Maryland and Florida Anglers Take Top Honors in Florida Keys’ Cuda Bowl
LOWER FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. — Travis Katski of Harwood, Maryland, released 172.75 inches of barracuda to win the fly division of the 2020 Cuda Bowl Tournament that ended Feb. 1 in the Lower Florida Keys. Guided by Captain Mike Odell of Marathon, Florida, he earned the title of divisional grand champion.
Katski and Odell also took top honors for the most barracuda releases on fly with 51.
Marathon angler Dustin Huff won the Cuda Bowl’s spin division championship, releasing barracuda totaling 267 inches. Guided by his brother, Captain Chad Huff of Fort Myers, Florida, he also released a 52.5-inch barracuda that was the division’s largest.
Scott Christian of Alpharetta, Georgia, caught the largest individual barracuda in the fly division. He released the 48.25-inch fish while guided by Captain John Benvenuto of Key West, Florida.
Christian also took the first runner-up title in the fly division, releasing 161.75 inches of barracuda.
First runner-up honors in the spin division went to Russell Campbell of Salt Lake City, Utah. Guided by Marathon’s Captain Scott Collins, Campbell released fish totaling 261 inches.
The tournament’s grand champion lady angler was Missy Bracher of Cudjoe Key, Florida, who released barracuda totaling 240.5 inches. She fished with her husband Captain Pat Bracher, also of Cudjoe Key.
Placing behind Bracher and named first runner-up lady angler was Ashlea Kaufman of Gainesville, Virginia, who released barracuda totaling 195 inches. She fished with Captain Nicolas Calabro of Key West.
Thirteen-year-old Mason Meyer of Blaine, Minnesota, earned the title of top junior angler. Guided by Captain Jason Gabriel of Summerland Key, Florida, the young enthusiast released 235.25 inches of barracuda.
In addition, Meyer and his father Brad Meyer, also of Blaine, earned the tournament’s prestigious Ben Gravett Team Award. Brad Meyer posted fish totaling 235.5 inches — just a fraction more than his son — for a team total of 470.75 inches.
The flats challenge drew 45 boats and 64 anglers who released a total of 402 barracuda over two fishing days.