After a highly successful inaugural season, FLW Outdoors has announced registration dates and the 2006 schedule for the $1.82 million Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour.
The FLW Kingfish Tour has upped the ante for its second season with four, three-day $330,000 qualifying tournaments compared to two-day $300,000 qualifiers in 2005. The Kingfish Tour will again host the nation’s most accomplished kingfish teams competing for a top award of up to $100,000 in all four qualifiers as well as a berth into the $500,000 no-entry-fee championship, which awards as much as $150,000 for first place.
Hydra-Sports, Seaswirl and Wellcraft boat owners may register for the 2006 FLW Kingfish Tour beginning Jan. 23, 2006. All other entries will be accepted beginning Jan. 24. Teams that enter all four qualifying tournaments by Jan. 24 will be given priority over teams that enter fewer than four events. Entry fees are unchanged for 2006 at $1,500 per team.
Registration can either be made online at FLWOutdoors.com or by calling (270) 252-1000.
Highlights of 2006 Kingfish Tour rules
* Teams are limited to a minimum of a captain and one team member and a maximum of a captain and four team members. No substitutions will be permitted. All awards will be paid to the team captain.
* For Hydra-Sports, Seaswirl and Wellcraft boat owners, plus sponsor entries (FLW Outdoors may reserve sponsor team spots in each qualifying tournament), nontransferable, nonrefundable deposits will be accepted to hold a team spot for tournaments beginning 8 a.m. Central time Jan. 23, 2006.
* For all other entries, nontransferable, nonrefundable deposits will be accepted to hold a team spot for tournaments beginning 8 a.m. Central time Jan. 24, 2006.
* Teams that enter all four qualifying events by Jan. 24, 2006, will be given priority over teams that enter less than four events.
* Entry may be made by mail (using brochure entry form), phone or online at FLWOutdoors.com; do not make entry by more than one method.
* Each qualifying tournament may be limited to 125 boats.
* Two hundred points will be awarded to the winning team of each qualifying tournament, 199 for second, 198 for third, etc. Fifty “show points” will be awarded to all teams that participate and do not present a catch for weigh-in. In qualifying events all tied positions will be resolved by dividing the prize money evenly among the tied positions. The top 50 captains and their team members after the four qualifying events will be invited to the Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour Championship. Ties in the top 50 will be broken by total weight.
* All events including the championship will be three-day events (Thursday, Friday and Saturday). All teams will compete during the first two days of competition. At the conclusion of Friday’s weigh-in, the field will be cut to the top five teams. Ties for Round 1 will be broken by point standings. For the top five teams, the final standings will be determined by total Round 1 (Thursday and Friday) weight combined with Round 2 (Saturday) weight. Ties on the final day will be broken by Day 2 standings.
On the Web
FLWOutdoors.com will provide daily results as each tournament unfolds, while also offering important details and press releases in advance of each series event. Visitors will also find statistics about each team and angler through a database of team and angler profiles, up-to-date team standings and schedule information, to list just some of the useful circuit information available on the site.
FLWOutdoors.com will also provide on-the-spot news coverage, including numerous photographs, of each series stop as well as in-depth articles about the sport and its key players between events.
Entry fees
Tournament fees for the upcoming 2006 season are $1,500 per team for each of the $330,000 total-purse qualifying events. Deposits for these tournaments are $750.
The $500,000 Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour Championship is a no-entry-fee event.
2006 Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour schedule
April 13-15 – Sarasota, Fla. – Presented by Castrol
June 1-3 – Fort Pierce, Fla. – Presented by Raymarine
Aug. 10-12 – Beaufort, S.C. – Presented by Yamaha
Sept. 21-23 – Southport, N.C. – Powered by Tyson
Oct. 5-7 – Alternate Date – TBD if needed
Championship
Nov. 9-11 – Mount Pleasant, S.C.
Registration can be completed online at FLWOutdoors.com or by contacting FLW Outdoors headquarters via phone at (270) 252-1000.
Related links:
Click here for a comprehensive list of information regarding the 2006 Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour, including entry fees, official rules, tournament formats and an electronic version of the league brochure (Acrobat Reader required to view brochure – free download available). Click here to access online registration services.