CCA Texas STAR fishing tournament going strong with still plenty to win

The CCA Texas STAR fishing tournament is five weeks in, with plenty of time and life-changing fish left to be reeled in.

"We released 120 redfish up and down the coast from Sabine all the way down to the valley," tournament co-director Coleman Todd said. "We release them in very popular spots; we want these fish to be caught. A bunch of popular bank fishing spots, there are few that are accessible more by boat, especially when you go further south."

So far, three red-tagged redfish have been caught, clipped, and released. These anglers win a Ford F-150 truck with a boat-and-trailer combo worth over $140,000.

"A lot of times it's disbelief, man, I can't believe this is happening," Todd said about the winner's reaction. "Some see it as they are reeling the fish in, which creates a lot of excitement for them, really scares them, you know."

In the STAR teens and the STAR kids division, the action is hot and the leaderboard ever-changing. CCA is handing out $375,000 worth of scholarships.

"It hits you in the heart and makes you appreciate what you do," Todd said. "We're excited for all the people who might win a boat or might win a truck. I can't say that we're not, but man, when you hand a scholarship, that's a life-changing type of deal for a family. We get really excited about that."