Kayak angler takes home $2,300 in winnings
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (June 9, 2020) – Steve Yurkevicius, of Jacksonville, Florida, measured a combined total of 46.38 inches to win the first of two regular-season events for the 2020 Atlantic Division of the IFA Kayak Tour on June 7 at Georgetown, South Carolina. For first place, the angler won an Ascend 128T kayak and $1,000 in cash.
Traveling in his kayak just south of Georgetown, Yurkevicius threw top-water baits around oyster beds for his 17.71-inch trout and 28.63-inch redfish, which was the longest of the tournament and won the angler the $100 Berkley Gulp! Big Redfish award. In total, the angler took home $2,319 in winnings.
Second-place finisher Bob Powell, of St. Augustine, Florida, measured a combined total of 42.60 inches to win an Ascend 12T kayak, $100 and an additional $323 in Anglers Advantage cash. Powell fished in the Charleston area with soft plastics and was happy with his finish.
Measuring in 42 inches total, Stephen Trainor, of Conway, South Carolina, opted to head north and fish top-water baits and soft plastics in Murrels Inlet and the Wando River. With bites being far and few between and facing congested boat traffic, the angler made the most of his day.
“I fished clean all day on a tough bite, but it feel good to bring both fish to check-in,” Trainor said.
The angler won $469 for his limit.
Tenth-place finisher Michael Kachman caught a 21-inch trout to take home the $100 Berkley Gulp! Big Trout award.
The next stop for the IFA Kayak Tour is Laffite, Louisiana, on June 14. Anglers who enter at least two events and compete in at least one event will be qualified for the 2020 IFA Kayak Tour Championship.
The fastest-growing kayak fishing tournament trail in the country, the IFA Kayak Fishing Tour events are catch-photograph-release tournaments, offering inshore kayak anglers from a multitude of states the opportunity to participate in competitive fishing tournaments with low entry fees and minimal travel requirements.
For more information or to become a member of the IFA, visit www.ifatours.com.
IFA events are made possible through the sponsorship and continued support of these well-respected brands: Ascend, Ranger Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Mercury Marine, Sunline, AFTCO, Garmin, Lucas Oil, Berkley Gulp!, Berkley Gulp! Alive!, PENN Reels, Spiderwire, Navionics, Power-Pole, Valley Fashions, T-H Marine, ATLAS, G-Juice, and Powertex Group.
IFA Kayak Tour – Atlantic Division
Georgetown, S.C. (Top 10)
- Steve Yurkevicius – 46.38 inches
- Bob Powell – 42.60 inches
- Stephen Trainor – 42.00 inches
- Dave Jaskiewicz – 39.75 inches
- Aaron Baldwin – 37.75 inches
- Rigel Jessen – 37.25 inches
- James Pollett – 34.75 inches
- Justin Rienerth – 28.63 inches
- Aaron Miller – 23.25 inches
- Michael Kachman – 21.00 inches
