MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – A Moncks Corner angler overcame mechanical trouble on the water Saturday to take home a major win at a regional fishing tournament on the Santee Cooper Lakes.
Gary Elsey, of Moncks Corner, who competed in the boating division, landed five bass weighing a total of 26 pounds, 10 ounces to win the Major League Fishing (MLF) Phoenix Bass Fishing League event, earning $2,960 in the process. The tournament, hosted by the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce, marked the second stop of the season for the South Carolina Division.
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Elsey’s victory came with an unexpected twist.
After starting the day on the lower lake and catching a few fish, Elsey made a move around 9:30 a.m.—only for his motor to fail.
“I ran to the lower lake and caught some fish on stumps and then made a move and my motor blew up,” Elsey said. “I just started fishing for some bed fish. We stayed right there in the same little area and caught some fish off of the bed.”
With no way to relocate, Elsey adjusted his strategy and committed to fishing the same spot for the remainder of the day.
“I told my co-angler, ‘Well, this is it. This is where we’re going to fish for the day… so let’s just have a good time,’” he said.
Despite the setback, Elsey found success using a drop-shot rig paired with a green pumpkin and candy red trick worm, ultimately catching 11 keepers throughout the tournament.
Weather conditions also played a role, with a recent cold front pushing fish away before warmer overnight temperatures brought them back into shallower areas.
Even after securing a strong catch, Elsey faced another challenge—getting back to weigh-in.
Tournament rules required him to find another competitor for a ride, and fellow angler Cecil Wolfe of Summerton stepped in to help, sacrificing valuable fishing time.
“I thank Cecil Wolfe for coming and getting me, because he lost an hour of fishing time to help me,” Elsey said.
Wolfe still managed a strong finish, placing third overall.
The tournament also featured a strong showing from Berkeley County anglers. Wade Grooms of Bonneau finished tied for fourth with five bass weighing 25 pounds, 8 ounces, earning $585.
Another Moncks Corner angler, Mark Hutson, placed ninth with a five-bass total of 20 pounds, 10 ounces, earning $420. Goose Creek’s J.W. Smith rounded out the top 10 with five bass weighing 19 pounds, 14 ounces, taking home $410.
The event is part of a larger statewide series, with anglers competing for points toward the Angler of the Year race and a chance to qualify for regional and national championship tournaments later this year.
For Elsey, the win was a testament to adaptability—and a reminder that even when things go wrong, success can still be within reach.
According to the MFL, Jason Ries, of Columbia, won the co-angler division and the top prize of $1,480 Saturday after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 10 pounds, 15 ounces.
