Michael Teixidor won the 10,000 Islands Classic on April 14 put on by the Kayak Fishing ClassicS and hosted by the Everglades Seafood Depot in Everglades City. The Silver King also won....Again.

Teixidor out of Miami follows the Kayak Fishing ClassicS Saltwater Tournament Series and has won just about every podium position except the elusive number one podium until now. Would you say he was happy about the victory? You bet but he and his fishing partner Johnathan Ross who placed second in the event, needed a bigger SUV to get all the bootie home that they both won. Again, the sponsors of the KFCSTS overwhelmed the top five winners in the very cool tournament.

The anglers were fishing for Tarpon, Snook & Redfish on fly and artificial lures. Pre-fishing began on Thursday with many contestants hooking up with nice reds and snook. Tarpon proved to be elusive until the curtain went up on tournament day. You know how they like to make a grand entrance and all. I guess if you're the King you can do that.

Andrew Reschke who place third did well but could not get in touch with the King as did fourth place Rick Klosicki and fifth place Joe Lineberry. Many of the anglers hooked up to be teased with a series of violent head shakes and jumps followed by slack line. Time and time again the mighty tarpon proved why she is called the Silver King.

The Everglades and the 10,000 Islands area are fantastic and you should really try it out. Bring plenty of bug spray as chewers are thick in the morning. We will be back again next year for sure. The Seafood Depot Restaurant is a great place to eat and visit while you are there. The food is very good and so it the service which is complimented by the on the water view. Contestants stayed at the Port of the Islands Resort just a few miles away and we can recommend you do the same. The resort also has its own marina and yes, the tarpon were jumping all over the place and just plain showing off.

Michael Teixidor scored a snook and a red for a total of 51.6 inches. Johnathan Ross measured a snook and a red for a total of 49.9 inches. Johnathan scored a 33.8 Inch Snook and won the Bending Branches Big Fish Award and received one of the recently developed new paddles for 2012. Andrew Reschke scored in with one of each measuring 45.1 inches to mark his return to the ClassicS. Series Leader Rick Klosicki scored a 19.2 inch snook & an 18.8 redfish for a total of 38 inches to retain the top notch in the series but it is very close as expected. Joe Lineberry scored a total of 35.1 inches to capture fifth place. Otis Coblentz won the RAILBLAZA Action Photo Award with a nifty video of a snook release which can be seen on the KFC website.

It is notable to say that the Silver King was not the only one jumping for joy as the Top Five anglers in the 10,000 Islands Classic split nearly $10,000 in sponsor gear prizes and were well schooled by the King.