Hammerbury Leads Santee Slugfest
Scott "Hammerbury" Canterbury pulled in 32 pounds, 1 ounce
If you were to ask Scott Canterbury why he fishes for a living, he would point to days like today, where he compiled a whopping 32-pound, 1-ounce limit to take the lead on the first day of the Costa FLW Series event on Santee Cooper presented by Frabill.
“It was just one of those magical days,” the Quaker State pro says. “That’s why we do this is for days like this.”
Canterbury says he wrestled all night with a decision to either go sight-fishing for bass already locked on beds or run to another place where he felt like fish were just starting to move in to begin spawning. He chose the latter, and was it ever the right choice.
“These are not sight fish,” the Alabama pro clarifies. “I’m just fishing a couple of areas where the fish are funneling in to spawn. They might not spawn for another few days, but there’s no doubt that’s what they’re moving in there to do. I really wanted to go sight-fishing this morning because they are moving up on beds everywhere, and I love to sight-fish. I think I made the better choice, though.”
Canterbury caught nine keepers total today.
“I actually culled one while fishing my way out of one of the areas, so I think there will be some in there again tomorrow,” he adds. “No matter what, I’m committed to it now. After a bag like that, you’ve got to be.”
Canterbury carries a 2 1/2-pound lead into day two, but given the ridiculous number of fish pulling up and biting everywhere on the lake, he is in no way safe. Behind him is a crew of anglers catching big fish seemingly at will. The top-10 cut currently stands at a stout 24 pounds, 9 ounces.
Top 10 Pros
1. Scott Canterbury – Springville, Ala. – 32-01 (5)
2. Bradley Dortch – Bay Minette, Ala. – 29-09 (5)
3. Brett Mitchell – Timmonsville, S.C. – 28-02 (5)
4. Tim Malone – Gatlinburg, Tenn. – 26-05 (5)
5. Pat Fisher – Colbert, Ga. – 25-07 (5)
6. Tony Couch – Buckhead, Ga. – 25-06 (5)
7. Bryan Thrift – Shelby, N.C. – 25-06 (5)
8. Richard Stevens – Galatia, Ill. – 24-15 (5)
9. Joseph Kremer – Osteen, Fla. – 24-10 (5)
10. Casey O’Donnell – Scottsboro, Ala. – 24-09 (5)
Kyle Parks Leads Co-anglers
Kyle Parks of Albany, Ga., leads the co-angler division of the Costa FLW Series on Santee Cooper with 24 pounds, 7 ounces.
“I only got six bites all day, but they were all big ones,” Parks says. “I pretty much caught them all on one lure: a black [Zoom] Trick Worm.”
Top 10 Co-anglers
1. Kyle Parks – Albany, Ga. – 24-07 (5)
2. Lonnie Drusch – Sumter, S.C. – 21-13 (5)
3. Todd Walters – Summerville, S.C. – 20-13 (5)
4. Randol Stone – Marianna, Fla. – 18-11 (5)
5. Gerald Bozeman – Sylvester, Ga. – 17-08 (5)
6. Michael Padgett – Leesburg, Ga. – 15-05 (4)
7. David Hudson – Jasper, Ala. – 15-02 (4)
8. Ty Solis – Albany, Ga. – 14-14 (5)
9. John Duarte – Middle River, Md. – 13-06 (3)
10. James Topmiller – Orlando, Fla. – 12-13 (3)