ATLANTIC BEACH, N.C. – After enduring a rough-and-tumble day two on the wind-blown North Carolina coast, the top five teams will have to deal with big winds again today during the final round of the Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour event in Atlantic Beach.
Forecasted northeast winds up to 30 mph are supposed to continue through Sunday night.
Given the wind and the shortened final day, most teams will look to stay close, capitalizing on kingfish in the Beaufort Inlet channel.
“We caught a couple of mid-20 kings right out there yesterday,” said second-place captain Ellis Phillips of Team McNeill/Double Gobble. “We’d like to get one of those size fish early to get our morning kicked off right and then go hunt a big fish.”
Tournament leaders Team Hard Way are looking to be the first team to score two victories in FLW Kingfish Tour competition. Their first win came in 2006 in Beaufort, S.C.
“I’d love to be the first team to win two FLW pro kingfish events,” said 
Team Hard Way’s captain, Todd Korker. “It would be quite an honor, something no one could take away.”
Korker plans to run his crew some 45 miles to the spot where they boated their 41-pound, 7-ounce, tournament-leading king yesterday.
“We’re going to stick our nose into it and ride it out,” he said. “In terms of what it will take to win, I’d be pleased with a fish over 30, but today I’m going back for another 40-pounder.”
The final weigh-in of the Atlantic Beach FLW Kingfish Tour event will begin at 5 p.m. at the Wal-Mart in Morehead City, located at 300 Highway 24.
Sunday’s conditions
Sunrise: 7 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 65 degrees
Expected high temperature: 80 degrees
Water temperature: 77-80 degrees
Forecasted winds: NE at 20 to 30 mph
Day’s outlook: windy