Arguello Mounts Massive Co-angler Comeback
26-pound, 11-ounce limit biggest among all anglers
Despite starting the day nearly 12 pounds back of Jack Farage, co-angler Sergio Arguello fished his way into first place at the Costa FLW Series event presented by Mercury on Clear Lake. The North Hollywood, Calif., resident caught 26-11 on the final day for a three-day total of 53-04. For his victory, Arguello won a new Ranger boat.
Fishing behind Jimmy Reese on day one, Arguello brought 18-10 to the scale. However, it was not without some bumps along the way.
“Jimmy had a good one on, and I ran up to the front to net it,” he recalls. “He had a bunch of rods on the deck, and I didn’t want to step on them. I went to put my foot on the edge of the boat and fell right in. While waist deep in the water, I netted his fish.
“Jimmy offered to take me in, but I refused. He gave me the clothes off of his back, and we kept fishing.”
Arguello caught a 6-pound bass shortly after to add to the 9-pound, 1-ounce brute already in the livewell and opened the tournament in fourth place.
On the second day of competition, Arguello was paired with Gregory Halliman. The two fished deep rocky points where Halliman had located balls of baitfish. Using a drop-shot and a Keitech Swimbait in Tennessee shad, Arguello brought in a modest 7-pound, 15-ounce limit. The lower weight dropped him to ninth, but it was good enough to make the cut and fish the final day.
Arguello fished out of Rusty Salewske’s boat on day three. They fished closely along tule lines throughout the day.
“He was pitching at them. I was throwing as far away as I could with my swimbait,”Arguello says. “I think with the colder conditions they started to move away from the tules to deeper water and key in on the shad.”
Along with another nearly double-digit fish, the co-angler champ brought in 26 pounds, 11 ounces. It was the largest bag brought in on the final day by co-angler or pro. Arguello won the event by more than 4 pounds.
Arguello's Photos
Top 10 co-anglers
1. Sergio Arguello – North Hollywood, Calif. – 53-4 (15)
2. Justin Bolen – Paradise, Calif. – 49-0 (15)
3. Ken Helms – Newman, Calif. – 48-14 (15)
4. Jack Farage – Discovery Bay, Calif. – 45-6 (15)
5. Stanley Beebe – San Luis Obispo, Calif. – 45-4 (13)
6. Todd Kline – San Clemente, Calif. – 44-12 (15)
7. Blake Dyer – Tempe, Ariz. – 41-1 (14)
8. Michael Tauscher – Blackfoot, Idaho – 35-0 (14)
9. Chris Rhoden – Newhall, Calif. – 34-4 (15)
10. Rachel Uribe – Long Beach, Calif. – 33-15 (13)