15th Annual Cy’s World Rodeo
For many, Thanksgiving weekend is a time to slow down and recharge, but for inshore anglers in Brunswick County, it marks the beginning of something special, a chance to gather for a great event that supports a worthy cause. On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the 15th annual Cy’s World Rodeo launched from Ocean Isle Fishing Center, where Tournament Director Ned Garber welcomed a field of 12 local teams united by their love of fishing and the spirit of giving back.
Dean Crenshaw, of Bolivia, NC, and teammate Grant Wallace claimed first place in this year’s Cy’s World Rodeo with a two‑fish aggregate of 14.3 lbs.
Tournament morning brought brutal cold, with ice coating the decks and both anglers bundled in multiple layers. At their first stop, Wallace tied on a white‑and‑gold Z‑Man paddletail and struck quickly, boating a 4.5 lb. trout within the first 15 minutes. Encouraged by the early bite, the pair stayed on the shallow flat that was only two feet deep and tapering into a creek.
Wallace kept throwing the paddletail while Crenshaw rotated through several lures, but it was Wallace who stayed hot, adding a 7 lb. redfish before 7:45 a.m.
“We had a combo now,” Crenshaw said, “seven pounds and four‑and‑a‑half. It felt good, but I didn’t think it would be enough to win.”
They worked their way upriver into the Cape Fear River, and Wallace landed another 7 lb. redfish by around 11:00 a.m. to complete their winning bag.
Ian Killifer, of Holden Beach, NC, fishing with his younger brother Ned Killifer and friend Shane Britt, secured second place with a two‑fish aggregate of 13.0 lbs.
The crew worked docks and grass lines between Oak Island and Ocean Isle Beach, leaning heavily on bait to draw strikes in the frigid conditions. They rotated through live shrimp, cut bait, and even blue crabs, hoping the scent would coax fish to them rather than force the fish to chase lures in the cold water.
Dean Crenshaw and Grant Wallace proudly display the pair of redfish that secured first place in the 15th annual Cy’s World Rodeo with a winning two‑fish aggregate of 14.3 lbs.
Their first keeper came early, around 8:30 a.m., a redfish just over six pounds caught on a jig flipped tight to dock pilings. The second fish arrived late in the day, around 2:00 p.m., when a red cruising a grassy bank on a rising tide inhaled one of their baits. The second fish weighed 5.7 lbs., giving the team the pair they needed.
Team Kook Tacos, including Tripp Hooks, Hunter Williams, John Cook, and Tim Disano, all out of Ocean Isle, NC, finished third with a two‑fish aggregate of 13.0 lbs.
The crew began their morning at the Little River jetties, drifting live shrimp under slip corks in hopes of finding a trout over the new 26‑inch threshold. They quickly discovered the challenge of the updated slot regulations, boating several fat trout in the 24-25 inch range that weighed 5-6 pounds but couldn’t be kept.
By midday, the team shifted gears to redfish, running to a dock in the Shallotte River where they had found fish the week prior. Fishing cut mullet and live menhaden on the bottom, they connected with a steady bite, catching 30–40 reds over the course of the afternoon. One fish measured a perfect 27 inches and weighed 6.8 lbs., and paired with a second keeper at 6.2 lbs., the team’s aggregate came to 13.0 lbs.
The finish was a change of pace for Team Kook Tacos, who had won the event in the previous four years.
The Cy’s World Rodeo is more than a competition; it’s a gathering of anglers who share a passion for the outdoors and a commitment to community. The event raises support each year for Cy’s World, a non‑profit dedicated to expanding lifelong outdoor adventures for youth and underprivileged anglers. Learn more about their mission at CysWorld.org.
