Regional Kayak Angler wins Ocean City Regional Trial, and earns a position directly onto Team USA with an invite to the World Championship of Saltwater Kayak Fishing in Spain this October.

During Team USA’s Gold Medal run in Costa Rica June 22nd and 23rd, a regional event was held in Ocean City Maryland by Brian Roberts called the Fish n Paddle Summer Slam. Brian and his Summer Slam became the first sanctioned event in team USAngling’s Regional Trial Series. We can’t thank Brian Roberts enough for his work and commitment to the sport of saltwater kayak fishing. We are very proud to be working with Brian as a Regional Tournament Director. In the words of Brian “this tournament will be a good qualifier because the currents and conditions can get tough out there and these athletes have will have to really earn a position on Team USA!”

This annual community tournament features a Catch, Photo, and Release Division. As well as donates a large portion of the captured fish to a local non profit homeless shelter. This year USAngling joined forces with the Fish n Paddle Summer Slam and sanctioned this event to be a qualifier for the World Championship in Valencia Spain. The winner of the Catch Photo and Release division earns an invite to this unique event.

Michael Bartgis from Maryland took the top honors with a 36.25 inch fork length Striper. “I found some smaller fish early and then the wind picked up and made fishing tough. I managed to find some sheltered area to fish alongside some other anglers and stuck it out through the tide change. Once the outgoing tide picked up some bigger fish moved in and that’s when I hooked up. The big fish tied to pull me out into the rough ocean and was an epic fight on light tackle. After about a 10 minute fight I was able to get her in!” said Bartgis. USAngling welcomes Micheal Bartgis to Team USA Saltwater Kayak Fishing.

Bartgis joins a USA Team of extremely talented anglers and receives a direct invite to compete in the World Championship of Saltwater Kayak Fishing in Spain this October. Congratulations Michael Bartgis. The next Trial for the World Championship of Kayak Fishing will be held August 17th in Pompano Beach Florida with Joe Hector and the Extreme Kayak Fishing’s Summer Slam Series. The winner of this will also be invited to Spain. For more information on how you can get on Team USAngling Saltwater Kayak Fishing and Qualify for the World Championship in Spain

https://facebook.com/events/s/1st-world-championship-of-sea-/1645129722927390/

please visit https://usangling.org/saltwater-kayak-fishing or contact Annie Nagel at

usakfs@usagling.org

(707) 495-2625