First-Place Winners Brad Buck and Mark Dudley

Brad Buck and Mark Dudley of New Bern set a new Neuse River Backwater Open record during the 7th annual event, which was held on Oct. 3,2009. The two-man team weighed in five speckled trout, two red drum, two flounder and two stripers weighing a total of 32.75 pounds.

The anglers fish together several times per week and work the same shift at PCS phosphate. Essentially, they "practice fish" for the tournament all year long. Their expertise and experience paid off with the win.

Capt. Mark Hoff and his son with a red drum.

The team was using 4-inch Berkley Gulp Pogy lures fished on jig heads. They also used MirrOlures.

“We fished three creeks and went less than 10 miles,” Buck said. “We also fished in the Neuse River, catching fish at several different spots.”

The pair was fishing from a 22-foot Triton boat, equipped with a trolling motor and Power Pole, an anchoring device that lowers an arm to dig into the bottom, stopping the boat almost instantly when a pocket of fish is found. These two devices are revolutionizing tournament fishing in shallow water as much as depthfinders and GPS units have changed competition fishing in deep water conditions.

7th Annual Neuse River Backwater Open

Larry Baldwin is the Lower Neuse Riverkeeper. He was glad the tournament brings awareness to the Neuse Riverkeeper Foundation.

“The tournament will raise enough money to buy boat fuel,” Baldwin said. “The foundation relies mostly on grants, which are very difficult to come by these days.”

Mike Marsh with a flounder caught during the Neuse River Backwater Open.

Baldwin has been the Lower Neuse Riverkeeper for 7 years. He said awareness of the recreational value of the river is heightened by the tournament. He uses a 20-foot Wellcraft boat to patrol the river, searching actively for polluters. The foundation also tries to stop negative impacts to the river through education and legislation.

Seventh Neuse River Backwater Open Winners:


First             BradBuck and Mark Dudley           32.75 pounds    $925

Second        Ronnie Mallard/Brian Rowe           27.0 pounds      $660

Third           Paul Hunter/Jason Arthur            25.55 pounds     $396

Fourth         Billy Copeland/Scott Wood          21.15 pounds     $264

Fifth            Michael Odom/Junior Miller          21.05 pounds      $185

Sixth           Joe Ward/Chip Heath                 18.4 pounds       $132

Seventh      Mike Taylor/Jeff Cronk                15.45 pounds     $80

Additional prizes were also awarded for first, second and third places.

The total amount raised for the Neuse Riverkeeper Foundation was $1,500.