Florida and North Carolina Anglers Take Top Honors in Florida Keys’ Cuda Bowl

LOWER FLORIDA KEYS, Florida — Zach Huff of Fort Myers, Florida, released 294.75 inches of barracuda to win the spin division of the 2023 Cuda Bowl Tournament that ended Feb. 11 in the Lower Florida Keys. Guided by his father, Captain Chad Huff of Marathon, Florida, he earned the title of divisional grand champion.

Among Zach Huff’s catches was a huge 54-inch barracuda that set a new tournament record for the spin division.

John Chinuntdet of Mooresville, North Carolina, won the Cuda Bowl’s fly division championship, releasing barracuda totaling 261 inches. He was guided by Captain Justin Rea of Sugarloaf Key, Florida.

Tony Murphy of Key West, Florida, caught the largest individual barracuda in the fly division. He released the 48-inch fish while guided by Captain Brandon Cyr of Big Pine Key, Florida.

First runner-up honors in the spin division went to Paul Schultz of North Salem, New Hampshire. Guided by Captain Connan Lehmkul of Key West, Schultz released fish totaling 269 inches.

Ben Bortner of Key West earned the first runner-up title in the fly division, releasing 255 inches of barracuda while fishing with Key West’s Captain Nick LaBadie.

Twelve-year-old Olivia Snell of Big Coppitt Key, Florida, took home two notable wins after releasing 235.25 inches of permit. The young enthusiast was named both the tournament’s top female angler and top junior angler while fishing with her father, Captain Aaron Snell of Big Coppitt.

Honors for the most barracuda releases in the spin division went to Anita Blumberg of Big Pine Key, Florida, for 44; and Travis Katski of Harwood, Maryland, for 21 in the fly division.

Jason and Gus Farmer of Chattanooga, Tennessee, earned the tournament’s prestigious Ben Gravett Team Trophy. The duo posted a team total of 503.75 inches of barracuda for the win.

The flats challenge drew 40 boats and 54 anglers who released a total of 515 barracuda over two fishing days.