Team of the Year Standing
Gulf Coast Trout Series 2012

April 21 & 22
2-day event

Results Posted
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2012 Flyer

March 17, 2012

With cloudy skies and a steady southeast breeze, 36 teams took to the waters from East Matagorda to the Texas state line for the 3rd event of the 2012 Third Stone Gulf Coast Trout Series. When the day started 8 teams had their sights set on closing the point’s gap between themselves and TOY leaders, brothers Roger and Joe Friedrichs of Team Third Stone/Quickswirl, who had built a lead of 7 points through the first 2 events.  When the weigh line opened there was great anticipation from the crowd and the staff on how this day would shake out. With only 5 teams weighing fish in the first 2 hours we were preparing for an onslaught of anglers and fish during the last 30 minutes. Once the rush was over and all teams had weighed their fish, results were tallied, made official, and the team everyone is chasing in 2012 had done it again. Team Thirdstone/Quickswirl (Roger and Joe Friedrichs) crossed the scales with a monster 3 fish sack of 18.92lbs including an 8.20lb/29.5 inch fish to take home first place for the second event in a row. Coming to scales with a 3 fish stringer of 15.09lbs to take home second place was Team Thirdstone-LMC (David Christian/Jason Catchings). In third place, newcomers to the series and fishing in only their second event ever, was Team Game Time (Jamal Marshall/Chris Acevedo) with a total 3 fish weight of 14.71lbs. Rounding out the top 5 was the team of Randy Maxey and Charlie Treadaway with 14.41lbs.and Team Thirdstone #1 (Ray Malone/Ryan Sweezy) with 13.74lbs. Big trout honors went to Joe Friedrichs with that monster 8.20lb fish mentioned earlier. Randy Maxey took second with a hefty 7.63lb fish and in third was Ryan Sweezy with a trout that tipped the scales at 7.18lbs. Sea Center Texas was on hand to collect the trout that were harvested from East Matagorda and Sabine and take them back to their facility in Lake Jackson. We would like to thank all of our sponsors for your dedication and support to the series, Harborwalk Marina & Yacht Club for hosting, and last but not least all the anglers participating. See you at the championship.

Feb. 18, 2012

As daylight and a massive line of thunderstorms approached the upper Texas coast early Saturday morning, 43 teams were set to blast off @ 6:29am for the 2nd event of the 2012 Thidstone Gulf Coast Trout Series. With some choosing to wait it out in the safety of there vehicles, some chose to get to their area and ride it out by hunkering down, whether by laying down on the shoreline or taking cover under bridges and such till the lightning had subsided. As the weather started to turn for the better I knew somebody or some team was going to hit the mother lode and that they did. Team Thirdstone/Quickswirl (Rodger Friedrichs/Joe Friedrichs) rolled in with a monster 3 fish stringer of 19.09lbs including 2 fish that tipped the scales at over 7lbs to garner first place honors and a total payout of $6026.00. Not far behind and bringing in another nice sack of fish was Team Thirdstone #1 (Ray Malone/Ryan Sweezy) with a hefty weight of 18.49lbs to take home second place and a total payday of $2789.00. Crossing the scales in third place was John Havens and Erik Renteria with a total weight of 16.54lbs and a check for $1165.00. Rounding out the top 5 was Team GBO (Bryan & William Wimmer) with 15.38lbs and Jeremy Sorensen/Andy Holzworth with 13.41lbs. Big trout honors went to Rodger Friedrichs with a nice 7.48lb fish. Ryan Sweezy took second with a hefty 7.45lb pig and in third was Joe Friedrichs with a 7.27lb hoss. 58 fish crossed the scales with only one not making it alive(98%). All fish that came from East Matagorda and a few of the larger Galveston trout were picked up by TPWD and sent down to Sea Center for furthur duty.The rest of the heathy fish were released. A special thanks to all of our sponsors, for without them this would not be possible. We would also like to thank Harborwalk Marina & Yacht Club for hosting, and their staff for all their help in these events. Last, but not least, thanks to all the anglers for taking care of your fish and for fishing in these events. See you in March.

Jan. 21, 2012

With light winds and patches of sea fog settled in along the upper coast, 52 teams set out at safe light in the Thirdstone Gulf Coast Series to do battle in the first event of the 2012 season. With a field littered with a who's who in the big trout arena the day promised to see some heavy fish cross the scales later in the day. With the weigh line opening at 2pm, Team Pro Cure/GTI (Aaron Hommel/Adam Jaynes) came to the scales @ 2:36pm with a hefty weight of 18.41lbs to take home first place. Coming out of retirement in a big way was Team Old School (Ari Schwartz/Dan Williamson) to take home second place with a weight of 17.76lbs. Crossing the scales in third was Team Quick Swirl (Roger and Joe Friedrichs) with a 3 fish total of 17.09lbs. Rounding out the top five was the team of Steve Anderson and Aaron Stillwagon with 15.69lbs and Team Andco (Andrew Dykes/Kevin Hunter) with 15.64lbs. Big trout honors went to Ari Schwartz with a healthy 7.96lb fish. Brian Wimmer took second with a hefty 6.96lb fish and in third was Randy Weaver with a nice 6.82lb trout. 80 fish came across the scales with only 9 not making it across the scales alive (88%). All fish that were heathy were released at the dock to fight another day. A special thanks to Harborwalk for hosting these events and to all of our other sponsors, because without them this series would not be possible. And last but not least I would like to thank all the anglers for fishing and keeping these nice fish as healthy as possible. See you in February.

Capt. Lynn

2011 Championship

CHAMPIONSHIP
Day one- As the day started, with a light northwest breeze; 52 anglers or 26 teams were set to fight it out for $12,800.00 in total prize money and the championship crown.   There were also 4 teams with a legitimate shot at taking home the coveted TOY (team of the year) award (a prize package valued in excess of $10,000.00), so we thought.  With the points being doubled for this 2 day event and 3 teams within 10 points of the TOY leaders and a few more a little farther back, things could get interesting to say the least.  As the weights started coming in, and the weigh line not set to close until 5pm, the leader board began to take shape and the TOY race was getting real interesting. After sorting through it all the Team of Cubbage/Soule (Mike Cubbage and Steve Soule) were sitting on top with an impressive 3 trout stringer of 16.08 lbs., which included a fish that tipped the scales at 7.52 lbs. In second was the Team of Anderson/Stillwagon (Steve Anderson and Aaron Stillwagon) with a nice stringer that weighed in at 13.67 lbs. Crossing the scales in third was Team Wild ride (Jimmy Love and Jason Applebee) with a total weight of 12.49 lbs. Rounding out the top five on day one were the Teams of Ramsey/Vacek (Chris Ramsey and Michael Vacek) with 12.42 lbs. and Team Gunslinger (Taylor and Tracy Griffin) with 11.67 lbs. Big trout honors for the day went to Mike Douglas of Team Baad Marine with a pig weighing in at 8.26lbs. The TOY the year race was starting to get real interesting also with the leaders Havens/Renteria (John Havens and Eric Renteria) only able to bring in a 3 trout stringer of 9.70 lbs. landing them in 10th place after day one and Team Saltwater Assault (Greg Francis and Daniel Popovich) was applying the pressure by landing 2 places in front of the leaders with a sack that weighed in at 10.49 lbs. Team Generation Gap (Brent Juarez and George Knighten), only 3 points behind when the day started, found themselves completely of the leader board and Team Shake & Bake (Daniel Marshall and Mike Pickell) were sitting in a paltry 18th place, setting up a showdown on day two between  Havens/ Renteria and Team Saltwater Assault for the TOY bragging rights. With the top 7 teams on the leader board after day one virtually out of the TOY race, pulling out the TOY race could become reality for Team Saltwater Assault if they could move themselves up 3 more spots in front of Havens/Renteria and come to the weigh line first. (All ties are broken by first to weigh in). With conditions set to change drastically on day 2 things were about to get real interesting both for the championship crown and the TOY race, and without a doubt, probably a sleepless night for a few teams to say the least.

Capt. Lynn

Day 2- As the sun broke the horizon and the wind blowing from the southeast with wreck less abandon, day 2 of the championship promised to be an exercise in futility. With conditions doing a complete 180 degrees from the day before, the leader board quite possibly could completely turnover and the TOY race was there to be had for the team that showed the most patience and intestinal fortitude.  Weigh lines were set to open at 12pm and closing 2 hours earlier than the day before at 3pm. With less time to fish, and the strong southeast wind, teams were forced to get to there spot and pretty much stay there for the majority of their day, if not all day. As the teams started to arrive, it promised to be exciting all the way to the end. When the dust had settled, Team Ninja (Randy Weaver and Dean Stevens), the reigning TOY, had climbed all the way from 6th place on day one to win the championship with a day 2 stringer of 15.33 lbs. and a 2 day total of 26.89 lbs. garnering themselves a nice pay day of $6060.00. Making it close and standing pat from day 1 was the team of Anderson/Stillwagon with 3 fish that hit the scales at 13.00lbs., giving them a 2 day total of 26.67 lbs. only 0.22 behind the winners and taking home a check for $2650.00. Holding onto third for the 2nd day in a row was Team Wild ride with 3 fish totaling 12.03 lbs. and a 2 day total of 24.52 lbs. earning themselves a check for $1755.00. Rounding out the top 5 were day 1 leaders Cubbage/Soule with a 2 day total of 24.26 lbs. and a check for $1000.00 and Team Saltwater Assault moving up 3 spots to finish in 5th with a 2 day total of 23.62 lbs. to take home a check for $735.00. Big trout honors went to Mike Douglas with that hefty 8.26lb pig from day 1. Steve Soule took second with his 7.52 lb fish from day 1 also. In third was Aaron Stillwagon with a nice 6.67 lb. trout. TOY of the year leaders Havens/ Renteria were able to move up 4 spots from day one to secure the title of TOY finishing a mere 8 points in front of Saltwater Assault, who made a valiant effort and put a lot of pressure on Havens/Renteria when all was on the line, but in the end John and Eric were not to be denied. They fished their rear ends off during the series and will tell you to this day that there were no easy days during this series and that at times thought that they had blown it only to keep fishing.  They eventually ended up getting all the bites that they needed to take home the prize. Congrats to Team Ninja for their championship win and to John and Eric for busting down that door and taking home the TOY title for 2011. Thanks to everyone who fished this year’s series and hope to see you next year.

Capt. Lynn

March 19, 2011

As the Super Moon fell on the horizon and a light southeast breeze, 36 teams blasted off with hopes of bringing in the winning stringer for the third event of the 2011 season. With most bites coming early and a few about mid day, Team Generation Gap (Capt. George Knighten and Capt. Brent Juarez) made it to the scales with a winning stringer of 16.91 lbs. This team was able to get their fish pretty early with their biggest fish, 7.38 lbs., being the first fish landed. With their first place finish this team moved up 4 spots in the TOY (team of the year) race and now set in second place for this coveted award. The team of Anderson/Stillwagon (Steve Anderson and Aaron Stillwagon), no strangers to leader boards, literally grinded there way into second with a respectable weight of 13.43 lbs. In third place, and not far behind, was team Sorrenson/Holzworth (Jeremy Sorrenson and Andy Holzworth) with 3 fish that tipped the scales at 13.22 lbs. Rounding out the top five was Team Demolition  Experts (Shane Prince and Cody Maddox) with 12.77 lbs. and the team of John Havens and Eric Renteria, current team of the year leaders, with 12.67 lbs. Big trout honors went to Capt. Brent Juarez with that nice 7.38 lb. trout mentioned earlier. Second place went to Capt. Ken Garza with a hefty 6.18 lb. fish. Third went Aaron Stillwagon with a fish that tipped the scales at 5.91 lbs. Several teams struggled to keep their fish alive for whatever reason and it ended up costing them several spots on the leader board, and in some cases a check and valuable TOY points. With only one event remaining, the 2 day Championship (April 16th & 17th), the TOY race is pretty much down to a 4 team race, but as we all know anything can happen in a 2 day event. 45 teams have qualified to fish in the 2 day event and hopefully we will have a full field for this final event of the spring. We will be crowning the team of the year at the end of the second day along with having a lot of festivities for the family on Sunday with a pool party and a live band. A special thanks to all of our sponsors, for without them this would not even be possible. I would also like to thank all of the anglers that have fished the series this year and Harborwalk for hosting. See you at the championship.

Capt. Lynn

Feb. 19, 2011
With a heavy dose of sea fog and a big moon overhead, 43 teams left the dock anticipating an early bite and some extremely tough navigation. With only 18 teams weighing in, the ones that found their way to their area with short boat rides were rewarded rather quickly with most getting their bites within the first hour. For some, a 5 minute boat ride turned into 45 minutes due to the foggy conditions causing them to lose valuable fishing time. Team Saltwater Assault (Capt.Greg Francis and Daniel Popovich aka D.POP) was able to beat the adverse conditions and make it to the scales with a winning weight of 17.95 lbs with all but one of there fish coming in the first 30 minutes of the day. Team Ninja #1 (Randy Weaver and Dean Stevens), the reigning Team of the Year, fished themselves into second with a weight of 14.86 lbs. In third place was Team Demolition Experts (Shane Prince and Cody Maddox) with 3 fish that totaled 12.60 lbs. Rounding out the top five was Team Reynolds Marine (Bob Johnson and Vince Augustine) with 12.22 lbs and the team of Kevin Baker and Jason McRae with 11.77 lbs. Big trout honors went to Eric Renteria, no stranger in this, with a winning fish of 7.21 lbs. Daniel Popovich took second with a fat 6.87 lb fish, and in third was Randy Weaver with a fish that weighed in at 6.21 lbs. Overall 53 fish came across the scales, 52 alive. All fish were collected by Sea Center and taken back for further duty (breeding and research). A special thanks to all the anglers for your help in keeping these fish as healthy as possible and for accepting the changes in procedures as we move forward. I would also like to thank all of our sponsors for your support in helping make these events possible, Jennifer Bixby (Fisheries Biologist TPWD) from Sea Center and last, but not least, Harborwalk Marina and Yacht Club for hosting these events. See you in March.

Jan. 22, 2011
With near freezing tempatures,low tides, and high pressure settled in along the upper coast, 46 teams battled the elements to fish in the first event of the 2011 season. With some of the best anglers on the entire Texas coast competing and grinding it out Team Pier Pressure (Cory Cobler and Chandler Faickney) found their way to the scales with a winning sack of 18.02 lbs. The best part is that these fine young anglers are still in their teens (18 & 17 respectively). They were able to compete with and beat a stable of seasoned tournament veterans in the trout fishing arena. The team of Capt. John Havens and Eric Renteria, no strangers to the top of leader boards in any tournament that they compete in, finished in second with a weight of 16.30 lbs. In third place was Team Generation Gap (Capt. Brent Juarez and Capt. George Knighten) with 3 fish that totaled 15.59 lbs. Rounding out the top five was the Team of Capt. Chad Wright and Capt. Shawn Warren (Galveston Trophy Hunters) with 15.58 lbs and the team of Mike Pickell and Daniel Marshall with 15.32 lbs. Big trout honors went to Brooks Kelm, whom flew in from Lubbock on Thursday night to make the captains' meeting and fish the tourney (he is a student at Texas Tech), with a winning fish of 7.58 lbs. Capt. Steve Soule took second with a hefty 7.36lb. fish, and in third was Capt. Shawn Warren with a fish that tipped the scales at 6.80 lbs. In all 70 fish came across the scales, all alive, however 2 fish died later, for a 97% success rate. All fish were collected by and taken to Sea Center for research and breeding purposes. A special thanks to Harborwalk for hosting these events and to Sea Center for collecting these fish for research so that my Grand kids and their children can enjoy the sport of coastal fishing that we all cherish. I would also like to thank all of our sponsors, because with out them,we would not be able to do this. And last but not least, all of the anglers fishing these events. See you in February. 

Capt. Lynn