ENGLEWOOD, Fla. – Although the field of 127 boats has been trimmed to five, the outcome of the third Redfish Series Eastern Division qualifier still hangs in the balance. Two days of competition in the Gulf of Mexico are in the books, yet even the fifth-place team of Troy and Christine Perez has a legitimate shot at victory.
With weights so tight across the board, it’s impossible to predict who will be crowned champion. But for whoever claims the winner’s trophy, it will be the first Redfish Series title of their career.
The current leaders, Chuck Cress and Gary Weishaar, won an Inshore Fish Association tournament in Sarasota, Fla., two weeks ago. Cress and Weishaar are once again dangling their lines on the south end of Sarasota Bay, which has proven capable of producing tournament-winning redfish.
Cress and Weishaar said this is the same “bunch” of fish that they targeted at the IFA event. The only difference is that then they were sight-fishing, and now they are blind-casting. After claiming their first major title, their confidence is sky high.
“We’re at the point now that it could happen,” said Cress of winning back to back. “We only have to beat four boats today. I can tell you this much, our confidence grows every day. We’re more confident now than when this tournament started.”
Team Perez, the leaders after day one, had an army of wading fishermen overtake their best spot on day two. As other teams worry about boat traffic, this husband-and-wife team from Mims, Fla., worry about foot traffic. Strange as it may sound, if their spot doesn’t get stepped on today, they have a favorable chance at winning their first Redfish Series tournament.
The final weigh-in, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 4 p.m. Eastern time at the Wal-Mart store in Englewood.
Saturday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:54 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 69 degrees
Expected high temperature: 86 degrees
Water temperature: 75-80 degrees
Wind: WNW at 13 mph
Maximum humidity: 57 percent
Day’s outlook: partly cloudy