Burroughs wins Sheepshead Shootout

It may have been his last fish of the day, but it was the one that counted.

Local angler and boat captain LW Burroughs of IntraCoastal Experience, pulled in a 7.09-pound sheepshead Saturday  to take first place in the first-ever Sheepshead Shootout held out of The Ships Chandler.

“I caught about 13 total and not to be dramatic, but it was the last one of the day,” Burroughs said.

“They all looked about the same size,” he said, but when they put it on the scales it was about a half-pound bigger than the others.

Burroughs said he went straight to the place he wanted to fish and stayed on the same spot all day.

“You tend to know where they are at,” he said, noting he fishes the local waters on a regular basis.

He snagged the winning sheepshead on a live shrimp with real light weight.

“I use a real small hook … they are real leader shy,” he said.

Burroughs was just one of 75 anglers participating in the one-day event held at Ships Chandler. Sheepshead Wear, a sponsor, gave the top 10 anglers each a prize.

“It was a good time,” said Peter Wright Jr. of Ships Chandler.

“It was the first tournament of the year … and it was one where anybody could win it,” Wright said.

Placing  second overall was Jason Auden with a 6.61-pounder.

Cody Gray came in third with a 6.55-pounder and Daniel Young placed fourth with a 6.435-pounder. Gerald Moss finished out the top five with a 6.080-pounder.

The top lady angler was Katie Witherspoon and winning junior angler was Cooper Lowery.

With the great turnout, The Ships Chandler is planning to do the tournament again next year.