Mizell Grabs Okeechobee Title

LaPorta nets Gator Division co-angler trophy

Jessie Mizell of Sarasota, Florida, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Gator Division tournament on Lake Okeechobee Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of 10 bass weighing 42 pounds, 12 ounces. For his win, Mizell earned $5,848.

According to post-tournament reports, Mizell targeted schooling fish in the northeast area of the lake using a 6th Sense crankbait.

The top 10 boaters:

1^st:          Jessie Mizell, Sarasota, Fla., 10 bass, 42-12, $5,848

2^nd:         Richard Sasina, Port St. Lucie, Fla., 10 bass,   37-9, $2,824

3^rd:          Donald Locke, Loxahatchee, Fla., 10 bass, 36-11, $2,182

4^th:          Mason Boylan, Melbourne, Fla., 10 bass, 34-4, $1,318

5^th:          Cody Wright, Okeechobee, Fla., 10 bass, 34-3, $1,130

6^th:          Matthew Wieteha, Miami, Fla., 10 bass, 33-1, $1,135

7^th:          Joey Roberts, Jensen Beach, Fla., 10 bass, 33-1, $941

8^th:          William Schmitt, West Palm Beach, Fla., 10 bass, 30-12, $847

9^th:          Jason Pike, Greenacres, Fla., 10 bass, 30-12, $753

10^th:        Steve Broughton, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., 10 bass, 30-3, $659

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.  

Dustin Royer of Davie, Florida, caught a 7-pound, 8-ounce bass – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – and earned the Boater Big Bass award of $750.

LaPorta wins co-angler title

Mike LaPorta of Port Charlotte, Florida, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 38 pounds, 4 ounces, to win the Co-angler Division and $2,824.

The top 10 co-anglers:

1^st:          Mike LaPorta, Port Charlotte, Fla., 10 bass, 38-4, $2,824

2^nd:         Richard Mongiovi, Indian Lake Estates, Fla., 10 bass, 33-8, $1,412

3^rd:          Rusty Lacy, Plantation, Fla., 10 bass, 30-5, $940

4^th:          James Tyler, Deltona, Fla., 10 bass, 26-4, $659

5^th:          Nik Kayler, Apopka, Fla., 10 bass, 25-13, $565

6^th:          Garrett Colbert, Orlando, Fla., 10 bass, 25-12, $518

7^th:          Junior Iriban, Lantana, Fla., 10 bass, 25-4, $671

8^th:          James Ryba, West Palm Beach, Fla., 10 bass, 23-15, $424

9^th:          Bill Wight, Punta Gorda, Fla., 10 bass, 22-15, $377

10^th:        Ernie Thompson, Anthony, Fla., 10 bass, 22-13, $379

Delfin Pernas of Miami, Florida, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division – a fish weighing 6 pounds, 1 ounce – and earned the Co-angler Big Bass award of $375.

The T-H Marine FLW BFL Gator Division tournament on Lake Okeechobee was hosted by Roland & Mary Ann Martin's Marina & Resort.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional Championship on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.