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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!

Kimberly Schurwon of the Woodlands, TX was the THIRD CERTIFIED BLUE-Tag WINNER and was awarded a 2022 Mowdy 22′ V boat with a Mercury 150L Pro XS Optimax and Coastline Trailer.

Here’s her story:

Once the anchor was out, she grabbed some live shrimp, took her rod and reel, and cast the shrimp near old pylons. It did not take long after that shrimp hit bottom before something got a hold of it. She set the hook, and the fight was on! Once that fish was hooked, it tried everything to escape, including running through and around those pylons! Kimberly recalled, “It was like I was reeling that fish in through an obstacle course!” She could feel the line dragging across the pylons and knew it would break off if she did not bring that fish in quickly. Once the redfish was safely in the net, she realized it had a tag waving at her. Kimberly yelled to her husband, “Give me my glasses! IT’S A 2022 BLUE-TAGGED REDFISH!” With cheers all around, Kimberly clipped the tag, released the redfish, and headed off to one of our official weigh stations, West End Marina, to turn in the tag.

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

Randall Kelly of Rockport, TX was the second CERTIFIED BLUE-TAG WINNER and was awarded a 2022 Mowdy 22′ V boat with a Mercury 150L Pro XS Optimax and Coastline Trailer.

Here’s his story:

With tides changing, Randall decided to either go south towards Ingleside or north towards Rockport. Randall and his wife Sandra headed north up the ICW to Turtle Bayou flats. With the day’s heat upon them, Randall knew that these fish would be in deep guts off the flat. Each time they would hook up, Sandra would yell in hopeful anticipation, “TAG! TAG! TAG!” The power of positive thinking is REEL! Randall grabbed his rod and reel and cast the mullet into the gut, and BAM, he was hooked up! Once the redfish was within reach of the net, they noticed algae on its back. Upon further investigation, it was a BLUE tag! With the Blue tag in hand, Randall headed off to one of our official weigh stations, Terry’s Seaworthy Marine Supply, to turn in the tag.

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

Senior Chief Stephen Berris, USN, ret. of Corpus Christi, TX was the FIRST BLUE-Tag CERTIFIED WINNER. Recently, Steve was awarded a 2022 Mowdy 22′ V boat with a Mercury 150L Pro XS Optimax and Coastline Trailer.

Here’s his story:

Steve and his fishing buddies Jim and George pushed off early Monday morning June 20th, 2022, from North Padre Island. While running down the ditch, George asked the guys, “Where do y’all want to fish this morning?” Jim replied, “Wherever the tagged redfish are.” George set a course to one of their tried-and-true spots on the flat near Pita Island. With the motor up and a slight breeze at their back, they floated across the extensive flat. Being the good friend that he is, Steve positioned himself at the stern of the boat to let his buddy Jim cast from the bow in hopes to get him on more fish. With a rod and reel in hand and scattered potholes all around, Steve let his bone super spook fly. With a few twitches of the wrist that familiar sound of a topwater exploding on a calm morning set in and Steve was hooked up. He exclaimed, “She Blew it Up!” It was not until the redfish was safely in the net before they realized that it had a BLUE- tag waving at them! With cheers all around, Steve clipped the tag and released the redfish. With the Blue tag in hand, Steve headed off to one of our official weigh stations, Roy’s Bait & Tackle Outfitters, to turn in the BLUE Tag. Thank you, Senior Chief Stephen Berris, USN, ret for 26 years serving this country!

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

Kasey Arnst was the THIRD CERTIFIED WINNER of the 2022 Texas Ford Dealer’s RED-Tagged Redfish Division. Recently, Kasey was awarded a 2022 Ford F-150 “Texas Edition” XLT Super Cab connected to a Haynie 23′ Bigfoot with a Mercury 150HP L Pro XS Optimax and Coastline Trailer.

Here’s his story:

For Kasey Arnst, this was not a typical Monday. Ordinarily, Kasey would be starting his work week, but this Monday marked the first work day after losing his job. Over the weekend, knowing he would not work on Monday, Kasey decided to sign up for the CCA Texas STAR Tournament and head to Galveston to spend time fishing. Once there, he pulled out his cast net, snagged a few mud minnows, and waded into the water. With his rod and reel in hand, he cast his line out and waited for a bite. The line went taut, and he set the hook! Once the redfish was within reach of the net, he noticed what appeared to be algae on its back. Upon further investigation, it was a RED tag! Kasey’s luck had just changed; what had initially seemed to be a misfortune Monday turned into the most fortunate day as he landed the tagged red, making him our third RED tag winner. Kasey clipped the tag, released the redfish, and headed off to one of our official weigh stations, West End Marina, to turn in the tag.

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

Heriberto Flores was the SECOND CERTIFIED WINNER of the 2022 Texas Ford Dealer’s RED-Tagged Redfish Division. Recently, Heriberto was awarded a 2022 Ford F-150 “Texas Edition” XLT Super Cab connected to a Haynie 23′ Bigfoot with a Mercury 150HP L Pro XS Optimax and Coastline Trailer.

Here’s his story:

Heriberto Flores and his buddy struggled all afternoon, finding live bait and fighting the rain. Once they caught a handful of shrimp and a few finger mullet, they caught a break in the weather, and Heriberto said, “Let’s go. Let’s go try it with this.” After pulling up to their regular spot in North Trinity Bay, they saw multiple boats were already there, and one was catching redfish out in the distance. After using what little bait they had catching flounder, they needed more bait and were able to bring in nickel-sized baby shad. After the boat that was catching those redfish left, Heriberto took the opportunity to grab the spot and set up shop there. He tried everything he could, even yelling “Tag, Tag, Tag” after each tug of the line. He went back into the live well one last time and grabbed those baby shad, and with rod and reel in hand, he let the bait fly as far as he could. Suddenly, he felt a tug on the line and started screaming. Again, he yelled, “Tag, Tag, Tag,” as he told his buddy to grab the net. It wasn’t until the redfish was safely in the net that he realized that this one had a tag! At first, he couldn’t see what color it was since it was covered in algae. He yelled to his buddy, “Video me! Video me! This one has a tag in it! Come on!” With the redfish in hand, he began to strip the algae away, revealing a RED-Tag! As they were celebrating, Heriberto clipped the tag and released the redfish. With the Red tag “safely” in his teeth, he headed off to one of our official weigh stations to turn it in. [Linda’s Bait & Tackle]

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