North Carolina wins catfishing ‘Civil War’

ROCKINGHAM — The Civil War: Battle on the Pee Dee catfishing tournament concluded this weekend at Allison’s Landing in Johnsonville, South Carolina.

Shannon Parks and Matt Taylor with Team Wicked Cats NC took the win by catching the biggest fish in the Civil War’s three year history. They caught a 64.59-pound flathead earning them $1,240. A total of 83.86 pounds for their two fish earned them $2,080, for a combined haul of $3,320.

The duo earned second place at the Pee Dee River battle last weekend with 66.6 pounds of fish. They captured the biggest fish at both events. Overall, they earned $7,112.

“This whole year has been a record everything — record turnout, record payout,” said Event Director Kevin Lambert.

Lambert took 2nd place along with Dwayne Bullard with a combined 42.36 pounds from two fish, earning them $1,040.

Team Mule Kats SC, composed of members Stan and Chase Pierce, took third place, with 42.31 pounds of fish, earning them $385.

Overall, North Carolina won the battle between the states with 1,178 pounds of fish to South Carolina’s 718.98 pounds.

Lambert said that the rivalry builds each year. South Carolina won in the second iteration of the event.

“They bring it,” Lambert said, adding that the record turnout adds to the competitiveness. “They come to fight, that’s for sure.”

South Carolina had 17 boats cross the border to attend the first leg of the competition on the Pee Dee River last weekend. Only nine North Carolina boats made the trek to this weekend’s event. Across the two events, 84 teams competed, and $13,105 in prize money was paid out.

Lambert credited all the sponsors for the success of the event, and said that he will aim to make next year’s event the largest yet.