Redfishing for $100,000

FLW Redfish Series likely to award biggest cash prize in competitive redfishing

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Today could be a historical day in the world of competitive redfishing as FLW Outdoors, Ranger Boats and Yamaha Outboards look to award one redfish team $100,000 at the Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series Championship.

In order to cash in on the $100,000 first-place prize, the team must meet Ranger Boats and Yamaha Outboards’ contingency requirements.

The current leaders, Pat Motal and Chad Motal, a father-son team from Kyle, Texas, are qualified for the full payday should they win the event.

“The thought of it makes you do this,” said father Pat Motal as he held up his hand, which was quivering with excitement. “The most money we’ve ever won in a redfish event is $1,800.”

“You try not to think about it,” said 27-year-old Chad Motal. “We just want to go out there and fish like it’s another fishing day.”

One advantage the Motals will have today is time. With many of the top-10 teams running 45 minutes to Mobile Bay and beyond, the Motals are only running 30 minutes to their primary area.

“We haven’t fished in there more than two hours over the last two days,” Chad Motal said. “Each day we’ve caught three or four fish in the first hour and then left. Today we are going to fish for 3 to 4 hours and hopefully that will improve our chances for getting a big weight.”

Playing into the favor of those chasing the Motals with long runs is excellent weather. The winds are forecasted from the northeast at 5 to 10 mph, making long runs to as far away as Mississippi a little easier than they might be otherwise.

The final day weigh-in of the FLW Redfish Series Championship will begin at 3 p.m. at the Wal-Mart located at 170 Fort Morgan Road in Gulf Shores, Ala.

Saturday’s conditions

Sunrise: 7:03 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 49 degrees

Expected high temperature: 73 degrees

Water temperature: 68 degrees

Forecasted winds: NE at 5 to 10 mph

Day’s outlook: sunny