Wando resident Dave Jaskiewicz wins IFA Kayak Fishing Tour event

Dave Jaskiewicz of Wando measured a combined limit of 52.25 inches to win the final regular season event for the 2019 Atlantic Division of the IFA Kayak Fishing Tour on July 21 in Georgetown.

This event marks Jaskiewicz’s third Atlantic Divisional win in a row and adds another title for nine total wins. The angler’s domination also includes three Atlantic Divisional Angler of the Year titles.

Like the other IFA Kayak anglers, Jaskiewicz fought through hot and humid conditions. He put in at his home waters of the Wando River and fished top-water baits in the morning for redfish. With no luck getting on to a hot trout bite, the angler switched to Berkley Gulp! The late switch netted him a 23.50-inch trout, which was the longest of the tournament and won the $100 Berkley Big Trout Award and $100 in Berkley products.

“I was shocked when I saw the big trout,” said Jaskiewicz. “I was pumped and happy to get two good fish.”

Jaskiewicz also landed his fish on Spiderwire line and received a spool of Spiderwire 30# Invisibraid. The angler added $325 in Anglers Advantage cash for a total of $1,524 in winnings.

Second-place finisher Gregory Healey of Mount Pleasant measured a combined length of 46.38 inches to win $445. Healey fished the north Wando River from Paradise Landing with soft plastics. He stuck to the shell beds while the tide came in and once the tide was up, he pushed through the grass. The angler measured a 27.63-inch redfish and an 18.75-inch trout.

“Fishing Paradise Landing is always a fantastic time,” said Healey. “I’m usually able to find the reds, but finding trout after 9 a.m. is usually impossible. So I was very happy to and surprised to find such a large trout at noon.”

In his first IFA Kayak Tour event, Healey finished among some of the best kayak anglers on the East Coast.

“I’m honored to place among these fantastic people,” said Healey. “I’ve never fished with the IFA before and hope to do so again.”

Another name familiar on the IFA Kayak Tour leaderboard, Justin Rienerth, of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, added a third-place finish to his resume. He also opted to fish the Wando River and caught his redfish on the banks and his trout on deeper oyster bars.

“The early morning low-incoming tide was key to finding schools of reds,” said Rienerth. “I found schools of reds busting bait on the banks and was lucky to find a hungry school of trout right next to my redfish spot.”

Rienerth landed a 29.50-inch redfish on Berkley Gulp! swimming mullet, which won the $100 Berkley Big Redfish award along with $100 in Berkley products. All together, he won $380 for his efforts.

Tenth-place finisher Robby Freeman measured a 19.50-inch trout to win the $100 Junior Angler award.

The fastest-growing kayak fishing tournament trail in the country, the IFA Kayak Fishing Tour events are catch-photograph-release tournaments, offering inshore kayak anglers from a multitude of states the opportunity to participate in competitive fishing tournaments with low entry fees and minimal travel requirements.

For more information or to become a member of the IFA, visit www.ifatours.com.

IFA events are made possible through the sponsorship and continued support of these well-respected brands: Hobie Fishing, Ranger Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Mercury Marine, Garmin, Berkley Gulp!, Berkley Gulp! Alive!, PENN Reels, Spiderwire, Navionics, Power-Pole, Valley Fashions, T-H Marine, ATLAS, G-Juice, and Powertex Group.

IFA Kayak Tour - Atlantic Division Georgetown, S.C. (Top 8)

Dave Jaskiewcz - 52.25 inches

Gregory Healey - 46.38 inches

Justin Rienerth - 46.25 inches

Dolphin Hamilton - 41.50 inches

Justin Carter - 26.50 inches

Larry Hancock - 24.00 inches

Andrew Imes - 22.50 inches

Stephen Trainor - 19.50 inches

Robby Freeman - 19.25 inches

Rigel Jessen - 19.00 inches