Local anglers Kyle Jefferys and Kyle Stewart were the top fishermen in the 12th Annual Wrightsville Beach Inshore Challenge on July 15-16, with 74 boats entering the competition in the local inshore and nearshore waters.
The competition awarded more than $5,000 in prize money. Jefferys won the title of top flounder with a 4.07-pound catch while fishing for Team Hemmed Up, earning him a $967.50 check. Stewart topped the leaderboard for red drum with a 7.19-pound catch from the Team Stumpjumper boat, winning $1,757.50. The competition’s leaderboard featured prizes for the top eight finishers in both categories.
“At 74 boats, the Wrightsville Beach Inshore Challenge continues to be one of the largest and most successful inshore fishing tournaments in North Carolina,” said tournament director Gary Hurley. “Our participants this year once again found some quality fish in spite of the hot summer water temperatures, we raised money for the Wilmington Elks, and our sponsors got great exposure in the fishing community — now we’re focused on our next event in Southport and then Carolina Beach after that.”
Jamie Obermeyer, of Team No Name, was the only angler to place on the leaderboard in both categories, taking second with a 3.98-pound flounder and third with a 6.73-pound red drum. The feat earned him the top of the overall “tournament within a tournament” prize with 10.71 pounds of total catch. The aggregate victory earned Obermeyer $3,011 in winnings in the tournament sponsored by Fisherman’s Post.
Other anglers on the flounder leaderboard included Will Callihan, 3.83 pounds; Justin Weaver, 3.68 pounds; Fred Davis, 3.35 pounds; Jim Strickland, 3.33 pounds; Devin Anderson, 3.19 pounds; and Kyle Lewis, 3.18 pounds.
Rounding out the red drum leaderboard were Jason Dail, 7.12 pounds; Luke Donat, 6.3 pounds; Clay Morphis, 6.26 pounds; Mason Porter, 6.23 pounds; Max Wagenseller, 6.19 pounds; and Ryan Bird, 6.13 pounds.
Ty Walker won the junior angler trophy with a 6.26-pound red drum, while Lauren Durako took the lady angler title with a 5.13-pound red drum. Vernon Knight was crowned the senior angler with a 3.88-pound flounder catch.
Proceeds from the event went to the Wilmington Elks, an organization that tournament sponsors said addresses unmet needs in the community and honors the service and sacrifice of veterans.
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