalding Bight area. We found an area with some bait, and Chris spotted a redfish tailing by the shore near some drains. He chased after it for around 100 yards and eventually managed to get the fish to bite. It was a 24-inch redfish, but we didn’t catch anything else.

Around 1 pm, the temperature was rising. We noticed the wind picking up, but instead of heading back, we returned to our initial spot where we knew there was bait. Fortunately, we found no other boats within a mile of our desired fishing location. I began wading towards the south, fishing the parallel guts along the shoreline. Unfortunately, I accidentally stepped into a hole about 50 feet from the boat, causing me to fall and flood my waders. I had to return to the boat to remove my waders and get back into the water.

I continued walking in the same direction and stumbled upon the same hole, causing me to fall once again. Thankfully, I was already soaked from my previous fall. While wading towards the south, I noticed 20-30 redfish swimming towards me, but they were too far away to cast my line. I made my way towards them as they came closer to me.

I cast my line towards the left side of the school and quickly caught a fish. I shouted to Chris, trailing me by 75 yards, to hurry up and join me because the school is still together, and we might be able to catch a few more. I am more focused on the school than the fish I just caught. However, as the hooked fish circles around me at about 20 yards, I take a closer look at it and notice what appears to be a tag on its back.

I yelled at Chris to hurry over because he carried a net and suspected the fish I caught had a tag. Chris was walking on water for the last 25 yards before he reached me, and his description of my actions at the time is, “For some reason, Dad became laser-focused on this fish.” Amidst all the commotion, we somehow missed sight of the school. We get the fish in the net, which has a tag, and we start hollering, but we can’t read the tag.

As we were looking at the tag, full of algae and slime, I commented, just my luck; I caught a tagged fish from previous years. We secured the fish while keeping it in the net and returned to the boat. The first thing we do is wipe the tag clean, and it says CCA 2023- RE1461. At this time, Justin had also just returned to the boat, and serious hollering, high-fiving, and jubilation ensued. We carefully clip the tag, revive the fish, video the release, and swiftly return to the dock.

Justin and I were searching for weigh-in stations, and he mentioned Indianola and Fishing Center in POC. I agreed to go to POC. However, halfway through our journey, I asked Justin to look up weigh stations again. He found weigh stations in Rockport and Port Aransas, but we decided to proceed to POC since we knew we could reach it before the 5 PM closing time.

I want to credit Beverly Clifton at the POC Fishing Center for her outstanding service. This was our first tag processing, and she went above and beyond to ensure that we were following all the necessary requirements. She even called STAR to confirm the procedures and even had us follow her to the post office and watch her drop the tag in the mail. I highly recommend visiting the POC Fishing Center as they were extremely helpful and accommodating, staying late to ensure we completed everything correctly.

Sharing this experience with my son was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will forever be priceless. We made decisions and took actions that were out of the ordinary for us, such as traveling to Rockport, returning to a previous spot, falling into a hole twice, wading back in the same direction, and staying committed even when it was tempting to give up. I believe the outcome resulted from divine intervention, as we were at the right spot and encountered a school of fish at the right time. Additionally, meeting the Clifton’s in POC was a highlight of the day, as they went above and beyond to assist us. All of these events were truly incredible and made for an unforgettable experience.

Congratulations, Steven!

Russell Snyder was the SECOND CERTIFIED WINNER of the 2023 Texas Ford Dealer’s Red Tag Redfish Division. He recently drove off with a 2023 Ford F150 XLT Super Cab connected to a Haynie 23’ Bigfoot with a Mercury 150 L Pro XS Optimax and Coastline Trailer.

Angler Report
Tag Color: Red
Surfside Marine
Tag #1541
Date: Monday, June 5
Caught: Pirates Cove, Galveston, TX

Here’s his STAR Story:

On June 5th, Russell Snyder became the second angler to catch a red-tagged redfish.

He set out in his kayak that evening to fish for some redfish. Fishing at night is a great option, especially with the summer heat starting to kick in. There are fewer anglers around at night, so it gives you an advantage.

While in Pirates Cove, Galveston, Russell fished the underwater green lights hoping to catch some reds and trout. After catching two reds and a trout, he cast his line into the green light water and felt a thump he will never forget. He had caught a red-tagged redfish! If you’ve never fished for reds in a kayak, they are incredibly strong and will pull you around in the water. They make for a great fight! Russell knew he had just won a brand-new 2023 Ford F150 XLT Super Cab connected to a Haynie 23’ Bigfoot with a Mercury 150 L Pro XS Optimax and Coastline Trailer.

Congratulations, Russell!

Michael Webb II was the FIRST CERTIFIED WINNER of the 2023 Texas Ford Dealer’s Red Tag Redfish Division. He recently drove off with a 2023 Ford F150 XLT Super Cab connected to a Haynie 23’ Bigfoot with a Mercury 150 L Pro XS Optimax and Coastline Trailer.

Angler Report
Tag Color: Red
Linda’s Sylvan Beach B&T
Tag #1519
Date: Monday, June 5
Caught: Bay Port Terminal, Galveston, TX

Here’s his STAR Story:

Michael Webb was the first certified angler to catch a red tagged redfish on June 5th.

He was fishing with his dad and nephew. First thing in the morning, they went over to the Trinity spillway, and by 8 am, his nephew caught a massive sheepshead for his division. They decided to pack up and went to Linda’s Sylvan Beach B&T to weigh the fish. With the rest of the day ahead, they grabbed some more bait, went out to the Bay Port Terminal spillway, and found some nice reds.

After breaking his line off on a big fish, he re-tied and made another cast. BAM, hooked up on a red. This red was very special. As soon as it emerged from the depths, he could see the red tag sticking out of the back of that redfish. His dad grabbed the net, and it took off right before he could get in. Once the red was safely in the net, a scream was let out, and Michael knew he had just won a brand new 2023 Ford F150 XLT Super Cab connected to a Haynie 23’ Bigfoot with a Mercury 150 L Pro XS Optimax and Coastline Trailer.

Congratulations, Michael!

Steven Morales of Huffman was this year’s Sheepshead winner (9 lbs. 6 oz.) in the Inshore Division and was recently awarded a 2022 Shoalwater 19′ Cat Boat, McClain trailer, and 115hp Mercury Motor Package!

Here’s his story as told by the angler himself:

“It was June 16th, around 10:50 am. I was in Trinity Bay fishing for croaker so we could go fishing for gafftop and reds. I used my little Abu Garcia bait pole with a 6-pound test line. I had a tiny piece of shrimp on it. I had probably had four croakers. We said we would get six and then go to our spot. The next hit took off. I fought it for a good minute, but once I got it to the boat, I thought it was a black drum, but I wasted no time. I grabbed my leader and got it in…God was on my side.”

The angler’s brother-in-law exclaimed, “You just won a boat!”

• Tiny pole
• Tiny shrimp
• After croakers
• And only 6 LB mono that comes on the poles from the factory.
• That pole will forever go with me, but the line will be updated.

Inspired to be a WINNER in next year’s 2023 CCA Texas STAR Tournament? Click here to register TODAY!

We’re proud to announce that Trey Prye of Jersey Village is the 2022 CCA Texas STAR Tournament Guides Division Winner and will be awarded a Mowdy 26′ CAT, 225 HP outboard, and custom Coastline trailer!

Here’s his story:

“I guide primarily out of East Matagorda Bay but have spent several years on Sabine Lake. A great friend of mine turned me on to the Gafftop bite on Sabine this past summer and we decided it was a great opportunity to get the kids involved shortly after. I had completely forgot about the Guides Division and was kicking myself after Colt and Jaxon made the board. I figured I best get entered as we still had a chance for my daughter to make the board and/or possibly upgrade one of the boys. I’m sure glad I did!! As much as I’d like to take all the credit, I can’t. We would have never been able to accomplish what we did without the man upstairs, a dear friend of mine, and of course the CCA STAR. Thanks for all that y’all do.”

The family that fishes STAR together, WINS together!

Thomas Ramsden of Port Aransas was this year’s Ling/Cobia winner (70 lbs. 13 oz.) in the Hoffpauir Offshore Division and was recently awarded a Polaris Ranger Crew 570EFI Polaris Pursuit Camo with a Big Tex Trailer.

Thomas was alone when he stumbled across a MASSIVE 70 lbs. 13 oz. Ling on the #3 Green Buoy out of Port Aransas. Remarkably, he was able to snag a photo somehow and land the fish by himself!

Inspired to be a WINNER in the 2023 CCA Texas STAR Tournament? Click here to register TODAY!

Matt Richter of Port Aransas was this year’s Red Snapper winner (27 lbs. 4 oz.) in the Hoffpauir Offshore Division and was recently awarded a Polaris Ranger Crew 570EFI Polaris Pursuit Camo with a Big Tex Trailer.

Here’s his story:

Early morning showers and a tough bite trolling for Wahoo led him 50 miles East of Port Aransas to North Baker in search of red snapper. There is no doubt that Matt was destined to catch this potentially winning snapper, especially since he was the only STAR-registered angler on the boat that day. It all went down when he felt a tug on the line and momentarily thought about passing the rod and reel off so someone else could enjoy a great fight. When he looked over his shoulder and saw his friends were already hooked up, he decided to keep it for himself. Good thing he didn’t pass that fish off. “I didn’t know what I hooked into, but it took a lot of line out and was not fighting like a typical snapper.” Once he saw the color change, he knew it was MASSIVE and reeled it in!

Inspired to be a WINNER in next year’s 2023 CCA Texas STAR Tournament? Click here to register TODAY!

Aaron Baker of Friendswood was this year’s Kingfish winner (44 lbs. 10 oz.) in the Hoffpauir Offshore Division and was recently awarded a Polaris Ranger Crew 570EFI Polaris Pursuit Camo with a Big Tex Trailer.

Here’s his story:

“While I was standing below one of the rod holders on the side mount, something hit the line, and the reel started screaming. I grabbed it and watched the line continue to run out for what felt like another 30 seconds while we stopped the boat. I worked the rod to keep constant pressure, and it was a battle where if he wasn’t taking line, I was bringing the line back in. As the King got closer, he shifted from one side of the boat to the other several times, and I had no choice but to follow him around. It wasn’t until about 25 minutes after the initial hit that I finally saw a body, and I could then understand how this was taking so long. I knew this would likely be the biggest fish I had ever reeled in. He made his swimming seem effortless while I struggled to gain any distance. He got within 10′ of the boat a couple of times before returning to tease me. After a good 30 minutes of fighting, I finally got him close enough for somebody to gaff him and got it in the boat. Then, my adrenaline started wearing off, and I realized how tired my hands and body were. This is the biggest, most exciting, and most exhausting catch I’ve ever had in my life.”

Inspired to be a WINNER in next year’s 2023 CCA Texas STAR Tournament? Click here to register TODAY!