Team SouthernCats Caim Win at SeaArk Owners Invitational at Decatur
by Ron Presley, Tom Stolze Photos
Mike Mitchell, Jackson Mitchell, and Rick Sexton dedicate tournament win to Betty Sexton.
The 2024 SeaArk Boats Owner’s Invitational Catfish Tournament was held on Lake Wheeler out of Ingalls Harbor, Decatur AL where more than $100,000 in cash and prizes was awarded. With angler safety at the forefront, the Tournament Committee evaluated the weather conditions for the much-anticipated tournament and determined the scheduled date of April 20, 2024, remained the best date for the competition.
The majority of competitors used online registration before the April 15th, 2024 deadline but registration was also available at the Captain’s Dinner on the 18th of April preceding the tournament at the Ingalls Harbor Pavillion.
An official team could consist of up to three (3) people. Anglers launched in Wheeler Lake at Ingalls Harbor and were allowed to fish any connecting waters of the Tennessee River system accessible by water. Anglers were allowed to use the lock system at their own risk as no weigh-in exceptions were made due to lock schedules or delays. Livewells were required and must be of adequate size with the ability to pump fresh water to care for trophy catfish.
Teams were required to be off the water by midnight the day before the tournament and fishing hours were set from 6:30 am to 2:30 pm with all boats required to check in at weigh-in no later than 3:30 pm or be disqualified.
The weatherman provided a slightly challenging forecast for the Saturday competition. The expectation was for cloudy skies with a slight chance of showers. After a predicted low of 48 degrees, the air temperature was expected to rise to about 66 degrees. Wheeler is known for getting rough on windy days and the forecast was for NNE winds at 10 to 15 mph.
The winning team would be determined by the heaviest weight of 5 live catfish (channel cats, blue cats, and flatheads). A legal limit consists of no more than 2 catfish over 34 inches long when measured from the front of the mouth to the tip of the tail with both mouth and tail closed.
One-hundred eighty-one boats including 458 registered anglers completed livewell checks and launched from Ingalls Harbor in Decatur, AL on tournament Saturday. Fishing began at 6:30 am and continued until 2:30 pm. Anglers were required to check in at the chip boat by 3:30 pm.
The first boat to take off on tournament morning earned that spot in an auction the night before at the Captain’s Meeting. David Shipman was the winning angler with all proceeds going to benefit Marley Wilbanks, the daughter of Brooke Wilbanks, David’s former fishing partner. The high bid was matched by SeaArk Boats to be presented to Brooke for Marley. The reward for winning the bid was a 60-second head start on the rest of the field. They were followed immediately by the A Flight and the competition began.
A gathering of SeaArk Staff and volunteers ran a very smooth tournament. The stage/weigh-in crew efficiently accommodated the boats that brought fish to the scales. At day’s end, there was a total of 5834.31 pounds of catfish caught and released back into the harbor alive!
First Place
Mike and Jackson Mitchell, and Rick Sexton beat the challenging weather to claim the win at Decatur. They brought 160.58 pounds to the scales to earn the earn the first-place check of $9,000.
During prefishing the team checked our Wilson, Wheeler, and Guntersville Lakes as they developed a strategy for tournament Saturday. In the end, the determining strategy was resolved at the final moment.
“We had really struggled on Wilson, Wheeler, and Guntersville Lakes,” noted Mike Mitchell. “ We had decided the day before the event to lock down to Wilson but on blast off, with the wind and rough conditions, we decided to just stay local and fish Wheeler.”
Their first spot did not produce a significant bite and they moved on to spot number two in about 10 feet of water. Mike, Jackson, and Rick fished on spot lock in shallow water throughout the day. They targeted water that ranged from 5 to 10 feet deep using both shad and skipjack for bait. Mike said he did not notice any particular preference for one bait over the other.
“When we stopped at our 2nd spot of the day Mr Rick hooked up with a nice one,” recalled Mike. “While Jackson netted that one another rod went off and I fought it.”
Things were immediately looking up as Rick and Mike landed near identical 56-pound blues. It was the two biggest fish they caught all day and boated just in time as a major storm developed and moved in over their location.
“We took shelter under a bridge that we knew about,” Rick said. “We could see it moving in our direction but it never got as close to us as some of the other anglers. We were able to catch two under while we waited out the rain under the bridge.”
The team continued to move around some throughout the remainder of the day hoping to cull smaller fish. They were successful in catching a big under that culled their smallest fish. One more over of about 35 pounds was no help, leaving them at their winning weigh-in weight of more than 160 pounds.
“This win truly was a blessing and we want to dedicate this to Mrs. Betty Sexton who passed away last week,” offered Mike. “We know Mrs. Betty would have wanted us to fish and was always our biggest supporter!”
The team also thanked their sponsors, Dry Creek Marine, Catch the Fever, Monster Rod Holders, Berry Home Solutions, Draggin Master, RiverRats Reel Repair, and Boss Kat Hooks.
Second Place
The runner-up spot went to Mark Isgrig, Mark Isgrig Jr, and Jeff McCubbins. They teamed up to bring 146.01 pounds to the scales to earn the 2nd place check of $4,600.
Third Place
Third place went to Nathan Trammell, Chad Vice, and Johnathan Batten. The three-man team brought 131.34 pounds to the scales to earn the 3rd Place check of $4,000. They culled their weigh-in fish from the 5 overs they caught on the day.
Fourth Place
The 4th Place team was Wade Kaminski and Jake Derhake. Wade and Jake were defending their title from 2023 when they won the SeaArk Owners Invitational with 132 pounds. Their 2024 weight was close to last year’s at 126.14 pounds but not enough to repeat. They earned a check for $3,500.
Fifth Place and 2nd Big Fish
Jason Shaw and Kevin Woolfolk rounded out the top 5 teams. They teamed up to bring 125.48 pounds to the scales and earn the 5th place check of $3.000. They also earned 2nd Big Fish honor with a 68.72-pound blue that added $1,600 to their earnings.
Big Fish
The Faultline Catfishing Team of Jimmy Burton, John Troutt, and Logan Tanner broke the 100-pound mark at weigh-in with 110.27 pounds to earn the 9th place check in the SeaArk Owners Invitational Tournament. Included in their bag was a whopping 88.26-pound blue cat caught by Jimmy Burton that earned Big Fish Honors at Decatur.
Top Female Angler
Doc Lange provides the Annual Lynn Lange Award for Top Finishing Female in honor of his beloved wife Lynn Lange. Lynn was an avid catfish angler who helped pave the way for other women in the sport of catfishing. This year’s $500 award went to Lindsey Brown. Lindsey was fishing with her husband Benji Brown and brought in 100.72 pounds to finish in 12th place in the contest and earn $750 for the finish.
I was not expecting to win that award,” said Lindsey following the tournament. “I didn’t realize it until they called me to the stage. It was a great honor to receive. I can identify with Ms. Lynn’s story in a couple of different aspects. We both married men who are addicted to fishing and are both women who fish in tournaments. Tournaments take a lot of work, less sleep, stress, and a lot of love for your spouse. Especially if you are a husband and wife team! Lol.
“Being married to a catfishing-loving man you pretty much pick up the sport yourself.” Continued Lindsey. “I love the fact Ms. Lynn fished the tournaments as well and made a good look for us other lady anglers to follow!”
Other Winners
The tournament paid the top 20 places. For more information on the other winners and more photos visit the SeaArk Facebook page.
Final Thoughts
The 2024 SeaArk Owner’s Invitational Tournament proved once again that the Tennessee River is a great fishing destination. The tournament provided the anglers with great food, groovy gear, a great location, and an opportunity to mingle with other SeaArk Boat owners. Many participants allude to the camaraderie provided by the tournament as one of its best rewards.
The tournament organizers are very conservation-minded. A fish revival station is set up behind the weigh-in stage where any fish in trouble can be placed in oxygenated water to be resuscitated. When the fish were considered ready, they were released back into the harbor via a water-lubricated slide system.
The Boat Giveaway
Perhaps the most exciting part of the tournament was the drawing for a new SeaArk ProCat 200 with a Suzuki engine and Marine Master Trailer valued at $75,000. It was loaded with quality catfishing equipment like dual Power Pole Blades, Multi-Bar Accessories, and SeaDek from Castaway Customs MWSC.
“Each year, the highlight of the event was the giveaway of a fully customized ProCat 200, powered by a Suzuki motor,” stated Jon Ed Rowe, Marketing Director, SeaArk Boats. “We are delighted to announce Zackary Murray from Wheelersburg, Ohio, as the lucky winner. We are very excited for Zackary and eagerly await the fishing adventures he will share with us from aboard his new SeaArk boat.”
To be eligible for the drawing anglers had to weigh or check in one live catfish, either a blue cat, flathead, or channel cat. Three names were randomly drawn from the pool of anglers and each received a key. They stood in front of 3 consoles that were rigged so one key would illuminate a light on the top of the console when it was turned in the ignition switch.
With all three anglers turning their keys at the same time, Zachary Murray was the lucky angler whose key ignited the light. He became the proud owner of a new SeaArk.
“The Lord smiled upon us,” said Zachary in a Facebook post following the tournament. “And my name was called for the boat! Words cannot describe the gratitude and pure excitement of that moment. It just so happened that our good friend Chris Souders was there and for some reason did not have a boat with him and he offered to pull the boat home for us. What a trip it was and I am sure I will not forget it soon. Thank you Lord and thank you SeaArk for blessing us with such an event.”
“We are thrilled to have hosted over 450 anglers,” concluded Rowe. “There were 180+ teams at this year’s SeaArk Boats Owner’s Invitational Catfish Tournament on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Alabama. This event is a cornerstone of our mission to provide a family-friendly atmosphere that not only brings our fishing community together but also allows us to express our gratitude to each of our valued customers.”
For more information on SeaArk Boats visit their website at www.seaarkboats.com and follow them on Facebook.
