The 2013 TJM Charity Kayak & SUP Fishing Tournament started out casino style with jackpots of prizes to be won everywhere. The 5th annual tournament, held on July 27th, boasted nearly 100 participants fishing to help raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease. In the words of tournament organizers, “Most everyone has had contact with or knows someone who has been affected by this terrible disease. In November 2002, Mr. Terrance Jackson Medlock lost his battle with Alzheimer’s. It is in his honor and memory that the TJM Charity Kayak & SUP Fishing Tournament is held annually in July on the Cape Fear Coast in Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach, NC.”
Upon arrival at tournament headquarters at Hook, Line & Paddle Kayak Shop on Eastwood Road, anglers were greeted with free food, drinks and a variety of prizes to be won simply by entering the tournament. At least 30 different prize packages, otherwise known as jackpots, were available to be won – without even submitting a fish! First prize in any division was a brand new kayak associated with that category. There was even a Grand Slam division, which produced a record 12 anglers catching an inshore Grand Slam, consisting of at least one flounder, trout and drum. The winning Grand Slam, caught by Joseph Sullivan, boasted an average length for each fish at over 21 inches.
Below are the tournament results for 2013.
2013 TJM Charity Kayak Fishing Tournament Results | |||
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
Grand Slam | Joseph Sullivan 63 9/10″ | Bob Dainton 63 1/2″ | Tyler Simmons 55″ |
Redfish | Terry Eason 28 1/4″ | Winston Brown 27 1/2″ | Mark Patterson 27 1/4″ |
Trout | Chip Camp 19″ | Greg Sorrell 18 3/4″ | Tim Norris 18 1/4″ |
Flounder | Bob Dainton 20 1/4″ | Joseph Sullivan 20 1/8″ | Josh Ferguson 20″ |
SUP Division | Drew Camp 19.5″ Redfish, 15″ Flounder | ||
The list of great sponsors included Native Kayaks, Wilderness, Accent, Scotty, Cannon, Tex’s Tackle, Yolo Board, Penn, Gulp, Balloon Fisher King and many, many others. Thanks to Hook, Line & Paddle, Ryan Meddock and Chris Tryon for hosting another great tournament. We enjoyed fishing! Team CAM posted an 18 1/8-inch flounder and a 17.5 inch trout just below the leader board. We look forward to fishing again next year!
Co-Publisher CAM
Eddie Hardgrove