PORT ARANSAS, Texas – As the field departed Port Aransas City Marina shortly after 6:30 a.m. Thursday morning amid balmy temperatures and partly cloudy skies, anglers were basically keying on two distinct variables – the wind and the tides. While the predictably strong spring winds of southern Texas didn’t catch many anglers off guard, the higher-than-normal tides were a different story altogether.
“It’s really tough finding baitfish with these high tides,” said FLW Redfish Series angler Larry Teel. “The tides are probably about 6 to 8 inches above normal, and it’s going to play a big role, because the fish are really scattered right now. Wind is going to be a factor, because it affects where you can go. You basically have to find protected water. But the wind is typical of this time of year.”
Teel’s partner, Tony Gagliano, agreed that the tides are, more than likely, going to be the story of the tournament.
“Usually you have spring tides here that are high,” he said. “But these are really high. I think that the boats that can get into the back lakes are probably going to have a big advantage now.”
Although pro Jonathan Culpepper believes that both the tides and wind will be a factor, he is also predicting that fishing fans will see a cornucopia of huge stringers being brought in throughout the three-day event, which runs May 10-12.
“Wind is going to be a factor, but it always is here,” said Culpepper, who took home the title at the Redfish Series Port Aransas event in 2006 along with his brother, Kris. “But overall, I think you’re going to see some big stringers. There will be a lot of 15-pound limits, probably three or four 16-pound limits and maybe even a 17-pound limit. But with the high tides and wind, I do think some of the local guys are going to have an advantage.”
However, with a total purse of $200,000 on the line over the course of the tournament, anglers shouldn’t have much difficulty putting the tough conditions into perspective.
The competition
Anglers will be competing in two-man teams over the next three days for a top award of as much as $50,000. In addition, they will also be vying for valuable points toward a berth into the no-entry-fee, $300,000 Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series Championship in Orange Beach, Ala., Oct. 18-20.
During the Port Aransas competition, the second Western Division event of the 2007 season, the full field will compete both Thursday and Friday. After Friday’s weigh-in, anglers will face the first and only cut of the tournament as the top five teams, based on heaviest accumulated weight from the first two days, will get to compete Saturday.
Up to two redfish (assuming they fall into the appropriate slot limit) may be weighed in per team, per day. The winning team will be determined by the heaviest combined weight from Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
First-place competitors win upwards of $25,000 cash. However, if a member of the winning team is also the original owner of a Ranger, Champion, Wellcraft or Hydra-Sports boat used during the tournament, the team will receive a $12,500 bonus. Additionally, if a member of the winning team is the original owner of a qualifying Yamaha or Evinrude outboard that is used during the tournament, the team receives a $12,500 bonus from Yamaha for a total award of $50,000. For complete Redfish Series contingency information, click here.
Thursday’s weigh-in begins at 3 p.m. Central time at Port Aransas City Marina, located at 301 JC Barr Blvd. in Port Aransas, Texas.
Thursday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:42 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 73 degrees
Expected high temperature: 80 degrees
Water temperature: 74-77 degrees
Tides (at Port Aransas, Texas): low 3:03 a.m., high 12:10 p.m.
Wind: south at 13 mph
Maximum humidity: 74 percent
Day’s outlook: Mostly cloudy with chance of isolated thunderstorms