DEMOPOLIS &045; Last Saturday, Demopolis City Landing welcomed 30 boats for the fifth installment of the Civitan Bass Tournament.

The event, previously a bi-annual occurrence, was won by Jimmy and Chad Richey who hauled in 13.54 pounds of Tombigbee bass to take home the top prize. That number edged out the 13 pounds pulled by second place finishers Scott Freeman and Timmy McDaniel. Jimmy Sanford and Keith Adcot pulled 12.12 pounds to take third place while Lance Miller and Billy Wyatt’s 11.74-pound haul was good enough for fourth. The biggest fish title went to Ricky Smith and Chris Stokes who snagged a 5.12-pound bass to claim the honor.

Civitan members reportedly were pleased with the tournament’s turnout and the smooth manner with which the event was executed.

McDaniel and his partner Freeman manned one of the 16 boats that returned to the dock for weigh-in at the end of the day.

The fishermen’s perspective seemed to be in line with McDaniel’s thoughts. The only suggestions offered by participants came in reference to the prize money.

Entrants were charged $120 per boat with all proceeds going to the Civitan International Research Center, which focuses on finding causes and potential cures for developmental disabilities in children. While the Richeys took first place, it is the $1,000 raised for CIRC which may stand as the tournament’s biggest haul.

Following Saturday’s success, the Civitan Club will now turn its attention to next year’s competition.