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BOAT INFORMATION

Make & Model: Ranger 169 Ghost
Length:16ft 9 in
Power Plant: Evinrude E-tec 90 		 

Team Freespool

Hailing from Merritt Island, Florida, Team Freespool is captained by Johnny Gay and rounded out with Capt. Jim Ross. Running a Ranger Ghost with a Yamaha power plant, they can be found fishing for kingfish, redfish, tarpon, cobia, and trout in tournaments throughout the southeastern region. The team is involved with FLW, the Southern Kingfish Association (SKA), and the Inshore Fishing Association (IFA).

TEAM MEMBERS:
• Captain Johnny Gay
• Captain Jim Ross
• Mike Mann
 
 
About the Team Members ...

CAPTAIN JOHNNY GAY: Johnny Gay is proud to have kept Team Freespool in the top ten percent of competitors throughout a long and successful SKA career – and especially of the 1999 SKA National Champion victory. A native Floridian and full-time fisherman, he uses his knowledge and experience to promote boat safety, angling ethics, and conservation issues through his numerous personal appearances and seminars throughout the Southeast. He competes in the Inshore Fishing Association, SKA professional division tournament trail, and FLW Redfish Tour and has led Team Freespool to multiple top 25 victories.

CAPTAIN JIM ROSS: Capt. Jim Ross is a U.S.C.G. licensed captain and the owner of Fineline Fishing Charters in Rockledge, Fla. A native Floridian and a full-time fishing guide, Ross is an expert on central Florida’s waters and the behaviors of the fish he pursues throughout the year. He holds an International Game Fish Association fly fishing world line class record certificate and is credited for pioneering the sport of shallow water “sight” fishing.

MIKE MANN: Mike Mann started fishing the rivers and lakes of Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama at his grandfather’s knee. A fishing guide in Florida and just plain hooked on shallow water flats fishing, Mann states, “Hooking a 20 lb. redfish in a foot of water is an awesome feeling with the sound of your drag peeling off and the water coming alive!”

Recent Accomplishments ...

bullet2005 New Smyrna Beach IFA Redfish Tournament • 1st place.
bullet2002: 2nd largest king mackerel in Pro Championship.
bullet2001: King Master 100, 15th place 2000: Daytona Striking Fish Tournament • 2nd place overall.
bullet1998 – 2004: competed in King Master Invitational.
bullet1999 SKA National Championship title for Class of 23 (boats 23' and under).
bullet1998 and 1999: back-to-back number one finishes in the SKA Division 10.

Targeted Fish:

Redfish

Top 3 HI-SEAS line and reasons why:

bulletGrand Slam Braid Virtually no Wind Knots, cast a long distance, and excellent knot Strength to fluorocarbon leader
bulletFluorocarbon Leader very limp, no memory and excellent abrasion resistant
bulletQuattro Low-vis line Camo color make line invisible in the water, abrasion resistance

Top AFW lines and reasons why:

bulletTooth Proof does not kink, does not have hard spots, does not have rust spots like competition
bulletSurfstrand micro supreme great knot strength, easy to tie knots

Favorite Fishing Technique:

Soft plastics, and top water baits

Favorite Area to Fish:

Flats, structure, and creek openings

Most Memorable Fishing Experience:

Winning the National Championship in the SKA
TEAM FREESPOOL:: GALLERY...  (click to enlarge) back to pro staff
freespool 1 sm
Johnny Gay		 freespool 2 sm
Take a kid fishing...		 freespool 3 sm
Another whopper landed inshore...
freespool 4 sm
Johnny Gay		 freespool 5 sm
SKA Nationals 2003.		 freespool 6 sm
Johnny Gay and a fine looking Red Fish.



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