FORT PIERCE, Fla. – Spotty tropical storms off the east coast of Florida will have an effect on Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour anglers as they begin competition at the second event of the season.
What that effect will be, however, remains to be seen.
Bursts of rain, cloud cover, and some thunder and lightning will spice things up on day one of kingfish action on the Atlantic Ocean. Whether that will interfere with the kingfish bite is the question of the day, but it’s already impacted some teams’ efforts to find bait.
“We’ve been catching a lot of little ones and a few big ones,” a Team Reelin’ crewmember said of the kingfishing Friday morning as bait vendors did lively business along the various docks in Fort Pierce inlet. “But I’ve never fished so hard for bait as I have over the last three days.”
If other teams are having trouble finding fresh bait, as well, it could spell a really short weekend for them. But don’t count anyone out yet. The weather is pushing the fish around, but they’re still out there. This fishery has produced a few kings over 50 pounds in the last two years of this tournament. Last year’s Fort Pierce champions, Capt. David Kingery and Team Folgers-Offshore Authority, landed a near 58-pound fish to anchor their winning weight.
Tournament logistics
Teams take off from at 6:30 Eastern time each morning. Scales open at Fort Pierce City Marina, located at 1 Avenue A in Fort Pierce, at 3 p.m. All teams must check in by 5 p.m. The morning start and weigh-in are free and open to the public. Sunday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located 5100 Okeechobee Road in Fort Pierce beginning at 4:30 p.m.
The full field will compete Friday and Saturday, and then be cut to the top five teams for Sunday. Winners are determined based upon the heaviest kingfish from Friday or Saturday plus the heaviest kingfish from Sunday.
The winning team earns $40,000 cash. If the team captain is the original owner of a Hydra-Sports, Scarab, Seaswirl or Wellcraft boat that is used during the tournament, the team also receives a $30,000 bonus. Additionally, if the winning captain is the original owner of a qualifying Yamaha or Evinrude outboard that is used during the tournament, the team will receive another $30,000 bonus for a total award of $100,000.