88 Teams Compete In Moro Bay State Park Perch Jerk Classic

Taylon Calloway with a 10oz bream

On Saturday, June 16th, Moro Bay State Park hosted the 26th Annual Perch Jerk Classic Bream and Crappie Tournament and it was year for breaking records.  This year we had a record 88 teams participate which was 21 more teams than last year.  The teams are always an interesting mix of folks. They range from young people, to older couples, to best buddies, and next door neighbors.  According to Park Superintendent Paul Butler, “The river level was perfect for fishing and more fish were weighed in this year than in any other year in the 13 years I have been here”.  Local merchants and individuals from El Dorado, Warren, and the surrounding area donated $4,758 worth of door prizes.  The park gave away a $300 BBQ grill as a grand prize. 

Moro Bay State Park is exceptionally grateful for all those who donated and all those who participated in the event.  Your support helps us accomplish our mission which is (in part) protecting the natural resources at Moro Bay and providing people with opportunities to experience the outdoors.  We are also thankful for the Amendment 75, 1/8th cent conservation tax which helps us make events like the Perch Jerk possible.

The Winners of the tournament and Prize Money are listed below.  For the Crappie Division the anglers are allowed to weigh in 10 crappie and for the bream division anglers are allowed to weigh in 20 bream.   We also award a trophy and prize money to the person who catches the biggest bream and the person who catches the biggest crappie.  Jonathan Wilkerson caught the largest bream which weighed 13 oz which was also a record; the largest Big Bream I have weighed in my time here at Moro Bay.  There was a tie for overall weight in Bream and a tie for the largest Crappie which was decided by coin toss. 


Bream Division

1st Place Total Weight Bream – Seth Burns and Scotty Hudson (8 lb. 4oz.) $100
2nd Place Total Weight Bream – Jerry Langley and Michael Bradford (8. 4 0z) $70
3rd Place Total Weight Bream – Ken and Tamra Turbeville (8 lb. 3oz) $50
Largest Bream – Jonathon Wilkerson (13 oz.) $20


Crappie Division
                               
1st Place Total Weight Crappie – James Calloway and Chad Pate (6 lb.   12 oz.) $100
2nd Place Total Weight Crappie – Bob Williams and Shaun Rawls (6lb.  6 oz.) $70
3rd Place Total Weight Crappie – Lisa Strickland and Helen Meeks (5 lb. 15 oz.) $50
Largest Crappie – Nicky Thomas (1 lb. 9 oz.) $20 and David Bailey

Alexander Wardlaw with 1lb. crappie

David and Karen Bailey with a 1lb 9oz crappie

Jonathon and his son Gunner Wilkerson with a 13oz Redear

Wilson Perdue, winner of the $300 grill