Eastern Shore anglers win Cobia East Coast Championship, takes home $57k

An Eastern Shore of Virginia fishing team captured first place in the Cobia East Coast Championship, landing a tournament-winning catch that earned the crew approximately $57,000 in prize money.

The team of Alex Brown, Luke Parks, Hunter Burger, Ethan Willett, and Todd Matthews aboard the boat Sun Money weighed in a 42.80-pound cobia, narrowly edging out the second-place catch by just one ounce in one of the closest finishes in tournament history.

According to the crew, the winning catch came after a long day of searching for a tournament-caliber cobia. Around noon, the anglers spotted a promising fish and made their first cast. The cobia initially took the bait but shook free after the hook was set. Moments later, it resurfaced, giving the team a second opportunity.

The crew quickly cast again, successfully hooked the fish, and battled it for several minutes before bringing it aboard. The catch ultimately proved to be the difference-maker in the championship.

“We fished hard all day with a great group of guys and got lucky around noon to put the fish in the boat,” said Alex Brown.

After securing the winning catch, the anglers continued fishing for the remainder of the day and encountered several more cobia, though none matched the size they were seeking.

The victory was especially rewarding because the team participated in all available Calcutta side pots, boosting their total winnings to approximately $57,000, with overall earnings approaching the tournament’s advertised $60,000 grand prize.

The runner-up catch, landed by Clock Work, weighed 42.70 pounds, while third place went to Knot Haulin with a 40.90-pound cobia.