After years of near misses, Newton County resident Darrell Anders can finally call himself Angler of the Year. Anders, a deputy with the Newton County Sheriff's Office, took home the top honor for the Metro Atlanta Hawg Hunters bass club after narrowly missing the top spot previously.

The Angler of the Year award is given to the club member who catches the most fish by weight during club tournaments throughout the year. Anders locked horns with close to 50 competitors in 2010 only to emerge with the most weight at the end of the season. Anders earned the runner-up in 2008 and missed the runner-up spot in 2009 by half a pound.

Anders has been fishing for 12 years and said winning Angler of the Year is a culmination of all the long hours learning his craft.

"It's like winning a Super Bowl ring," he said. "You have 40 to 50 other anglers gunning for you all year long — waiting for you to slip up. Some of these guys have fished these lakes 30 and 40 years."

In addition to Anders winning Angler of the Year, the Hawg Hunters won the Henry Farris award, given to the bass club that does the most community service each year. The Hawg Hunters hold fishing derbies and clinics for children every year. In addition to fishing derbies, the Hawg Hunters distribute four to five meals each year to families and individuals in need.