Califano and Haff close the door on number 4.
Posted by admin on October 28, 2019
CLEWISTON, FL - Qualifier Number Four of the 2019 Roland Martin Marine Center Series presented by HUK is in the books. As the highest paying team tournament trail in Florida, the competition came to play and the big Lake Okeechobee bass joined in on the celebration.
Sunrise in Clewiston on Saturday launched 120 boats for the final qualifier of the 2019 season. When they returned to the stage starting at 3pm, the big bass started tipping the scales. And with 26.41 pounds, including an 8.99 big bass kicker, the team of Gerald Califano and Robert Haff landed the big check of the day.
“We caught a lot of fish today,” said Califano. “Probably about 50 on Chrome Rat-L-Traps and Gambler worms all around the grass.”
“I caught the big one early on a Rat-L-Trap,” said Haff. “And we were able to grab another big one and a third to give us a pretty good limit. We knew we had a chance but were surprised with the win.”
Not only did they take home the winner’s check for $6,000, but they also added $500 for US Sugar Big Bass and another $250 as the highest finishing HUK angler for a total payday of $6,750.
In second place was the team of JP Mckay and Paul Wormser with a total weight of 24.08 pounds. About 2 ½ pounds off the lead that netted them $3,000. They also added $250 to their payday as the highest finishing Mercury owner.
“We had the big one on,” said Mckay. “We got her to the boat, but she got off. Like they say, that’s fishing.”
“We were throwing the Gambler Big EZ in hologram,” said Wormser. “We caught a lot of fish today and we’re looking forward to the Championship in December.”
The third place team of Dave Cepek and Jimmy Weise were pitching reeds all day and filled a limit of 22.54 pounds that rounded out the top three and earned them a check for $1,450.
“We only caught about a dozen fish today,” said Cepek. “But we found the 5 we needed.”
“We spent all day in the reeds,” said Wormser. “Pitching a Gambler Burner Craw in black and blue was our bait of choice.”
The payouts continued with $500 RMMC Bonus Bucks going to Joey Callahan, the highest finisher that bought a new boat at Roland Martin Marine Center. Harry Holstein collected $250 as the highest finishing Gilbert Family of Cars owner presented by South Florida Chevy Dealers. Breezy Davis took home $100 as the Mary Ann Martin top Female Finisher. Val Osinksi and Skip Reed won 2 Ark Rods presented by Boat Covers Anywhere for being the closest team to 15 pounds without going over. And going small paid off big for Rylan Kozinski and Samuel McDuffie, collecting the $300 AV Inspection Smallest Limit Award.
With four qualifiers in the books, it’s on to the Championship in December. Teams must have fished in three of the four qualifiers to fish in the Championship where the winning team takes home $25,000. That’s how we say Happy Holidays in Clewiston.
Bass and Anderson out run the competition for $6K.
Posted by admin on August 5, 2019
CLEWISTON, FL – It was a sunny Florida morning when 111 boats launched Saturday morning out of Clewiston, FL. That was soon to change though with rain on tap for the afternoon. But for the 222 anglers in the field, that’s a mere speed bump on the way to the large check waiting back at the stage in Clewiston. As the highest paying team tournament trail in Florida, the rewards far out weigh a little rain on the big bass parade.
For Donny Bass and Dave Anderson, the morning called for a little boat ride to the other side of the lake. Since Lake Okeechobee is not your average pond, it was awhile before they wet a line. Starting their morning at the Northeast end near J & S, the long run paid off. Collecting most of their weight concentrating on a shad spawn pattern, they then headed back south in the afternoon and scored the 3rd biggest bass of the day with a 7.13 kicker. So following the shad spawn early and then switching to flipping sticks, they filled a winning well of 26.43 pounds of Lake Okeechobee largemouth.
“With around 25 pounds, we were thinking we had a good chance at top 5 considering the conditions, “said Anderson. “Then with the 7 pounder we started thinking this could be close.”
With a couple Roland Martin Marine Center Series wins under his belt, Bass added his name once again to the big check.
“It feels good,” said Bass. “I took a couple months off so with this win, yes, it’s definitely good to be back.”
Funny how a $6,000 payday has a way of doing that. And as the top Mercury Marine finisher, they added another $250 for a total payday of $6,250.
The second place team of Gary Milicevic and Travis Draple followed a layoff with a nice payday as well.
“I haven’t fished in over a month,” said Milicevic. “So I told Travis yesterday, why don’t we just go out and wing it.”
Winging it, they cast and flipped there way to $3,100 with 2nd Place finish along with the $500 RMMC Bonus Bucks for buying a new boat at Roland Martin Marine Center and $100 with the Gambler Lures 2nd Big Bass award.
In 3rd place was the 2018 Ark Rods Team of the Year, Brandon Medlock and Chuck Methany with 23.17. They decided to flip new areas and it paid off to the tune of $1,400.
The payouts continued with Greg Harp and Nick Mazzi taking home the U.S. Sugar Big Bass check for $500 with an 8.76 monster. Josh Free and Tyler South were the top HUK finishers collecting $700. And Melinda Markley, following the Markley & Markley win in April, collected another $100 for the Mary Ann Martin Top Female Finisher. And with a unique strategy of culling down (or so they say), Zane Zanders and Joe LaManna collected the AV Inspection smallest limit with five bass tipping the scales at 5.42 that netted them $300.
So it’s safe to say a little rain did little to dampen the spirits of some of the top sticks in Florida and the legendary bass of Lake Okeechobee decided it was a great day for a boat ride to Clewiston.
Next up, the final qualifier of the 2019 Roland Martin Marine Center Series on October 26, 2019. Remember, teams must fish 3 of the 4 qualifiers to qualify for the Championship in December when $25,000 is on the table. So register here and make sure you’re in. See you in October.
• Results August 3, 2019 Qualifier #3
• Media Gallery
More Ways to WIN!
Posted by admin on August 1, 2019
MORE WAYS TO WIN!
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2019 RMMC SERIES CONTINGENCY PROGRAMS
• Ranger Cup: $1,000 to a Ranger Cup compliant winner, $2,000 if Ranger was purchased from Roland Martin Marine Center.
• HUK contingency: $250 per event to the Highest placing finisher wearing a HUK shirt, hat, jacket or rain gear that comes across stage during weigh-in. Should both team members weigh-in together on stage contingency will be split.
• Mercury contingency: $250 per event to the Highest placing finisher on the boater side with a Mercury under warranty. $500 if package boat powered by Mercury purchased from Roland Martin Marine Center.
• Gilbert Chevrolet contingency: $250.00 to the Highest placing finisher who owns a 2017 or newer vehicle purchased from Gilbert Chevrolet or Gilbert Ford.*
• Roland Martin Marine Center Bonus Bucks: $500 to the Highest placing finisher on the boater side who purchased a new Ranger from Roland Martin Marine Center. Must have a RMMC sticker on his boat on console, windshield or inside of gunnel.
• Highest Finishing Female Angler: $100 Award from Mary Ann Martin for the Highest Finishing Femaie Angler.
If you have any questions, Contact Us and be sure to REGISTER TODAY.
Ellerbee & Triyer Win Qualifier #2
Posted by admin on June 5, 2019
Don Ellerbee and Bill Triyer win qualifier #2 of the Roland Martin Marine Center Series on June 1, 2019 in Clewiston, FL.
Top 10 - Click for full results
> Click for Gallery
Markley and Markley win Qualifier #1.
Posted by admin on April 29, 2019
CLEWISTON, FL – With winter in the rearview mirror, you know what that means? Hello big bass and big checks. The Roland Martin Marine Center Series 2019 Season presented by HUK is on! Let the battle begin.
That’s what 127 boats had to say Saturday morning as the teams launched on Lake Okeechobee out of Roland Martin Marina for Qualifier #1 of the 2019 RMMC Series Season. And it was the husband and wife team of Adam and Melinda Markley that caught 28.04 pounds of Lake Okeechobee bass and ended up raising the big check(s).
“We caught them on everything today,” said Adam Markley. “We caught them on topwater, on Rat-L-Traps, flipping. It was a good day. We caught a lot of fish.”
The team even bagged the 2nd big bass of the event with an 8.4 Okeechobee monster they caught flipping.
“We knew we had a good day and were hoping to just bring home a check,” said Melinda Markley. “It ended up being a great day and we enjoyed every minute of it.”
That’s because they took home $6,000 for first place and added the HUK top angler award, Mary Ann Martin’s Top Lady Angler award, Gambler Lures 2nd Big Bass and the Bruiser Baits Mega Bag. That all added up to checks totaling $6,450 for the day on the lake. With 100% payback to our anglers, the big bass and big checks continued.
In second place, the team of Durand Locke and Josh Bright caught 26.56 pounds and received $3,000. Third place was the team of Tim King and Miriam Haupt with 26.54 and a check for $1,500. Considering they got married the next day on Sunday, that made a nice wedding present. And another top finish for a Lady Angler that made Mary Ann Martin proud.
That’s Qualifier #1. Stay tuned for more as the season continues June 1st for Qualifier #2. It all leads up to the highest paying team tournament trail Championship in Florida where anglers do battle for a possible $25,000 payday. Remember, teams must fish 3 of the 4 qualifiers to qualify for the Championship so check the schedule and make sure your team is locked in to win.
Thanks again to all our anglers and families that showed up at the weigh-in to help make our event a success. And a special thanks to our sponsors that make it all possible. Thank you and we’ll see you in June.
> Click for Full Results Qualifier #1
> Click for Event Media Gallery
The 2019 RMMC Series Season Presented by HUK
Posted by admin on April 8, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – As the Roland Martin Marine Center Series, the highest paying team tournament trail in Florida, gears up for the 2019 Season, we’re proud to welcome HUK as the presenting sponsor.
“We’re looking forward to a great season with the Roland Martin Marine Center Series,” said Luis Perez, HUK Manufacturer Rep for State of Florida. “Going on 5 years with the Marina, they’ve been a big part of our growth in Florida as well as helping strengthen our presence in the freshwater market.”
Along with being the presenting sponsor, the HUK Contingency Program is awarding $250 per event to the highest placing finisher wearing a HUK shirt, hat, jacket or rain gear that comes across the stage during weigh-in. Should both team members weigh-in together on stage, the contingency will be split.
“We began in the Southeast region with a strong saltwater presence," said Perez. "As one of our original and best retailers in the Okeechobee area, we value our relationship with Roland Martin Marina,” said Perez. “Thanks to the Marina, our popularity and market share in the freshwater segment across Florida, as well as the U.S., continues to grow.”
For 2019, you can expect more from HUK as they expand their line of performance-engineered gear with new designs and cutting-edge materials in a variety of clothing choices and accessories. Even footwear. Stop by the Marina Store before and after the weigh-in to get your HUK on. And be sure to visit HUKgear.com for more. Register now for the April 27th Qualifier.
why not 5 goes on
