393 anglers compete in Northeastern division event on Potomac River

MARBURY, Md. – Jeffery Alexander, 37, of Lancaster, Pa., out-fished 199 competitors Saturday to earn $6,058 and 50 CITGO Challenge Points on the boater side of the Red Man Tournament Trail’s Northeastern Division event on the Potomac River.

Alexander caught five largemouth bass weighing 19 pounds, 3 ounces during the one-day event to top David Blair of Stafford, Va., who finished with a five-bass catch of 17-13 worth $3,029. Alexander, a retired tuna fisherman competing in his first Red Man tournament, caught his limit near North LaPlatta by casting a tube jig to grass. His biggest bass, a 6-pounder, earned him the Abu Garcia Big Bass Award and an additional $995.

Mike Sustek of Purcellville, Va., took third place and collected $1,514 with five bass weighing 17-9. Barton Butts of Naples, N.Y., placed fourth and earned $1,313 with five bass weighing 17-7, while Gordon Marlow of Narvon, Pa., placed fifth and earned $1,212 with five bass weighing 16-14.

First place in the Co-Angler Division and $2,953 went to Douglas Kirkbridge, 40, of Beaver Falls, N.Y., who topped 194 competitors with five bass weighing 13-12. Kirkbridge, a first time Red Man competitor, caught his limit off of mud flats using a crankbait.

Second place in the Co-Angler Division and $1,476 went to Marty Riegal of Greene, N.Y., for five bass weighing 13-9, while David Whitehead of Great Meadows, N.J., took third place and $738 with five bass weighing 13-5.

Mike Salamon, 31, of Scranton, Pa., won the co-angler Abu Garcia Big Bass Award of $485 with a 5-pound, 11-ounce bass he caught while fishing docks with a jig and pig.

Michael Huminik, 34 of Dale City, Va., won the Berkley Power Bait award, a package of baits valued at $200, for the heaviest overall catch on Power Bait or Frenzy lures in either division. He caught four bass weighing 14-7.

On June 24, the Red Man Tournament Trail will visit Cayuga Lake for the second of five events in the Northeastern Division. The boater with the most CITGO Challenge points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 16-17 on the Potomac River, will be declared the Divisional Points Champion and awarded $1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points by the end of the season will receive $500.