BILOXI, Miss. – It’s batten-down-the-hatches time as the top 50 teams from the Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour and Kingfish Series roll out of Biloxi Bay for the $500,000 championship.
That is, it was until this morning.
Earlier in the week, the teams practiced in some blustery weather off the Gulf Coast as they ramped up for the first day’s takeoff of the Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour Championship. That led to some sour faces around the dock Friday morning.
“It’s not so good,” said David Kingery, captain of Team Folgers, when asked about the fishing.
But conditions look to be improving significantly as the weekend rolls around. To win this tournament, teams will have to catch some of the heftiest kingfish of their tournament careers. Big fish swim in these waters, probably the biggest on the tour, and weight estimates to make the top-five cut are hovering around 50 pounds.
Earlier in the week, that estimate looked to be high as winds blew boats around pretty good in the waters off the Gulf Coast, which offers little protection around here. But calmer conditions could mean the teams can safely get after all those big kings swimming around the offshore oil platforms. So don’t be surprised if a 60-pounder or two crosses the scale this weekend.
Tournament logistics
Teams take off from Isle of Capri Casino and Hotel of Biloxi located at 151 Beach Blvd. in Biloxi at 7 o’clock each morning. Scales open at 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and all teams must check in by 5 p.m. Sunday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located 3615 Sangani Blvd. in D’lberville, Miss., beginning at 4:30 p.m. The takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
The winner will be determined based on the heaviest kingfish from Friday or Saturday plus the heaviest fish from Sunday.
The winning team earns $75,000 cash guaranteed plus a $37,500 bonus if the team captain is the original owner of a Hydra-Sports, Scarab, Seaswirl or Wellcraft boat that is used during the tournament. 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 $37,500 bonus for a total award of $150,000.