SARASOTA, Fla. – By some estimates, maybe 90 percent of the 89-boat Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour field went south, way south, on the opening day of competition at Sarasota. Thanks to the prospect of some inclement weather, many of those teams might choose not to venture quite as far on day two.
High, calm, sunny skies and low swells Friday allowed teams to make runs as far as a hundred miles or more south in search of big kings. However, the nasty cold front that is bringing rain and tornadoes to parts of the South northwest of here should arrive by Saturday evening. That could kick up the seas and hamper tournament teams’ abilities to move around today, but it also could be a boon to the fishing.
“The key here is bait,” said Capt. Robert Schoenfeld of seventh-place Team Lured Away. “If the water’s over 73 or 74 degrees and the bait’s there, the kings will be there. It doesn’t matter if it’s on the beach or a hundred miles offshore. And with this front moving in (Sunday), they’ll be biting (Saturday).”
Team Pro Marine USA.com / Hannon’s Cannon led with just under 40 pounds Friday. Look for that weight to increase Saturday as more teams zero in on bigger bites. Last year at Sarasota, the field opened day one with no more than 38 1/2 pounds, and then Team Relentless popped a near-50-pounder to lead on day two.
Into the cut
The 89-boat opening round ends after today’s fishing. The field will be cut to the top five, based on the heaviest single fish over the first two days, and will advance to Saturday’s final round. The winning team will be determined by heaviest two-fish weight, combining the opening and final rounds.
At stake in Sarasota is a potential $100,000 payday for the winning team. The total purse for the event is $300,000.
The scales open at 4 p.m. Eastern time Friday at the Hyatt marina on Sarasota Bay, which is located at 1000 Boulevard of the Arts in Sarasota. The scales will be open until 6 p.m. The final, top-five weigh-in Saturday will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 13140 South Tamiami Trail in Osprey, Fla., beginning at 4:30 p.m.