 This week on the sportsman experience Jim is mixing things up and testing his skills as a middle school fishing coach Yeah, so my theory is here that this creek that's on the other side over here Yeah, the fish push up in there when the tide gets high and they come out and center the stock when the tide's low He's got redfish addict Owen an eighth-grade redfish tournament angler on the boat with him And they're participating in the Brody Bates youth redfish open for a chance at some serious scholarship money See he's got that good fishing flow. That's what I work for I'm trying. I'm trying to bring my fishing flow back for the summer. Oh, baby flounder Look at that big old minnow Fishing is a lifelong passion The pursuit of new species and lifelong memories is why we are up before dawn and coming home salty in the evening My name is Jim Isaac Lifelong fishermen boatbuilder and student of the water join us as we bring along family and friends to pursue new waters Learn new methods and enjoy our time together outdoors Welcome to the sportsman experience Charleston, South Carolina home to one of the best fisheries in the United States The history here brings in tourists from all over the world looking to experience the beautiful scenery Civil War era locations and one of our favorites the inshore red fishing The marsh grass Lethara bait and dense oyster habitat make for an extremely good redfish ecosystem Which also makes it a great location for fishing tournaments of all sorts. Hey, Jim. It looks like you're loading some gear What's going on? What's going on? Yeah, so we're just doing a little youth redfish tournament tomorrow We're gonna use a boat and sponsor a kid and take them out there It's the Birdie Bates youth redfish tournament. Is there any prize money associated with that tournament? Yeah, so it's a scholarship tournament. So I think we'd be at first place for middle school and high schools $5,000 scholarship and then $1,000 big fish again using that cash We need to go back to school learn how to catch fish. Oh, man I don't know. I might have to send you back to learn how to cast All jokes aside. Tell me some more about this tournament. Yeah, so it's a memorial tournament The family that started it, you know, they turned a tragedy into something that kind of benefits the community benefits other children Since the scholarship tournament, you know, it's in its youth only it brings these kids out Get some outdoors let some, you know, I mean they can win money for their future. So kind of helps out with that We've got a little guy Owen. He's in middle school. He's coming with us tomorrow. He's a he's super pumped. Dad's been calling me all week He's apparently quite the fisherman. So we're hopefully get him out there and put him on some fish Maybe win him some prizes and yeah, see what happens. That sounds like a charity for a great cause I'm out of here for the day. Yeah for sure. Good luck. All right, man. Take it easy. Your first place for a present Yeah, man Jim is ready for a win tomorrow and he's been talking with Owen's dad And he is itching to get on the water with the boat prepped It's time to get some rest and prepare for an early morning My name is Coleman Bates father of the late Brody Bates creator of the Brody Bates Foundation the Brody Bates Foundation was created in 2020 It was a foundation we started in in the honor of our son Brody Bates who passed away in 2019 Our goal is to help or benefit other families that have lost a sibling So growing up Coleman and I got to know each other through sports at the local recreational league about a few years ago Coleman came to me. They were interested in and buying a sportsman boat So we helped them go through that process not long after the the tragedy occurred at the same time We were a sportsman looking to figure out a way to get youth more involved in in the outdoors specifically fishing and boating and so through that process we were we were trying to establish a tournament down here in Charleston, South Carolina and As I kind of walked down that road with Coleman one thing that kept coming to my mind was it would just be a wonderful opportunity To name the tournament in honor of his late son Brody and that's exactly what we did Brody Bates Redfish Open was started in 2020 in honor of our late son Brody Bates with the help of salt fishing league and sportsmen's boats They created a tournament in the low country Middle school and high school kids could compete while catching redfish with a chance to earn college scholarship money Launched a boat this morning up at Buck Hall boat landing. We're out here fishing the Brody Bates Memorial Tournament today today We've got Owen with us. He's a middle school student. He's a we're trying to put him on some fish out here. We've got It's pretty strong northeast wind Incoming tide so it's not ideal, but it's a nice morning out here. It's pretty pretty good He's we just started fishing so we're gonna see what we can find. Oh There's something on it No, there is there little bites. Yeah There you go. Oh, what do you think it's gonna take to win the tournament? Hard work. I think We just got to work hard for these fish fine Be patient with it today, especially with the tide coming in. I think we're definitely gonna have to work hard How long have you been doing these little tournaments? Oh, this is actually my first year. Yeah But I've been fishing normally redfish for a couple of years on maybe five six years Honestly, it's a little bit more fun than fresh water, of course because you got harder fighting fish Oh, yeah, and I mean look more variety to you never know what's gonna here to catch and then you can also eat them If you want to get into a nice big old flounder or something. Yeah. Yeah That's always good. He's probably talking about how much of a better fisherman he is. Yeah, he might be right now So today we're fishing on the all-new Masters 247 so starting at the back You've got two eight foot power poles the all-new Yamaha 300 to Aquarium see-through live wells You also have got right here two really nice seats that you can pull these down and put your feet up on Then you've got of course two garments Really nice garments touchscreen garments on a cold day this detubing with the windshield is Great because it keeps you from being cold and everything with a wind then you go to the front of the boat. You've got One compartment right here under the seat. You got two seats Imagine you got two people that can sit right there and you've got one two three four and five Compartments at the front deck and we step up here. You've got all the space in the world to walk around This is an all-around great fishing boat, and it's definitely gonna help us win this fishing tournament today So yeah, this is a youth only tournament Basically youth are the only ones allowed to have their hold the rods One rod at a time We're just here for backup. I think we can help net the fish But they're you know if anything breaks whatever they they have to tie everything up bait down hooks do all that It's a standard redfish limit. It's 15 to 23. It's a two fish one big fish, but it's a two fish aggregate Yeah, one's got it down though. He's uh, he he doesn't need any help He's he's doing his thing. So we just got to try to get him on some fish and hopefully we can make that happen I think he's got the rest handle. Oh, that's a that's a bite. That's a really nice bite. Oh There you bite. Yeah Here we go So Owen's only 13 years old, but you can tell this is what he loves to do This is his passion. This is what he dreams about at night. I mean, he's really got it going on This is a fishy kid for sure I my grandpa gave me all of his fishing stuff. I've been just Like loving the fish. That's a fish There you go It's small though. That's all right. I think it's a puppy. I'd be a little puppy That's a start as long as we know they're here, you know Yep. Oh, no, it's a sheet Black drum by drum. That's all right. They're hanging out at the same spot. So Little tiny guy you get him You want to you want some pliers? No, it's fine. It's a nice nice little yeah free fish hold them up for the camera Show them off you can get your hand cold put it in the water. Oh, yeah There's a water warm. Yeah, it's bath water right now So we finally just got Owen caught his first fish today We we've been fishing about five or ten minutes or so call a little black drums Hopefully there's some red fish hanging out here with them with their cousins, but we'll see he's on it He's on a mission. So we'll hopefully keep him coming. So we're just gonna pick up. We're gonna run out to the inlet We're kind of going away from so the Landings north of us. We're gonna run a little bit further south and then kind of work our way back Kind of go the farthest point come back with the tide Just trying to try a little something different Tides not working on our favor. I know that's a thing and that's what when so this spot I had out here in the inlet it looks kind of like that But it's got like a little creek that goes up in there and it's got like an oyster red submerged right off of it Usually pretty good. It's actually a really good flounder spot But we've been catching more red fish on it, which is kind of weird Well, yeah, I do love it and like I said, I would take it and cast it like right here in the corner Like up here where this little creek kind of goes in and then maybe let it drift right down the edge And then once it gets to like right there, it should start going over that little oyster bed So I kind of right just on the beach kind of because it looks like that with the current I'm kind of drift down like that. I think that'll be good. Oh, yeah I was on the bank, but let him catch a little sentan up there on the sand He's up there laying out browning Yeah, that's right. Just kick back Relax. Taking them on vacation Oh, oh, oh, that's a fish. I've got a fish. Oh, baby flounder Baby flounder, let's go. That's a flounder bite. Look at that big old minnow. And my minnow size. There we go. That's all right At least we're catching some variety. Yeah I told you it's a normal good flounder spot Not that small. I can't believe that little tiny flounder ate that big old minnow grow up big guy Go tell your buddy the redfish Now we're looking for him Nice. I love how they swim down the way like that That's all right. At least we know there's a couple fish here. Yes, we just got to a new spot Trying to kind of work our way back down the waterway here. We just got word that I Guess none of the middle school kids have caught fish yet. There's only been like two high school kids that have caught fish So it's pretty down to the wire, you know, probably a one-fish tournament something like that So we still got a pretty good chance. We're gonna try to still trying to pick one out of here This wind and tide just fighting against us, but that one's working out it. I'm actually Pretty confident that we're gonna pull something off in the oh, yeah next hour or so. I think so Once that tide starts moving Oh There you go Redfish redfish. That's a juicy one, too. Yes Keep it down. Keep it down. Keep it down Keep it down. Please. Please Please stay on Alright, we got a big big juicy one on. Oh, yes. Oh, no, it might be a poppy Oh Oh, oh you might be that's a good size right there. Don't look slot. He looks a little small. Oh, yeah, I Know I think that's a slot fish here. He's right on the bottom of it. Yes, please. Oh my god I'm trying not to whore some. Oh my god. Sorry. I can't see him. Yeah, you're good. All right, right here This is the one. Yes. Nice. That's definitely a slot fish. Let's get your here All right, so I'll get your board out. You can measure them into your thing Oh my gosh, he wasn't going anywhere. Oh, yeah That's us We don't even have to yeah, we're mean we're solid on that That's 16. So that's a keeper That might that might be that this might be the way to do it right here. I Said I said that there's got to be a juicy redfish there perseverance, right? Yep That's all it is. All right ready just a real quick and hold them up and we'll get a picture on I'll send you your dad to be happy And we'll put him in the well are you one two three All right, let's put him in the well. This might be a winning fish. You see his belly on this thing. He's fat, too Oh, yeah, he's a fat one for I mean for one that's that's a good size one man. I mean for he's slot, you know Dude, all right. So you guys just retie that one. Let's go That's about a two pounder right there. Yeah, we'll take it at this point. We'll take it I'll take anything at this point. No one's attitude hadn't changed all day He's been ready to catch fish all day, but he's definitely more pumped up now. He's ready to snatch another one out There you go. Oh, oh, he's puppy. Oh, no, he might be alright Hey, we got another one. Let's let me tell you something. Let's throw it on there She looked does look short, but he's fat. Yeah, she might be I mean, that's a fat little fish I mean, oh It still goes over 15. So slide that over the tail. So I go this way look here. Oh, yeah. Oh Yeah, he's 15 on that It's a part. Oh God, he's pooping here. Let's get him. Oh wait Why would I do that? You're good throw him in the line. Well, we'll get him I don't want to get the boat wet. I was let the guy go. You were fine. You were just you were thinking like a normal I didn't want it to poop all over the Boat. All right, well, let's go ahead and get out there. Let's maybe we can get another one right here So happy we got two fish today. I mean, that's just a blessing right there Especially on a windy super windy day. I mean, no nobody's catching fish Except us because we've got the best crew out here best camera guy best captain best fisherman out here. So Hey, you got a double hand them in there. You got him That's a good thing. I want to make sure they're alive 17 three quarters So we didn't have a ton of action today But we were able to bring home two fish. Owen's never weighed a fish in a tournament before so he is beyond stoked The lens cap is on An important part about this style of tournament is that it's catch and release Meaning that every fish must make it back to the water alive If a fish does not live and does not swim off then participants will have that fish deducted from their score This means good etiquette is essential when handling fish and ensuring they're released safely back into the water Where they came from I think to this day lord, thank you for bringing our boat captain and our anglers back home safe. I know It was a little windy out there lord and they felt your presence and Thank you for getting them back home safe and thank you for these moms and Sisters and brothers and children that's come out today lord and continue to bless this tournament as it continues to grow Not only to be a platform for you christ, but in memory of brody base Amen Two fish 3.28 big fish 1.91 oh and so far See you know and up there on the stage is really awesome He said in the beginning that hard work is what it was going to take to win this thing And that's what he did all day. He stuck out the cold kept fishing didn't complain and now look at him He's up there on the stage getting his reward Find you Oh nice, there we go. Here. Let's take a picture right here. Come on So when Owen came off the stage He had an extra trophy and he came over and handed it to me and that really meant a lot to me because you know We we got to spend a lot of time on the boat together today And we kind of really bonded and he's a really cool kid and you just you get to see somebody like that who has this passion That like I did when I was a kid and you get to share that with him It was just a just a cool experience all around. I like you like it. I know you got to hold them up. There you go Tough out there today. When was blowing 15 20 miles an hour north high tide and everything was going Not in our favor it could have been and we just stuck with it. We kept fishing We we made it happen. That's what it's all about. And like I said in the beginning it is hard work Our work came off There it is. Yep big fish and first place middle scale. So That's all that's what it's all about and it's for a good cause. Yep so Maybe we can do it again next year maybe see there you go And hopefully it's a little bit nicer Yeah, let's hope so maybe less bugs less cold. Maybe you'll wear some pants So yeah next year Owen and I already talked about it. We're gonna try to fish again together He'll be in high school next year. So the competition really ramps up But I think we can take them and uh, I'm really looking forward to it We want to thank everybody that came out for today's tournament And those that have been working behind the scenes to make this event possible Congrats to the winners this year and those that did not win best of luck next year I want to encourage you all to keep fishing keep working hard and remember to sign up for next year's tournament April 22nd at Buck Hall boat landing. You can register online at Brody Bates redfishopen.com Next week on the sportsman experience Jim has headed offshore with his brother and two good buddies from sportsman boats They planned a head out in hopes of filling the fish boxes by bottom fishing Some different reefs just offshore of their home waters in Charleston, South Carolina