Bayside Academy’s inaugural fishing team had a big day away from the Gulf Coast, finishing third overall at a weekend tournament at Wheeler Lake in North Alabama. 

Anglers Luke Cox and Trip Hackney led the way with a second-place finish in the boat bass weight division, coming up just two pounds shy of Oakman Middle’s first place boat. Three other Bayside boats landed scoring bass — which was tied for the second most in the tournament among participating schools.

In a social media post made by the school, Bayside stated the community is more commonly associated with saltwater fishing along the coast but the program made for an unforgettable debut on the freshwater fishing scene.

There are five tournaments left in the Alabama Student Angler Bass Fishing (ASABFA) season, with the next one coming to Lay Lake in Shelby County on Feb. 21. The year will wrap up on May 9 at the Classic - Lake Pickwick McFarland park tournament in Florence.