Shpack virtually cements AOY at Monponsett with 4th 2024 win

While the field was small, with only 3 anglers participating, it was a fine day on the water. Weather was highly cooperative, the water clear, and the boat traffic comparatively light. The water temperature at the 6 o-clock start was 80 degrees and it crept up throughout the day to finish above 84 degrees thanks to the bright sun. Air temperature was well into the 80s too, and there was a west-southwest wind to help cool things off beginning around noon.

The fish were slightly less cooperative but some repectable weights and fish were brought to the scales despite long periods of time beteen bites. They were buried deep in the weeds to start the day and moved to the outer edges as the sun got higher and warmed the shallows, driving them to (slightly) deeper water. The increasing wind help to chop the surface and seemed to loosen them up as well.

Dave took advantage of the early bite, finding some good fish very close to shore before the rising sun turned it off. John fisgured them out later in the day once they moved to the edges. His pattern turned out to be the winning one as he brought a limit of 13.59 pounds of fish to the scale. This victory was the 4th consecutive win of 2024 and all but assured the 2024 Angler of the Year crown would be his for the third year running. Dave finished second with a 5-fish limit of 12.07 that was anchored by the days lunker, a 4.71 pound fish.

The angler with the best chance of catching John is Nick, who must win both remaining events and hope that John falters in both. While Dave has not been mathematically eliminated from boater AOY contention, it is a near impossibility for John to lose the crown as long as he fishes both events and catches just one fish, even if Dave or Nick win both of the remaining contests.

Now we are off to discuss plans for a possible 2-day event at a location to be determined. Otherwise, we will be meeting up at The Charles River in Brighton on September 22 for the season finale.