MARBURY, Md. – Chris Joseph, 31, of Herndon, Va., out-fished 118 competitors this weekend to earn $8,489 and 100 CITGO Challenge Points on the boater side of the Red Man Tournament Trail’s Northeastern Division season finale – a two-day Super Tournament on the Potomac River.
Joseph caught 16 pounds, 4 ounces of bass on opening day to qualify for the second and final day of competition. On day two, he caught 15 pounds, 1 ounce to top Scott Kinsley of Vienna, Va., who finished with a day-two catch of 13-10 worth $4,244. Joseph caught his bass, including a 5-pound 1-ounce heavyweight that earned him $1,180 as the Abu Garcia Big Bass in the Boater Division, using a worm and jig.
Jeffery Alexander of Lancaster, Pa., took third place and collected $2,122 with a day-two catch weighing 12-11. Mike Sustek of Purcellville, Va., placed fourth and earned $1,840 with a day-two catch weighing 11-9, while Jeff Viverette of Frederick, Md., placed fifth and earned $1,698 with a day-two catch weighing 10-12.
Kevin Kartesz of Ludlow, Pa., was declared the Divisional Points Champion and awarded $1,000 after amassing more points through five regular season events than any other boater.
First place in the Co-Angler Division and $4,244 went to Leonard Rabbitt, 35, of College Park, Md., who topped 118 competitors with a day-two catch of five bass weighing 12 pounds, 1 ounce. Rabbitt caught 10 pounds, 5 ounces of bass on opening day to qualify for the final round.
Second place in the Co-Angler Division and $2,122 went to Fred Whittier, Addison, N.Y., with a day-two catch weighing 8-12, while Ed Copenhaver of Mount Airy, Md., took third place and $1,061 with a day-two catch weighing 6-15. Bill Spindler of Turnersville, N.J., took fourth with a day-two catch weighing 5-7 worth $920. Fifth place and $849 went to Richard French of New Field, N.Y., with a day-two catch weighing 5-7.
The tie between Spindler and French was broke based on the weight of each angler’s opening-day catch. Spindler had 9 pounds, 6 ounces after day one and French had 7 pounds. French, however, amassed more points than any other co-angler during five regular season events to win the Co-Angler Divisional Points title and $500.
Kurt Von Brant, 20, of Middletown, Del., won the co-angler Abu Garcia Big Bass Award of $590 with a 4-pound, 15-ounce bass that he caught on w Berkley Power Worm while fishing around lily pads.
The trail’s championship event, the Red Man All-American, will award $100,000 to the winning boater and $50,000 to the winning co-angler. Overall, more than $5.7 million could be awarded in 2000 based on full fields in each of the series’ 119 events nationwide.