ESPN Saltwater

KEY WEST, Fla. — A simple plan of returning to where the tarpon bite was through the first day proved fruitful enough for teammates Troy Pruitt of Naples, Fla., and John Timura of Islamorada, Fla., to claim victory Sunday with 800 points overall at the ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series presents Mercury Redbone Southernmost Light tackle Anglers Masters Celebrity Tournament.

During a successful Day One, Pruitt and Timura caught four tarpon early in the morning and put themselves in position for a comfortable lead. On Day Two, local guide Brian Helms brought the team to the same location for still more padding in the points before the hunt for bonefish, which eventually would secure Pruitt's SLAM. Pruitt caught two tarpon (200 points, bait) and one bonefish (100 points, bait) on Day Two.

Mitch Howell of Plantation, Fla., and Larry Vaught, with guide Tim Carlisle, who were in second place after Day One, finished as runners-up with 600 points overall.

"I think those tarpon are what helped us out with points," said Pruitt, the 2006 Baybone tournament's Grand Champion Angler who now has three Redbone SLAMs in a row. "We knew they would be there. It was just a matter of getting there, being the first boat there, and we were."

Compared to Saturday, the conditions Sunday were more difficult for sight-fishing, Pruitt said. "It was a lot windier, and I think that made a difference. Yesterday was slicked off, really calm. Today it took a little while for me to get going."

While other competitors might have considered the tarpon fishing on Day Two a risk — Pruitt already had the species checked off his SLAM list and only needed one bonefish to complete the SLAM on Sunday — the Mercury Redbone S.L.A.M. Grand Champion said it was a gamble he was willing to take.

"We were so confident that those tarpon would give us more points," Pruitt said. "We were more worried about another boat being there. It's just a little area where they were holding — it's not like we could've fished there with a few other boats.

"So that was our plan, just go there first thing and get some extra points, because, obviously, I think it came down to points."

The school of tarpon wouldn't bite Saturday morning when Pruitt and Timura started with artificial bait. Pruitt decided that he'd start with live bait Sunday to entice a quicker bite, but it didn't necessarily work out that way. He said the tarpon took the live bait right around the same time of day Sunday that they did Saturday, so it was possible the artificial vs. live didn't make too much of a difference.

The team moved on to find bonefish around noon. They were fishing on a grass flat when they saw a puff of mud — with poor visibility, it was the only signal that a bonefish might be around — after about 10-15 minutes.

"I put a cast right there in front of the mud and let it sit for a few seconds, felt him thump it, and he took off," Pruitt said. "Brian poled it after me, and you know how the story goes — get him in the net and go from there. It was awesome."

Timura, the 2007 Baybone Grand Champ, zeroed out Sunday.

"It was his day," Timura said of Pruitt's handiwork Sunday. "He's just that good."

S.L.A.M. awards are based on the most points accumulated with a representation of the most species of a slam (tarpon, permit, bonefish). The angler with the most slams and/or largest portions of a slam will win the tournament championship. Points are awarded based on lure, with the least points for general bait, more points for spins or plugs and the most points for fly.

Former Florida Marlins pitcher Bill Hurst, a Miami native, won the Celebrity Grand Champ award with one bonefish (100 points, bait) caught Saturday and one tarpon (150 points, spin/plug) caught Sunday. Guided by local Peter Heydon, Hurst narrowly edged former Denver Broncos and University of Miami offensive lineman Mark Cooper, who had more points. Hurst topped Cooper because he caught multiple species while Cooper earned 300 points with bonefish alone.

"What helped me with the win was the guide," Hurst said. "The guides in these tournaments mean everything, because they give you the opportunities, they put you on the fish. It makes a world of difference.

"It was hard to see today, tough visibility, very windy. But you know, I've done enough of these Redbones over the last nine years that, like anything in life, you suck it up, you go do it, and whatever the conditions present you make it happen."

Hurst caught a tarpon early Sunday morning on artificial bait. He fished for permit for the rest of the day and wasn't able to capitalize.

Grand Champion Angler — Troy Pruitt (Guide — Brian Helms) Celebrity Grand Champion — Bill Hurst (Guide — Peter Heydon) Team Grand Champion Anglers — Troy Pruitt, John Timura Grand Champion Lady Angler — Linda Denkert (Guide — Dave Denkert) Spin/Plug Division Champ — Mitch Howell (Guide — Tim Carlisle) Fly Division Champ — Mark Cooper (Guide — Bob Beighley) Top Rod Angler Day 1 — Troy Pruitt Top Rod Angler Day 2 — Mo Smith (Guide — Mark Krowka) Largest permit — Duke Benevento (Guide — Connan Lumkuhle) Largest bonefish — Jeff Parrish (Guide — Chuck Schafstall)

The Mercury Redbone Celebrity Tournament Series was founded by Gary and Susan Ellis in 1988 with a mission "To catch the cure for cystic fibrosis."

For more information on the individual tournaments, fishing fans can visit www.redbone.org.