Eastern Sportsman Tournament Series Anglers Kick-Off 2017 Season with Record Weights

Chesapeake, VA, January 26, 2017 --(PR.com)-- The Eastern Sportsman catfish tournament featured 14 of the region’s best catfishing teams with a total of 40 anglers. Casting and noodling for over $1,000 in total winnings, Team Reel Criminals, Josh Andrews and Dennis Padgett of Chesapeake, VA broke the ESTS record weight for all tournaments, pulling in a 3 fish total weight of 106.25 pounds, big fish weighing in at 47.16 pounds, paying $600 for first place and $140 for tournaments overall big fish. Team Reel Criminals took first place in the 2016 ESTS points trail.

Second place and a $300 payout went to team N’YAR of Tyner, NC and Chesapeake, VA consisting of team mates Eric Bailey, Lou Larcombe, Terry Payne and Tom Conaway with a total weight of 62.48 pounds, their biggest of 3 fish weighing in at 24.22 pounds.

First runners up for the 2016 tournament trail, team Amped Up, Jason Berry and Chris Smith, of South Mills, NC took home $100 and third place after weighing in a 3 fish total of 56.99, 22.16 being their largest fish of the day.

Throughout the season ESTS runs a membership points trail system specifically for the Catfish Rod & Noodle Tournament Series. Members are eager to earn valuable points for exclusive end of year winnings and qualifications. As of this tournament, their top three point standings are as follows: first place: team N’YAR with 72.48 points, second place: team Amped Up with 66.99 points, third place: team Dirty Doggs with 66.33 points. The 2017 series has just got started and it’s already a close race.

Anglers had to make tough decisions for this rain or shine event. With weather conditions changing, fresh bait shortages, popularity of the NW River and blind draw of launch order, it was a “race to the hole” many teams said. Pre-fishing was said to be “on” the week of the tournament with some teams catching and releasing over 600 pounds of fish a day. Even with unfavorable weather conditions, adrenaline fueled all 14 teams to bring back the large blue cats this river always delivers, once again making for a competitive weigh-in. View the weigh-in live feed at www.easternsportsman.net or on Eastern Sportsman’s Facebook page along with standings, photos, tournament news and more.

Eastern Sportsman Catfish Rod & Noodle Tournament Series teams and anglers launched at first safe light in a blind draw order at Bob’s Fishing Hole, Chesapeake, VA on Sunday, January 22, 2017, fishing the Northwest River and connecting bodies of water until check-in time of 3pm. Overall winners were determined by the total combined weight of each teams’ largest 3 fish. Big fish was the awarded to the heaviest weighted catfish of the tournament.

ESTS currently runs the largest catfish rod and noodle tournament on the East Coast. Providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for thousands of dollars in prizes. All 2017 tournaments are open to any new anglers and teams. For competed details, updated info, tournament standings and more visit us at www.easternsportsman.net or follow us on Facebook.