Monroe Charged With Battery After Toho Incident

By John Johnson
BassFan Senior Editor

Veteran two-tour pro Ish Monroe has been charged with battery in Florida following an altercation with fellow Bassmaster Elite Series competitor Keith Poche that occurred on the morning of day 2 at the Lake Toho Bassmaster Southern Open.

Monroe attempted to board Poche's boat after the two got into a heated verbal confrontation outside the lock on the south end of the lake that provides passage to Lake Kissimmee. They made immediate physical contact, which resulted in Monroe entering the water and Poche losing his balance and falling backward onto another competitor's boat, with the lower half of his body becoming submerged.

The confrontation, which was witnessed by dozens of anglers waiting to enter the lock, began after Poche's boat collided with Monroe's. The latter's craft was reportedly stationary and secured to another competitor's boat in order to lessen the effects of a stiff north wind.

Afterward, Monroe passed through the lock and fished a full day, returning with a 15-12 stringer that put him in 18th place with a 26-05 total, earning him a check for $3,333. Poche, meanwhile, returned to the launch at Big Toho Marina to report the incident and seek medical attention for an ailing hip, losing several hours of fishing time. He did not weigh in and finished 134th (out of 200 anglers) with the 12-05 he compiled on day 1.

Monroe was arrested after the weigh-in following interviews of the principals and witnesses by law enforcement officers. He was booked into the Osceola County Jail, with bond set at $1,000.

A B.A.S.S. communications official said the organization was investigating the incident and couldn't comment at this time.

Differing Accounts

Monroe, reached Friday evening after he'd been released on bond, said the incident was being blown far out of proportion and expressed confidence that he will not incur legal penalties once the matter has proceeded through the system.

"I have my story, he has his, everybody has their own story," he said. "If there were blows thrown it would've been a different ball game, but there wasn't. This is not that serious, folks.

"Some people have nothing better to do than try to destroy someone else instead of handling it like a man and talking about it."

He admitted to going aboard Poche's boat and said the two made contact when Poche lunged toward him and he pushed back.

"We both went in and when we got out he was mad because the lock master (who'd reportedly witnessed the collision) wasn't going to let him in. Then he decided he was going to go back and tell everybody about it. Meanwhile, I went out and had a good day of fishing.

"Honestly, this whole thing is stupid. Nothing is going to be accomplished except some unnecessary and unneeded drama in this sport."

Naturally, Poche had a different take on the event.

"It's unfortunate and I feel bad that I'm a part of this, but I feel like I didn't do anything wrong and I'm sure it's going to come out that way," he said. "He came into my boat and got into my space and that's really all I can say about that.

"I felt like I did the right thing (by reporting it). I could've been seriously hurt when I fell on another competitor's boat."

Sorry or Not?

Monroe said the confrontation could've been avoided had Poche apologized for the boat contact. Poche said he attempted to do just that, but Monroe would hear none of it.

"He wasn't apologetic at all – not even a little bit," Monroe said. "Instead, he just completely starts ripping me. I'm like, 'What the (expletive)? You just hit my boat.'

"He'd just come off pad and I don't know if he wasn't paying attention or if he got caught up in the heat of the moment or if he was just plain dumb, but it wasn't right. The way he came in, somebody could've been hurt bad."

Poche said he was merely idling toward the lock when contact occurred. He said he'd turned away momentarily to grab his sticker to present to the lock master and had misjudged his boat's rate of travel as it approached the others waiting there.

"It was an accident – I hit his rub rail," he said. "It was nothing intentional, but then things just escalated."

Poche described the contact as a "bump," but Monroe said it was much more severe.

"Everybody said 'oooh!' when they heard the crunch. I haven't taken my wrap off, but I guarantee (the fiberglass) is cracked up under there."

No Consensus

Accounts from a couple of competitors who witnessed the incident also varied. BassFan spoke with another longtime Elite Series pro and a co-angler who were among those waiting outside the lock and they disagreed as to who ratcheted up the verbal portion.

Both asked to remain anonymous.

"Keith came in hotter than a firecracker and just rammed the front of Ish's boat, and then it just became a swearing match," the Elite pro said. "Ish tried to tell him, 'Hey, you weren't right by hitting my boat,' but Poche just kept egging it on and egging it on and he wouldn't quit. It got real bad."

The co-angler, however, tabbed Monroe as the aggressor.

"Poche was like, 'Look dude, I'm sorry,' but Ish went off the deep end and was cussing him up one side and down the other. Granted Ish got his boat ran into and I'd be mad about that, too, but an accident is an accident. But if somebody steps over into my boat cussing me, I'm going to defend myself.

"This whole ordeal is a big black eye on the sport," he continued. "What would've happened if somebody had gotten knocked (unconscious) and fell overboard and drowned? If two pros at the highest level are going to act like that, as far as I'm concerned, they don't need to be fishing."

Notable

> Monroe said he's scheduled to meet Saturday with B.A.S.S. tournament manager Chris Bowes, the organization's top on-site official at the Opens. In 2007, Monroe was disqualified from a Central Open at Toledo Bend due to a verbal exchange with Bowes regarding proof of insurance.