Capt. Roger Bump, FS's own fishing 4caster, beat a field of 330 kayakers to take top slam honors in the Jacksonville Kayak Fishing Classic--for the second year in a row!

To win this contest earns an angler city-wide bragging rights, but to win it twice in a row…that's serious accomplishment. Feeling any pressure yet about next year, Capt. Roger?

It's the world's largest kayak tournament in one of the state's best inshore fisheries, no doubt, and the Jacksonville Kayak Fishing Classic, run by Mike Kogan to benefit Daniel Memorial, a children's charity, has become one of the better known charity tournaments in the state.

If you're a kayaker and you haven't fished Jacksonville, you might consider treking there some early summer weekend, and you might consider talking to Capt. Bump first. You can check out his thorough weekend fishing report, posted new each Thursday, on the 4cast section of this website.

Here are this year's results:
Slam
1 – Roger Bump – 69.7" (27" Red, 26" Trout, 16.7" Flounder)
2 – Robert Murray – 65.75"
3 – Jon Ward – 60.5"
4 – Adam Boyd – 60.1"
5 – Daniel Hunter – 58.8"

Biggest Redfish
1 – John Chapman – 30.20"
2 – Alfie Nazario – 29.50"
3 – Alex Crotzer – 29.25"
4 – Matthew Calderaro – 29.00"
5 – Russell Fissette – 29.00"

Biggest Trout
1 – Erick Bell – 27.65"
2 – Bruce Fletcher – 27.00"
3 – Victor Jackson – 25.00"
4 – Mark Schroeder – 24.80"
5 – Jerry Burdine – 24.50"

Biggest Flounder
1 – Chuck Ray – 21.60"
2 – John Lanham – 19.30"
3 – Edward Graham – 19.30"
4 – Blake Beltz – 18.20"
5 – Michael Shannahan – 18.20"

Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Lady Angler Award – Sarah Carpenter
Emotion Junior Angler Award – Luke Shaw
Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Senior Angler Award – Gus Bianchi
Black Fly Outiftter Fly Angler Award – Russell Fissette

The Classic, run by JaxKayakFishing.com, is the world's largest kayak fishing tournament with over $80,000 in prizes and gifts from 100 sponsors. Proceeds from Jacksonville's premier eco-tourism event benefit children's programs for abused and neglected kids at Daniel Memorial, Florida's oldest children's services agency, and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation.

Here are last year's results:
It was mission accomplished for Captain Roger Bump of Jacksonville. He fished from one end of Duval County to the other to amass 65.5 inches to win. More than 340 anglers participated in the event--a whole fleet--and the most ever for the tournament. Anglers were allowed to launch and re-launch from any inshore location within tournament boundaries. Bump did just that. He caught a 19-inch trout from the Buckman Bridge, and a 29.75-inch red, and a 16.75-inch flounder from Dunn's Creek and Clapboard Creek.

"I've been fishing this tournament for years and I finally got it right," shared an emotional Bump. "I only caught three fish all day but they were the right ones, and thankfully, my fish pictures were good."

Daniel Ganoe, age 12, of Jacksonville won the Junior Angler division. His 59.2-inch total was the 4th biggest slam among all contestants.

Eric Doughty of Atlantic Beach won the trout division with a 27-inch gator. Joshua Burley of Jacksonville had the longest red at 34.5 inches. John Gill of Jacksonville won the flounder category with a 20.65-incher.

Patty Greene won Lady Angler. Donald Lohman won Senior Angler. Rich Santos won the Fly fishing division with a 23-inch red and a 23-inch trout.

This year's events include:
Capt. Kevin Faver and Capt Kirk Waltz of the Outdoors Show will be emceeing the captain's meeting on May 1st at the Ramallah Club. Tournament festivities will also feature honorary captains Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton, Ron Littlepage of the Florida Times Union, and NFL Hall-Of-Famer Jackie Smith. There will be over $20,000 in raffles and auctions of kayaks and equipment at the captains meeting and the general public is encouraged to come and see what kayak fishing in Jacksonville is all about.

Anglers will launch at first light Saturday May 2nd at any inshore location in Duval, St. Johns, Nassau, Flagler, Glynn, or Camden counties and seek redfish, trout, and flounder in a conservation-oriented catch-photo-release format. After fishing there are check-in, raffles, banquet, and awards ceremonies at the Ramallah Club. Everyone is welcome to come enjoy the kayak fishing camaraderie and festivities.

Kayak anglers can register online at www.JacksonvilleKayakFishingClassic.com or pick up an entry form at Strike-Zone Fishing, Black Creek Outfitters, All Wet Sports, and Gander Mountain, or B&M Bait and Tackle. More information, complete rules, and prize details are also available online.

Sponsors for the 2009 Jacksonville Kayak Fishing Classic include: Columbia Sportswear, Strike Zone Fishing, BlackCreek Outfitters, Gander Mountain, Accent Paddles, Hobie Kayaks, Costa Del Mar, Malibu Kayaks, West Marine, Viking Kayaks, Emotion Kayaks, Advanced Elements, FreedomHawk Kayaks, Wilderness Systems Kayaks, Ocean Kayaks, Native Watercraft, Dick's Sporting Goods, Black Fly Outfitter, All Wet Sports, XTOOLS, Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, Berkley, Costa Del Mar, Great Atlantic Outfitters, Slayer Lures, Thule, Bending Branches, Florida Kayak Fishing, Outdoors Show, Florida Fishing Weekly, BullFrog, Mirrolure, Daiwa, DOA Lures, Calcutta, Crack of Dawn, MTI, Surf To Summit, Malone Auto Racks, Shimano, Lowrance, KayakFishingSupplies.Com, Kayak Amelia, Florida Sportsman, Kayak Fisherman Magazine, B&M Bait&Tackle, Talic, RAM, Polar Bear Coolers, Otter Box, Scotty Rod Holders, Daiichi Hooks, Hook1, GearKeeper, Pier 17, Slayer Lures, Fishbites, ThermaCELL, Penn Fishing, Exude Mister Twister, Kayak Angler Magazine, Stohlquist, Fish-N-Drinks.Com, AquaEast, Bite-A-Bait, Wheeleez, White Shell Bait&Tackle, Arlington Bait&Tackle, EvergladesKayakFishing.Com, Extrasport, Carlisle, Ugly Braid, Tilley Hats, 3rd Grip CrateMate, Precision Pak, Spot Personal Locator, 321Fish.Com, Dri-Grip Sunscreen, Fisherman's Seafood & Bait, YakLife.Com, TTI-Blakemore Fishing Group, AT Paddles, Wang Anchors, Yak-Gear.Com, Skwoosh, R.L. Haines Roofing, Helter Skeletons, Polar Bear Coolers, Florida Sportfishing, IrishWaterDogs.com, ARC Dehookers, Heddon, and St. Croix.