Father and Son Win Fall MSSA Tournament

   Annapolis, Md. -- Anglers from Maine to North Carolina made their way to Maryland this past weekend to test their skills and promote recreational fishing on the Chesapeake Bay as the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association (MSSA) hosted the 19th annual Chesapeake Bay Fall Classic, the largest fall rockfish tournament on the Bay.

     Two hundred and fifty boats carrying over 1,500 anglers took to the water to try to reel in the big one for their share of the prize money and of course bragging rights. The MSSA and its volunteers set up 8 weigh stations from Sandy Point state park to Point Lookout.

     "This tournament, like our others, lures anglers from Maryland and other states to the Bay and gives our local communities a little boost and of course gives our members one last chance to participate in this great fishery,” said Dave Smith, Executive Director of the MSSA. 

     This was the final tournament in the 2011 MSSA Tournament Series which consists of three total events including the largest rockfish tournament in the country the Championship on the Chesapeakeand the offshore Tuna-ment.

     First place went to Steve Dodson and son Mike of Pasadena, Maryland for their 51.65 pound rockfish. The father and son team caught the 51+ pounder at the mouth of the Choptank on the first day of the tournament. Dodson weighed the fish in at Taylors Island Family Campground, one of the two weigh stations on the Eastern Shore. Caught on tandem Bloody Point bait he purchased at Alltackle during the tournament captains meetings, Dodson and his son Mike will be taking $21,875 for their catch.

     Smith said the Bloody Point baits have won the last three bay tournaments the MSSA has hosted.

     Second place went to Andrew Turner of Brandywine, Maryland with his 42.45 pound rockfish. Turner was accompanied by Lee Tippett of the Fin Finder as they trolled the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Their efforts paid off late in the game as they hooked up with the beast around 3:00 PM on Sunday.

     Tippett said they were bringing the lines in when they hooked up and were surprised when they brought it to the boat. Turner will walk away with $43,225 and top payout of the tournament. While Turner took second place, he took first place in all of the Tournament Within a Tournament (TWT’s).

     Third place went to John Patchett of Fallston, Maryland for his 41.5 pound rockfish. Patchett will be taking home over $15,000 for his third place fish and several TWT’s. 

Youth Division
     The MSSA started the youth division in the fall tournament in 2010 and it has quickly become one of the anglers’ favorite aspects of the tournament. The MSSA has made it their mission for many years to educate and encourage youth fishing in the state of Maryland through fishing clinics, camps, and contests/tournaments.

     The youth division of the Fall Classic is for any child 16 years of age and under. The MSSA only asks that the youth angler participate in the catch as much as possible.
1st place – Gavin Ridgeway – 38.8 lbs
2nd place – Matt Long – 35.5 lbs
3rd place – Jake Meadows – 33.9 lbs
4th place – Cameron Connor – 31.75 lbs
5th place – Jennifer Tippett – 31.6 lbs
6th place – C.J. Lowe – 29.3 lbs
7th place – Michael Harris – 28.6 lbs
8th place – Jimmy Tippett – 27.2 lbs
9th place – Steven Hepburn – 27.05 lbs
10th place – Austin Duffey – 25.6 lbs

Unofficial Results

     Smith said all results are unofficial until he and the Tournament Committee can check and confirm all fish weights and the winners pass their respective polygraph tests.

    For more information on this tournament and the MSSA you may visit www.mssa.net or call 410-255-5535. 

Final Standings - All Polygraphs Certified Passed
Top Payouts
Andrew Turner/Lee Tippett - $43,225
Steve Dodson - $21,875
John Patchett - $15,410
Doug Scott - $8,100
Marty Simounet - $2,440

Main Tournament
1st Place – Steve Dodson – 51.65 lbs - $21,875
2nd Place – Andrew Turner/Lee Tippett - $13,125
3rd Place - John Patchett – 41.5 lbs – 8,750

TWT’s
$50
1st Place – Andrew Turner/Lee Tippett – 42.45 lbs - $2,075
2nd Place – John Patchett – 41.5 lbs - $1,245
3rd Place - Doug Scott – 41 lbs - $830

$100
1st Place – Andrew Turner/Lee Tippett – 42.45 lbs - $3,850
2nd Place – John Patchett – 41.5 lbs - $2,310
3rd Place - Doug Scott – 41 lbs - $1,540

$150
1st Place – Andrew Turner/Lee Tippett – 42.45 lbs – $5,175
2nd Place – John Patchett – 41.5 lbs - $3,105
3rd Place - Doug Scott – 41 lbs - $2,070

$200
1st Place – Andrew Turner/Lee Tippett – 42.45 lbs - $6,100
2nd Place - Doug Scott – 41 lbs - $3,660
3rd Place - Marty Simounet – 40.25 lbs - $2,440

$300
1st Place – Andrew Turner/Lee Tippett – 42.45 lbs - $12,900