Story by IFA
Photo by IFA
Rene Lopez, of Port Aransas measured a combined limit of 53 inches to win the first regular-season event for the Texas Division of the IFA Kayak Fishing Tour on April 3 at Port Aransas. The angler won a total of $2,550, including a $250 Power-Pole gift certificate for his first-place finish.
“Originally I was supposed to fish on Saturday and Sunday,” Lopez said. “I couldn’t compete because I was having boat problems early in the day. Thankfully, I managed to fix it and I used the rest of the day to scout out for Sunday.”
Photo by IFA
Lopez concentrated on flats with a top-water bait in the morning and a jerkshad and clear minnows later in the day. “I traveled three miles one way to get on the reds,” said Lopez. “I knew where they were and went for it.
Lopez’s final redfish measured 34 inches and his trout measured 19 inches.
Shane Okrasinki of Bayside measured a 32-inch redfish and a 20.25-inch speckled trout to win the $1,000 second-place prize. The angler fished popping cork and Gulp in Corpus Christi Bay.
David Norris of Corpus Christi measured a combined 49.50 inches to take third place. He jigged a shad for trout and threw a gold spoon for redfish.
