Rockfish Challenge….Day One

Here’s the lowdown on the first day of the inaugural Million Dollar Rockfish Challenge taking place out of Marina Shores:

Team Handyman sits in first place with a two-fish total of 73.85 pounds, followed closely by Team Right Hook – featuring professional largemouth bass fisherman Roland Martin – in second, a pound back.

Team Ashton MacKenzie is third at 71.2.

Remember, these are two-fish combined weights.

Anglers are busy looking for that one fish that weighs more than 73 pounds to top the state record and win $250,000, or one that tops 78 pounds to win a million smackers.

The field was surprised by excellent action, especially after the lack of a good bite for the last several weeks. Coastal waters have been too cold.

But teams that traveled 50 or more miles into North Carolina waters, which are deeper along the coast and thusly warmer, enjoyed almost constant action.

With increasing warm temperatures and westerly winds that tend to bring bait closer to shore, catches could improve daily. The tournament concludes Sunday.

Don’t be surprised if teams start scoring triple-digit weights

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