ARANSAS PASS, Texas – As the top five FLW Redfish Series teams departed Conn Brown Harbor shortly after 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning, anglers were all too familiar with what’s at stake during today’s finals. With only 1 pound, 13 ounces separating the entire leaderboard, anglers know they must execute to perfection in today’s competition to have any shot at taking home the tournament title at Port Aransas – not to mention the first-place prize money ranging upwards of $50,000.
With sunny skies predicted throughout the morning and afternoon, anglers won’t have to worry about inclement skies or high winds. Nor will they have to worry about boater congestion as 91 two-man Redfish Series teams have already been sent packing. However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be plenty of anxiety out on the water today – especially with 16- and 17-pound stringers (those premium weights falling into the 20- to 28-inch slot limit that should be enough to bring home a title) seemingly as elusive this week as stable fishing conditions.
“Today is all about who can handle the pressure,” said Peter Young, who heads into the finals in second place along with partner Travis Holeman. “You just have to go out there and relax. Right now we’re 9 ounces behind the leaders, so we’re the underdogs right now. It’s going to be very important not to let the pressure get to us.”
However, as in every final day of competition, pressure will be a constant factor.
“It’s tough,” said Young. “On the final day, you have one less hour to fish. And we’re making over a 100-mile run. So we don’t have a lot of time to spare. That’s the only thing, in my opinion, that can hurt us – the short day.”
Currently, the Redfish Series team of Tadd Vandemark and Kevin Shaw leads the entire field heading into the finals with a two-day weight total of 30 pounds, 13 ounces.
The competition
The top five teams, which qualified for the finals after logging two tough days of fishing Thursday and Friday, will hit the water today in an effort to bring in the largest stringer possible. Up to two redfish may be weighed in per team today. However, each fish must fall into a 20- to 28-inch slot limit to qualify for weigh-in. The team that registers the largest combined weight over the course of three tournament days will be declared champion.
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 total award of $50,000. For complete Redfish Series contingency information, click here.
In addition, finalists 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.
Saturday’s final weigh-in is scheduled to take place at 4 p.m. at the Wal-Mart at 2501 W. Wheeler Road in Aransas Pass, Texas.
Saturday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:41 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 70 degrees
Expected high temperature: 84 degrees
Water temperature: 75-79 degrees
Tides (at Port Aransas, Texas): low 5:39 a.m., high 12:16 p.m.
Wind: NE at 9 mph
Maximum humidity: 64 percent
Day’s outlook: mostly sunny