Bart Colucci
Not really, not really Lake Wellington, not even any person living in Wellington Florida has decided to honor the late great Benson.
Benson (pictured on the left of your screen not wearing the hat) was the U.K.’s largest common carp, but I’m going to take mayoral liberty, name myself Mayor and then name Wellington Florida’s 40 pound carp Lord Sawyer Benson I.
Benson lived to be 25 years of age. Not bad for a fish. But Benson wasn’t just any fish, she was a 64 pound grass carp that was caught and released over 60 times. This brings up all sorts of questions regarding catch and release which we will have to investigate at another time, but Benson proved she could swallow the hooked bait again and again and again.
Fisherman from nearby townships and even other countries would try to hook up on Britain’s finest fish at Bluebell Lakes. Until some over zealous greedy fisherman decided to use a generous quantity of tiger nuts to lure the famed carp to his hook.
Tiger nuts can kill a carp by disturbing its digestive track, and with Benson’s reputation for hogging the feeding hole, the speculation is death by over consumption.
Note. If you are from any country other than England or you are not a carp fisherman, you may wonder like I did at first, of all the dollars spent on saving wildlife, why the bloody hell ( “bloody Hell” a little British slang I picked up while living in England when I was 7 years old) would we cut the nuts off of tigers for carp bait, seems counter productive. Well research revealed that tiger nuts are not really the nuts of tigers, but are tubers from sedge grass.
Since carps can live to a fine age of 60, Benson’s life was cut short, way too short.
Almost 1 year to the day of Benson’s death, 13-year-old Justin Arrieta fishing in Lake Wellington hooked up on a forty pound carp, Justin fought the carp for 15 minutes with help from Tom Sawyer and and Oliver Williams. Justin was attending Wellington Parks & Recreation Department Fishing Academy on Monday, July 12, 2010.
Lord Benson I was caught on 15 lb. test mono filament line with a #6 pan fish hook and a ball of bread. The hook literally fell out of the fish’s mouth once on shore. Fishing Academy’s Director Tom Sawyer believes this was the largest fish ever caught and released in Lake Wellington.
Tom Sawyer is more than a Fishing Director, he is a great outdoors man who devotes his time teaching kids how to fish while teaching respect for nature and others. His method is simple, kindness mixed with experience followed by a firm handshake look in your eye you can do attitude. Tom has been helping kids fish for quite some time.
Quick math would dictate that this is Tom’s 20th year getting kids hooked on fishing by organizing and or volunteering for the annual Children’s Holiday Fishing Classic, Fourth of July fishing events, and summer fishing clinics for kids at Lake Wellington.
Tom always has surrounded himself with a great set of volunteers and sponsors over the years including, Florida Fish and Wildlife, Bass Masters, Gander Mountain, Bass Pro Shops, Walgreens, and Loxahtachee Bait and Tackle. Not only do these sponsors spend lots of money on Trophys and fishing equipment for the kids, they volunteer their time sharing their love of the outdoors with the kids.
Tom Sawyer, who was quoted in 2004 in the Sun Sentinel, “hopes some children will be hooked for life. We want every kid to experience the fun of catching fish, but beyond that we hope to encourage them to become watchdogs for wildlife and the environment.”
So it is only fitting that Wellington’s 40# Carp be named Lord Sawyer Benson I.
The photos below are of Tom Sawyer and my son Lincoln during fishing tournaments organized by Tom. The photos are separated by a span of 4 years but Tom’s love of fishing and his commitment to our youngsters is timeless.
Related posts:
Loading ...
Great Read, sorry to read about Benson, I live not too far from Lake Wellington I’ll see if I Can catch Sawyer Benson the first!