Western New York Angler Wins Florida Keys’ Herman Lucerne Backcountry Challenge
ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys — James Bokor Jr. of Buffalo, New York, earned the master angler award at the 2024 Herman Lucerne Memorial Tournament that ended Sept. 22.
Eighty-two anglers, both guided and unguided, fished on 53 boats within the boundaries of Everglades National Park for snook, snapper, redfish, trout, tarpon, bonefish and either black drum or largemouth bass using bait, artificial or fly tackle.
Bokor logged catches from the seven targeted species, all on fly, to take the top title with a total of 240.75 points. His guide, Islamorada’s Captain Richard Black, was named top guide. Bokor also captured the guided fly division title.
The inaugural Next Generation Award, presented to the top angler across the board from the youth (age 10 and younger) and junior (age 11 to 17) guided and unguided divisions, went to Blaise Walczak, 17, from Naples, Florida. He caught all seven species for a total of 215.75 points, also winning the guided top junior award. The young angler fished with his father, Captain Rob Walczak, also from Naples.
Winner of the unguided top junior award, with six species, was Charley Ross of Miami Shores, Florida, who also took the unguided artificial division award. In addition, Ross caught an 18-inch largemouth bass that was the tournament’s largest.
The unguided top youth was Saige Clark, age 6, of Coral Gables, Florida. Guided top youth honors went to Julian Robertson IV, 10, of Vero Beach, Florida, fishing with Islamorada’s Captain KC Spaulding.
Captain Spaulding also guided young Julian and his father, Julian Robertson III — fishing as The Evergladors team — to the guided top team award.
Winner in the guided artificial division, with seven species and the largest trout of the tournament at 21 inches, was Mitch Gaither of Mills River, North Carolina, fishing with Captain Brian Gwilliam of Islamorada.
The guided general division winner, Ron Lesseraux of Houston, Texas, caught six species with Islamorada’s Captain Chris Daly. Winner of the unguided general division was Colton Clarke of Coral Gables, Florida, with five species.
Coming in first in the unguided fly division was Madison Kreitner of Homestead, Florida, who also earned the title of unguided top male. Team J & M, consisting of Kreitner and his fishing partner, Johnny Leon of Virginia Gardens, Florida, won the unguided top team award.
The guided top male title was earned by Mark Wolaver of Vero Beach, who fished with Captain Eli Whidden of Homestead.
The top guided female angler, Audrey Koocher, logged seven species while fishing with Captain Robert Collins. Both are from Islamorada. Top unguided female angler was Stephanie Parsons of Naples, with catches across all seven species.
The Sportsmanship Award went to Scott and Liam Giberson from Miramar, Florida. The father-son duo stopped to assist angler Stewart Mitchell when his boat lost power early on one of the tournament’s fishing days.
As well as enabling participants to enjoy the beauty of the Everglades, the tournament benefits water initiative groups whose efforts are restoring the flow of clean freshwater to Florida Bay and Everglades National Park, a designated World Heritage Site.
The 2025 challenge is set for Sept. 19-21, 2025.
