COCODRIE, La. – As Redfish Series Western Division anglers departed Coco Marina shortly after 6 a.m. in search of prime fishing real estate on the coastal waters of Louisiana, the field was greeted by a most impressive – an perhaps ominous – display from Mother Nature. With humid conditions and balmy temperatures dominating the climate, anglers were treated to a series of extraordinary cloud formations, sporadic lightning shows and a sherbet-colored sunrise that was as unique as it was surreal.
However, the gigantic columns of cumulonimbus clouds jutting miles into the atmosphere also served as a reminder that inclement weather might not be too far behind. With some hard-hitting thunderstorms heading over from the Texas Panhandle region, anglers will have to keep one eye on a tournament title and another on the barometer for arguably the duration of the three-day event, scheduled to run June 28-30.
Anglers will face plenty of strategic decisions this week as well. For starters, anglers will have to decide whether to fish locally or make the long haul to the Venice, La., area, where there is a greater likelihood of boating monster redfish.
“A lot of the guys are making the 100-mile (one-way) run all the way to Venice because there are plenty of big fish there,” said Redfish Series pro Tom Shockley. “Supposedly the pogies have moved in that area from offshore. And when they do move in, the redfish just gorge themselves on them because they’re such an oil-rich food source. It’s probably going to take 17 1/2 pounds each day to qualify for (Saturday’s) finals, so it’s probably worth the risk for the guys who really know that area.”
However, if bad weather descends upon the field, even the most experienced anglers might have to reconsider their options.
“If the weather does get rough, there might be some guys who try to make that run who will wind up getting stranded,” said Shockley. “They’ll be forced to wait out the storm. For us, we decided before we even arrived that we weren’t going to go to Venice. We are just going to hope for sunshine and try to key on redfish holding to the weedlines.”
The competition
Anglers will be competing on 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., slated for Oct. 18-20.
During the Cocodrie, La., competition, the third 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 on Saturday.
Up to two redfish (assuming they fall within 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, 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 engine bonus 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 CoCo Marina located at 106 Pier 56 in Chauvin, La.
Thursday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:05 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 76 degrees
Expected high temperature: 88 degrees
Water temperature: 82-85 degrees
Tides (at Cocodrie, La.): high 10:09 a.m., low 9:52 p.m.
Wind: ESE at 5 to 10 mph
Maximum humidity: 65 percent
Day’s outlook: partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms later in the afternoon