By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Kyoya Fujita has been a star in Japan for several years, winning four Angler of the Year titles in his home country. Now, the 27-year-old is starting to make a name for himself here in the United States.
Fujita caught 20 pounds, 12 ounces on Day 3 of the Bassmaster Elite Series eventat Lake Murray – and with a three-day total of 65-08, he became the event's third leader. He also guaranteed his second-straight Top-10 finish after a second-place showing at Lake Seminole in February.
After catching 22-06 each of the first two days, Fujita is now the only angler to top the 20-pound mark each day this week. Tennessee pro Hunter Shryock is in second with 64-03 and South Carolina’s Patrick Walters is third with 62-08.
While the rain and storms were not as heavy as expected, clouds and wind were more prominent Saturday morning than they were on Days 1 and 2. As Saturday wore on, the clouds cleared and sunny skies prevailed. That led to a great day of bass fishing, as 48 of the 50 anglers caught limits.
With several different LiveScope transducers, Fujita has been picking out bass that are suspended in open water near a creek channel in 6 to 18 feet. He said he has been using one bait primarily, a Jackall RV DriftFry with a 1/8-ounce Keitech jighead.
“The LiveScope wasn’t showing me fish,” said Fujita, who added through an interpreter that he will not make a cast unless there is a fish on the screen. He said he is also seeing a lot of stripers swimming around his area. He can tell the difference between the two if they are sitting still, but if the fish is swimming he cannot tell which species he is seeing.
“I am still figuring out the difference,” he said.
Fujita was hampered by boat problems to start the morning and the fishing wasn’t stellar when he got to his first spot. Although he caught one over 5 pounds around 8:30 a.m., he was not seeing a lot of activity on his Garmin LiveScope and changed areas.
He then caught a 3-pounder shortly after 11 a.m. before catching three bass between 1 and 2:15 p.m., including another one over 5 pounds. The area he fished Saturday afternoon was the same one that produced for him Friday.
The fishing is getting tougher, however, and he believes he may need to find a new area to fish for Championship Sunday.
“I’m not sure if I can catch them or not,” Fujita said. “Morning, (I will start) in the same area.”
With bags of 22-09 and 23-05 the first two days, Shryock caught his lightest bag of the tournament so far, adding 18-05 on Saturday to land in second for the second day in a row. He said he caught a quality bass about every hour to fill his limit by about 11 a.m.
“It was more consistent today than yesterday, but it was still a grind,” he said. “I feel like we had the same amount of big bites we have had the last two days, we just didn’t capitalize on two of them and that made all of the difference in my bag. I’m pretty sure I lost a 5 and a 6, but I had a lot of things go right this week to get us to this point.”
Shryock thought the bigger bass would bite better with the wind blowing, but that did not happen. He caught more bass Saturday than he has any day this week, but some were barely keepers.
He said those big bass are likely still in the area, but he couldn’t see them as well with the ripple on the water.
“Conditions today really hurt what I was trying to do,” he said. “I could only do one thing at that point and once I realized it, I pushed it in the window they are biting and then it shut off. After that, I was just wasting my time.”
Shryock’s best area is a mile-long stretch of shoreline where he is seeing 3- or 4-inch baitfish, which he feels are blueback herring that are trying to spawn. His best times to catch bass there have been between 10 a.m. and noon.
“When I don’t see that, I’m not catching big fish,” he said. “But when I’m around them, I’m catching better quality.”
He used three different baits, including a Berkley Choppo and a finesse presentation.
Walters has caught bags of 22-11, 20-09 and 19-04. While he wasn’t able to catch a big bass Saturday, he feels his pattern is getting better as the tournament progresses.
“They are starting to eat now. In practice, I couldn’t get them to bite,” Walters said. “I caught 35 fish today. I didn’t get a big bite, but they are starting to bite. If I can find schools tomorrow that have big ones in them, 20 pounds shouldn’t be a problem.”
He has fished new water every day, including some of the spots he used to win a college national championship. Walters’ deck is littered with rods and he said he used about every one of them on Day 3. He is primarily fishing shallow for postspawn largemouth that are feeding on blueback herring.
When the bass weren’t actively schooling, he used a Carolina rig to generate bites.
“I want to go find the fish that are biting at the time. I keep running until I run into them,” Walters said.
Matt Arey from Shelby, N.C., caught a 7-11 largemouth on Day 3, earning him Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day honors and $1,000. That is also currently the Big Bass of the Tournament.
Bernie Schultz and Drew Cook both caught 26-01 on Day 3, which vaulted them into the Top 10 and into a tie for the VMC Monster Bag of the Tournament award.
Day 3 Standings
1. Kyoya Fujita -- Minamitsuru, JAPAN -- 15, 65-08 -- 104
Day 1: 5, 22-06 -- Day 2: 5, 22-06 -- Day 3: 5, 20-12
2. Hunter Shryock -- Ooltewah, TN -- 15, 64-03 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 22-09 -- Day 2: 5, 23-05 -- Day 3: 5, 18-05
3. Patrick Walters -- Summerville, SC -- 15, 62-08 -- 102
Day 1: 5, 22-11 -- Day 2: 5, 20-09 -- Day 3: 5, 19-04
4. Kenta Kimura -- Osaka, JAPAN -- 15, 61-08 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 15-03 -- Day 2: 5, 24-09 -- Day 3: 5, 21-12
5. John Cox -- DeBary, FL -- 15, 61-08 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 18-13 -- Day 2: 5, 21-02 -- Day 3: 5, 21-09
6. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 15, 61-03 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 19-05 -- Day 2: 5, 15-13 -- Day 3: 5, 26-01
7. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 15, 60-11 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 18-10 -- Day 2: 5, 16-00 -- Day 3: 5, 26-01
8. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, SC -- 15, 60-11 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 19-06 -- Day 2: 5, 24-04 -- Day 3: 5, 17-01
9. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 15, 60-11 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 20-09 -- Day 2: 5, 20-07 -- Day 3: 5, 19-11
10. Drew Benton -- Panama City, FL -- 15, 60-09 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 23-00 -- Day 2: 5, 23-09 -- Day 3: 5, 14-00
The following anglers did not make the cut and will not fish on day 4
11. Michael Iaconelli -- Pittsgrove, NJ -- 15, 59-03 -- 94 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-06 -- Day 2: 5, 20-02 -- Day 3: 5, 20-11
12. Bryant Smith -- Roseville, CA -- 15, 58-15 -- 93 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-12 -- Day 2: 5, 22-08 -- Day 3: 5, 19-11
13. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 15, 58-14 -- 92 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-02 -- Day 2: 5, 20-07 -- Day 3: 5, 21-05
14. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 15, 58-13 -- 91 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 20-05 -- Day 2: 5, 15-05 -- Day 3: 5, 23-03
15. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 15, 58-09 -- 90 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 20-10 -- Day 2: 5, 19-15 -- Day 3: 5, 18-00
16. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 15, 58-00 -- 89 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-04 -- Day 2: 5, 18-10 -- Day 3: 5, 21-02
17. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 15, 57-10 -- 88 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 21-04 -- Day 2: 5, 18-02 -- Day 3: 5, 18-04
18. Kyle Welcher -- Opelika, AL -- 15, 57-10 -- 87 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-13 -- Day 2: 5, 20-15 -- Day 3: 5, 17-14
19. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 15, 55-15 -- 86 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 22-00 -- Day 2: 5, 14-12 -- Day 3: 5, 19-03
20. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 15, 55-09 -- 85 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-10 -- Day 2: 5, 18-05 -- Day 3: 5, 19-10
21. Masayuki Matsushita -- Tokoname-Aichi, JAPAN -- 15, 55-08 -- 84 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-14 -- Day 2: 5, 15-10 -- Day 3: 5, 21-00
22. Cody Huff -- Ava, MO -- 15, 55-07 -- 83 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-08 -- Day 2: 5, 16-01 -- Day 3: 5, 20-14
23. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 15, 55-04 -- 82 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-00 -- Day 2: 5, 19-07 -- Day 3: 5, 17-13
24. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 15, 55-01 -- 81 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-04 -- Day 2: 5, 20-03 -- Day 3: 5, 15-10
25. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 15, 55-00 -- 80 -- $11,000
Day 1: 5, 16-09 -- Day 2: 5, 18-00 -- Day 3: 5, 20-07
26. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, FL -- 15, 55-00 -- 79 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-13 -- Day 2: 5, 19-04 -- Day 3: 5, 18-15
27. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 15, 54-14 -- 78 -- $11,000
Day 1: 5, 11-15 -- Day 2: 5, 22-10 -- Day 3: 5, 20-05
28. Joseph Webster -- Hamilton, AL -- 15, 54-06 -- 77 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 20-05 -- Day 2: 5, 14-06 -- Day 3: 5, 19-11
29. Matt Robertson -- Kuttawa, KY -- 15, 54-05 -- 76 -- $11,000
Day 1: 5, 25-08 -- Day 2: 5, 14-15 -- Day 3: 5, 13-14
30. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 15, 54-04 -- 75 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 20-05 -- Day 2: 5, 17-08 -- Day 3: 5, 16-07
31. David Gaston -- Sylacauga, AL -- 15, 53-00 -- 74 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-06 -- Day 2: 5, 19-09 -- Day 3: 5, 15-01
32. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 15, 53-00 -- 73 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-05 -- Day 2: 5, 17-08 -- Day 3: 5, 16-03
33. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 15, 52-14 -- 72 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-14 -- Day 2: 5, 19-04 -- Day 3: 5, 16-12
34. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 15, 52-11 -- 71 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-13 -- Day 2: 5, 16-03 -- Day 3: 5, 16-11
35. Jake Whitaker -- Hendersonville, NC -- 14, 52-06 -- 70 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 20-00 -- Day 2: 5, 21-04 -- Day 3: 4, 11-02
36. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 15, 52-05 -- 69 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-13 -- Day 2: 5, 16-07 -- Day 3: 5, 16-01
37. Derek Hudnall -- Zachary, LA -- 15, 52-03 -- 68 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 20-07 -- Day 2: 5, 15-10 -- Day 3: 5, 16-02
38. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 15, 51-15 -- 67 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-00 -- Day 2: 5, 16-06 -- Day 3: 5, 16-09
39. Jay Przekurat -- Stevens Point, WI -- 15, 51-14 -- 66 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-15 -- Day 2: 5, 16-04 -- Day 3: 5, 17-11
40. Matty Wong -- Honolulu, HI -- 15, 51-10 -- 65 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-10 -- Day 2: 5, 19-07 -- Day 3: 5, 16-09
41. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, ON -- 15, 51-02 -- 64 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-07 -- Day 2: 5, 18-00 -- Day 3: 5, 15-11
42. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 15, 51-00 -- 63 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-14 -- Day 2: 5, 16-04 -- Day 3: 5, 15-14
43. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 15, 50-04 -- 62 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-00 -- Day 2: 5, 16-07 -- Day 3: 5, 15-13
44. Will Davis Jr -- Sylacauga, AL -- 15, 50-00 -- 61 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-02 -- Day 2: 5, 19-05 -- Day 3: 5, 14-09
45. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 15, 49-13 -- 60 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-06 -- Day 2: 5, 18-06 -- Day 3: 5, 12-01
46. Jonathan Kelley -- Old Forge, PA -- 14, 49-07 -- 59 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-08 -- Day 2: 5, 17-14 -- Day 3: 4, 13-01
47. Jacob Powroznik -- North Prince George, VA 15 -- 49-06 -- 58 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-03 -- Day 2: 5, 15-08 -- Day 3: 5, 14-11
48. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 15, 47-10 -- 57 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-07 -- Day 2: 5, 18-11 -- Day 3: 5, 11-08
49. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 15, 46-15 -- 56 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 20-05 -- Day 2: 5, 15-14 -- Day 3: 5, 10-12
50. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 15, 46-01 -- 55 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-10 -- Day 2: 5, 15-07 -- Day 3: 5, 11-00
