Marlin Hebert of New Iberia got his hands on bass like this one on his way to a Coteau Bass Hustlers title in 2017.

COTEAU HOLMES — Marlin Hebert knew what he had to do to win the Coteau Bass Hustlers championship and he did just that Nov. 18.

With the race going to the wire in the regular-season finale for the bass club, the New Iberia bass angler needed to finish at least third to keep the top spot he earned with a one-two showing in a two-day tournament in October at Toledo Bend. His closest challenger, Joey Trahan, had to win the bass club’s 12th and last tournament while Hebert finished fourth or lower to claim the coveted title in the Atchafalaya Basin out of Bayou Benoit Boat Landing.

The neck-and-neck race also involved two other bass club members, Steve Doumit and Jason Jones. They were in the hunt.

Hebert, 49, and his tournament partner, Todd Trahan, finished third with a five-bass limit weighing 10.20 pounds. He earned 85 points (including five points for attendance at the previous bass club meeting) and finished with an unbeatable 984 points.

Three points behind him in the final standings at 981 points was Joey Trahan, a veteran bass angler from Coteau, who gave it his best shot. He teamed with Brandon Sellers and finished second in the final tournament with a five-bass limit weighing 10.25 pounds.

“I needed to come out third. Joey needed to come out first. It was very interesting, for sure. Oh, it was close. Whew!” Hebert said after winning claiming the bass club championship, his second since winning his first CBH title in 2015.

“What made me nervous was Steve and Joey and Jason all saved guests for the last tournament. I was a little nervous about that. All three of those were bringing some good fishermen.”

Hebert and Todd Trahan went in a different direction than most of the other eight boats and, under pressure, fished produced bass after bass. They caught “40 or 50” bass on spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits in Bayou Benoit.

“We had a good day,” Hebert said.

Hebert was grateful  another angler who wasn’t in the bass club but fishing the same canal “picked up and left” upon learning he was fishing a bass club tournament.

The last tournament was won hands down by veteran bass club member Ralph Leleux, who nailed a nice limit weighing 13.90 pounds while fishing in Charenton Lake.

Hebert, a manager the past 22 years at Butcher Air Conditioning in Broussard, set himself up for a championship run while fishing with his son, Colby, in the two-day tournament a month earlier at Toledo Bend. The father-son team topped the bass club field the first day and finished second the second day.

That pumped up the elder Hebert.

“That was a good push right there. That put me into first place. One-and-two there and third in the Basin,” he said.

“It was enjoyable to do that with my son. He helped me out,” he said.

That made this drive to the title sweeter than in 2015, he said.

“I really enjoy it. I love competing. It’s fun to fish them and to be angler of the year is an achievement,” he said.

Hebert won two tournaments, was runner-up in three tournaments and third in two tournaments in 2017.

His go-to bait was a Zoom Super Fluke, he said.

“That’s pretty slow fishing but, boy, when the fish want it, they like it and eat it up,” he said.

He also used a spinnerbait to catch many bass, he said.

Hebert will receive a plaque and get all of his entry fee money back, a total of $360.

“I’m looking forward to it. I’m going to buy me a brand new rod and reel,” he said.

Mostly, he’ll enjoy the bragging rights for a year.

“Like I said, I fish with a bunch of guys I grew up with. It’s very exciting. I look forward to winning it again next year,” he said.

Rounding out the Top Six were Joey Trahan, Jones, Doumit, Todd Trahan and Tim Sturm.

• COTEAU BASS HUSTLERS

Nov. 18 at Atchafalaya Basin

1, (*) Ralph Leleux (5), 13.90. 2, Joey Trahan-Brandon Sellers (5), 10.25. 3, Marlin Hebert-Todd Trahan (5), 10.20. 4, Tim Sturm-Guest (5), 9.75. 5, Keith Altazin-Bryce Louviere (5), 8.19. 6, Doyle Louviere-Anthony Louviere (5), 7.94. 7, Jason Jones-Guest (5), 6.41. 8, Steve Doumit-David Doumit (5), 5.66. 9, Charles Jefferson-Rodney Decoux (5), 4.79.

(*) Tournament’s lunker bass, 4.53.

• COTEAU BASS HUSTLERS

2017 FINAL POINT STANDINGS

1, Marlin Hebert, 984. 2, Joey Trahan, 981. 3, Jason Jones, 936. 4, Steve Doumit, 920. 5, Todd Trahan, 875. 6, Tim Sturm, 816. 7, Keith Altazin, 794. 8, Doyle Louviere, 778. 9, Ralph Leleux, 769. 10, Paul St. Pierre, 679. 11, Colby Hebert, 658. 12, Nolan “Pee Wee” Doucet, 553. 13, Johnny Schexnayder, 510. 14, Bryce Louviere, 361. 15, Charles Jefferson, 351. 16, Rodney Decoux, 346. 17, Gerald Frederick, 265. 18, Russel Clement, 237. 19, Damon, 168. 20, Ramon Ladner, 140. 21, Irvin Guillotte, 136. 22, Beau Buteaux, 63. 23, Robbie Mayer, 61. 24, Paul Trahan, 50.