John Buck
John's Club Report
Covering The Pensacola Hawg Hunters
2006 Season

Email: John Buck

Founded In 1975

Apalachicola River
Total Fish Caught: 113
Total Dead Fish: 1
Total Limits: 15
Big Fish:
5.46
Total Fish Weight: 165.12 lbs

Total Year Standings
Total Fish Caught 645
Total Dead Fish 29
Total Limits 31
Big Fish
6.25
Total Fish Weight 945.44 lbs
Place Name Fish Weight
1. Pete Potter 10 18.11
2. Dave Dyess 8 17.03
3. Mack Cramer 10 16.80
4. Lee Brannon 10 16.78
5. John Buck 10 13.98
6. Brian Metcalf 10 12.89
7. Jere Jaillite 9 10.95
8. Mark Churchwell 6 10.74
9. Frank Kelly 8 9.17
***Tournament Winner***
Pete Potter
10 Fish - 18.11 lbs
Place Name Fish Weight
10. Dewayne Kimbro 5 7.36
11. Ken Repine 6 7.05
12. Bob Mickelson 5 6.24
13. Jim Bailey Sr 5 5.98
14. John Gesparik 5 4.85
15. Kevin Simmons 3 3.86
16. Ron Fairbanks 3 3.33
17. Jeff Weaver DNF DNF

Pensacola Hawg Hunters
Tournament Report
October 21- 22, 2006

The October tournament was held on the Apalachicola River. It was a 2 day event and was the yearly “fish-off”. We had 8 boats with 16 fishermen. The weather was breezy, and mostly cloudy, and moderate temps prevailed. Water color was varied depending on where you fished. Some found clear water while others fished stained water. Water temps were in the upper 70’s to low 80’s.

Lee Brannon and I were partners for the tourney. We found fish in Lake Wimico on Friday and a few fish in creeks off the main river. We felt good about our chances as the fish were biting pretty good on worms in any dark color.

Saturday morning the air had a little chill to it but it really felt good as we blasted off for our banks in Wimico. Once we got started, I was able to connect almost immediately. As we were in Lee’s boat, I was the “backseater”. I put my 5th keeper in the boat in about an hour and Lee didn’t have a fish. Shortly after I caught my limit Lee started to catch a keeper here and there. I was steadily catching fish on a junebug finesse worm and Lee picked up a chugbug and caught a nice keeper, about a 3 lber. He then switched back to the worm and caught another nice fish about 2.5 lbs. Meanwhile I’m still catching and culling keepers, none of which were as big as his. By early afternoon we were both culling and decided to move and try to upgrade in the creeks.

We pulled into a creek and I started throwing paca craws and Lee threw the chugbug. I mamaged to catch 2 more culls but nothing to keep while Lee scored again with a nice 2 lb plus fish. We both got to the scales with limits. Even though I started out really waxing his behind, Lee turned the tables on me and kicked my tail with larger fish! We caught a lot of fish and had a great time on the first day. We were confident that we could catch limits in the lake again on Sunday.

Almost everyone brought fish to the scales, and there were a number of limits. Dave Dyess had a limit to take the early lead with 11.81 lbs. Lee Brannon was in 2nd with 10.78 lbs. Mac Cramer had nice fish and was in the 3rd slot with 9.58 lbs. Big fish of the day came from Mark Churchwell. He had a pretty fish weighing 4.41 lbs. There were several other limits weighed in and about 8 guys were in the hunt for 1st place.

Sunday found us with warmer temps and not nearly as many clouds. For many guys the bite had changed or moved. Our fish were still there but they were harder to catch. Our morning started out just as the day before with me catching 3 keepers before Lee put one in the boat. Just like before, once he started catching them he caught them all day. Perhaps our biggest surprise came as I was worming next to a cypress tree and set the hook on what felt like a huge fish. With the 2nd surge I knew that it was not a bass or at least didn’t think it was. As Lee got the net ready we both got a big surprise when a very mad five foot alligator broke the surface at the edge of the boat. He was hissing like Mack Cramer and growling like Pete Potter after a Mexican meal. Lee dropped the net and refused to lip him for me so we just let him go with a quick snap of the line. Like I mentioned before Lee and I had a great time. This was one of the most enjoyable tournaments I have fished in a long time. I even made the comment to some other guys how much fun it was to be fishing in a “happy boat”!!! We were both able to catch limits again.

At the scales Pete Potter took the stage with a nice limit weighing 11.39 lbs for a total of 18.11 lbs. to jump from 5th place to 1st and take the win. Pete said they all came on junebug finesse. He also had a nice 4 plus to take the lunker for Sunday. Dave Dyess wound up in 2nd with a total of 17.03 lbs. Mack Cramer took 3rd with 16.80 lbs. Lee Brannon grabbed 4th with 16.78 lbs. 5th through 10 place are as follows: 5th John Buck 13.98, 6th Brian Metcalf 12.89, 7th Jere Jaillite 10.95, 8th Marc Churchwell 10.74, 9th Frank Kelly 9.17, and 10th Dewayne Kimbro 7.36.

Next month is the start of our new fishing year. Make your plans to get started and participate in as many tournaments as possible. Fish River will be the site of our next tournament. Hope to see you at the meeting. I also want to take a minute to thank Jim Bailey for letting me ramble on this site through out the year, and for letting the Hawg Hunters use the Hook 1 site to publish our newsletters and stats. We really appreciate what you do for the club!


Til next time…KeepYour Hooks Sharp!

Creek Chub