The weather has been doing nothing but complicating the first Elite event of the year in Palatka, Florida. For the second day in a row, the 2020 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River has been postponed due to a high-wind advisory. Again, B.A.S.S. officials made the right call keeping angler safety at the forefront.
And while the windy conditions are making life tough for the Elite anglers, it seemed like a gift from God for Georgia pro Drew Benton.
He made an emergency trip home during the first postponement on Thursday to be with his wife Amanda as she was in labor with the couple’s second child. She was originally due on February 28th, which would have worked well with Benton’s tournament schedule. That date would have been right in between the second Elite at Chickamauga Lake and the Classic on Lake Guntersville. Almost like they planned it.
But you know what they say about best laid plans.
“We’re from Panama City, Florida, and we recently bought a farm in Georgia,” Benton said. “But our health insurance is still Florida based, and that means we had to have our baby in Florida. It wasn’t a big deal, it’s only a short drive to the hospital we decided to use, and it was comfortable and familiar for us since that’s where we had our first son.”
If you’ll refer to the first story about Benton’s decision to get home to his wife, you’ll recall that Amanda had to be induced a couple of weeks early due to medical reasons. Drew was all set to fish the Bassmaster Elite Series opener at St. Johns River, and he probably would have. Instead, the weather that inconvenienced everyone else, almost seemed planned from a higher power to allow for him to be present when his family needed him.
“I wanted and needed to be with Amanda as she brought Colt into the world,” he said. “It was an easy decision to make. And the weather delay helped me feel better about being gone for a day. There was no regret on my end either way, I knew what I had to do, and being there watching my son begin his life was worth it. Family first.”
In the early morning hours, February 7, with Drew at Amanda’s side, Colt Joshua Benton arrived healthy and happy. He weighed 5 pounds, 11 ounces and measured 17 inches long. Both mother and son are doing great and recovering.
“The funny thing is, had we fished on Thursday, I know where a bass was sitting that might have matched Colt’s exact same measurements,” he laughed. “We bass fishermen are always comparing weights of other items in our lives to the big fish we catch. Don’t judge, it’s just how we’re wired.
“The doctor kind of raised his eyebrows at me when I told him I was going fishing the next day,” he continued. “He said, ‘Fishing?’ I said ‘Ya, but it’s a little more than just fishing, it’s how I earn my living and support my family.’ I think he understood it better after I explained that I’m a Bassmaster pro, but he got the point anyways.
“I was there for the important stuff, and it was clear to me that Amanda was grateful that I was there too,” he continued. “That’s what my goal was. Birth is an important family moment for every family, and I wasn’t going to miss it, even if I had obligations back in Palatka. I’m happy the event wasn’t too far from my family during this time. But I knew I had to get back as soon as possible to keep my season intact.”
Benton spent a couple of hours with his bride and new son, and with her blessing and other family members being present, he hit the road back to the St. Johns River running on no sleep in over 24 hours.
“I had five hours to drive back to the St. Johns River, and timing wise, I’d arrive just minutes before official take-off was scheduled to occur,” he said. “But Mother Nature pulled another fast one on us, and the day was cancelled again. It’s ok, I needed some sleep and a shower anyways.
“I also left Amanda and Colt in good hands. Her parents were there, my parents were there — all eager to provide support when and where needed,” he said. “This is another good reminder of how important it is to have a deep and meaningful level of family support. Amanda did an awesome job, I’m very grateful the birth went well, grateful for my family – but now I’m ready to catch some bass.”
“You know Drew is going to win Angler of the Year, now, right?” laughed Dave Mercer, Bassmaster Emcee. “It’s stories like this that really bring stars like Drew Benton into the spotlight. He’s wired like that; all these guys are wired like that. This is a good example of the men fishing the Elite Series, and Drew’s situation offers a real-life look at the decisions and sacrifices it takes on the family level to compete at the top of competitive bass fishing.”