7-year-old Muncrief tops youth division, Afeman nets $123,000

Hunter Muncrief of Brookeland, Texas had a whale of a fish story to tell is buddies when he returned to school last Monday morning.

Muncrief, 7, hooked and landed a man-size bass all by himself on Day 2 of the 24th annual McDonald's Big Bass Splash event held on April 18-20 on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Weighing 9.02 pounds, the fish put Muncrief in position to run away with the Little Anglers bass division of the tournament and established a new all-time record for the youth division.

Photo courtesy of The Lakecaster (enlarge photo) Hunter Muncrief, 7, set a new record in the Little Anglers division at the 24th annual McDonald's Big Bass Splash on Sam Rayburn with this 9.02 pounder.

A first grader at West Sabine Elementary in Pineland, Muncrief was fishing with his dad, William, when he cast his Zoom Mag 2 worm into about three feet of water. The bite came shortly before daylight, just after the junebug-colored worm settled to bottom. Using a Zebco 33 outfit, Muncrief tangled with the fish for a minute or two before his dad was able to get a net under it and haul it into boat.

"It got under the outboard motor once and it kind of scared us because we were afraid it was going to wrap in the prop and break the line," William Muncrief said. "Luckily, Hunter was able to work it away from the motor so I could net it."

Because he was not entered in the open division of the popular big bass derby, Muncrief did not qualify to win any of the cash passed out to hourly winners. However, he was awarded a $50 gift certificate from Academy for taking the top spot in the youth division.

Tournament director Bob Sealy pledged to have a replica of the fish made for the youngster. Sealy also kicked in a rod/reel combo Muncrief will put to good use honing his casting skills before the 25th anniversary event rolls around next April.

"His grandfather has already told me he is going to enter him in the tournament next year if I don't," William Moncrief said. "I thought seriously about it this year. In fact, some friends and I were talking about it the night before he caught this fish. They said sure as I didn't enter him in the tournament, he would go out there an catch a big one. I'll be danged if it didn't happen."

As hefty as Muncrief's bass was, it did not surpass either of the top five heaviest fish weighed over the course of the three-day event.

Jacob Afeman of Rosenberg nailed down the tournament's grand prize with an 11.30 pounder he caught early on Day 2 while throwing a Senko in about four feet of water. Afeman's catch earned him a new Dodge truck, Triton bass boat and Bad Boy Buggy valued at $123,000. Afeman said he will split the prize package with two fishing companions who were sharing the same boat.

Scott Jordon of Vidor took second place overall with a 10.25 pounder he caught on a Carolina-rigged lizard. In addition to a Dodge truck, Jordon won a fully rigged Triton boat that boosted the value of his earnings to more than $60,000.

Third place went to Danny Massey of Jasper, who reeled in a 9.99 pounder on Day 1 using a Zoom Z-Nail in 9-12 feet of water. Massey won a 19-foot Hornet Travel Trailer valued at $14,000.

Mark Jones of Vidor caught the fourth place bass, 9.65 pounds. Jones won a Bad Boy Buggy valued at $9,500. Danny Abbott of Huntington also won an $8,500 ATV for fifth with a 9.48 pounder.

According to Sealy Outdoors' Jan Fondren, the event attracted 3,800 competitors who tried to cash in on more than $560,000 in guaranteed cash and prizes. Anglers weighed in 982 bass totaling nearly 4,400 pounds. On average, it took a bass weighing heavier than five pounds to earn an hourly check.

Open only to amatuer anglers, SO big bass tournaments have paid out more than $20 million in cash and prizes to fishermen over the last two decades, and donated more than $3 million to charities, including $19,000 in 2008.

Those numbers will take a quantum leap next April, when SO hosts its 25th annual McDonald's Big Bass Splash event on Sam Rayburn Reservoir.

Sealy announced that the 2009 big bass tournament will feature the largest pay out the history of amateur fishing tournaments: $1 million.

The angler who catches the heaviest bass of the three-day event wins a prize package valued at $250,000. Hourly pay backs will range from $2,500 for first place down to $500 for the 12th largest bass of each hour, more than double the three day entry fee of $200.

"We're hoping to break every record we have ever set at this tournament," Sealy said. "We drew 6,600 competitors at our 10th annual event, which had a guaranteed $200,000 pay back. With $1 million on the line, this one should be even bigger."

Mr. Waco: 'Classic champ

honored with billboard

Alton Jones of Waco continues to be humbled by the experience of winning the 2008 Bassmaster Classic last February.

In March, Jones and his family were invited to go to the White House in Washington, D.C. to visit with President George W. Bush. Last week, the 40-year old pro was honored before a hometown crowd as Waco Mayor Virginia Dupuy presented him with an official certificate declaring April 24 as "Alton Jones Day."

"It was a pretty special day," Jones said. "Many of the people of Central Texas seem to be every bit as excited about the Bassmaster Classic as I am. To be able to share my excitement with them makes me feel pretty good."

Evidence of Jones' hometown heroism also is being witnessed by southbound traffic on Interstate 35.

His sponsors and several local businesses chipped in and erected a billboard that displays a likeness of Jones and wording that declares Waco as the hometown of the 2008 'Classic champ.

"I actually heard about it before I saw it," Jones said. "Several Elite Series pros approached me at Lake Falcon and told me they had seen the billboard when they were passing through Waco on their way to the tournament. That was pretty cool."

Home lake advantage

pays off in TTBC

It is not often that the hometown advantage plays a significant role in the outcome of a big league bass tournament. The 2008 Toyota Texas Bass Classic held April 18-20 at Lake Fork was different.

Local knowledge paid off big time for bass pros Kelly Jordon, Lance Vick, David Smith and David Walker. Jordon and Vick are Mineola residents who have a combined 21 years of experience guiding on the 27,000-acre reservoir near Quitman.

Somehow, the local experts wound up on the same four-man team at the second annual TTBC. The unique tournament format grouped 104 professional anglers into 26 teams. Teams split into pairs and fished morning and afternoon sessions based on shared information and planned strategies.

Tough fishing conditions played right into the hands of Team 20, which was captained by Jordon.

The four anglers combined for a three-day total of 54 bass weighing 228 pounds, besting the second-place team captained by Florida's Bobby Lane by 8 pounds, 4 ounces.

The win earned Jordon's team $250,000. Lane's team split $80,000. Additionally, Lane was awarded a new Toyota Tundra, a $6,500 Stetson cowboy hat and a $6,000 pair of custom made boots for catching the heaviest bass of the event, an 11-12.

So, will the 2008 BASS Rookie of the Year points leader be sporting his new western attire at the next Elite Series registration meeting.?

"Negative," Lane said. "I would imagine they'll wind up on E-bay sometime in near future," Lane said.