NEW ORLEANS – With temperatures on the rise and plenty of sun in today’s forecast, the full field departed Bayou Segnette State Park marina shortly after 6:30 a.m. Friday morning feeling the heat in more ways than one. Although atmospheric temps climbed to the mid 60s at takeoff, the perspiration under the collars of most anglers could be largely attributed to the rising stakes in today’s competition.
By the end of Friday’s weigh-in, nearly half the field will be sent packing – making additional room for the top-30 pros and top-30 co-anglers who ultimately qualify to fish in Saturday’s semifinal round at the 2008 Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Open.
To be sure, there is little breathing room for anglers fortunate enough to reside atop the leaderboard. After yesterday’s competition, Chad Dufrene of Purvis, Miss., found himself in first place overall in the Pro Division after his boat recorded a 15-pound, 2-ounce catch. Dufrene’s co-angler partner Eugene Abadie III also received an identical weight to grab first place in the Co-angler Division.
However, just behind Dufrene and Abadie were a host of anglers within easy striking distance of the leaders. In fact, four pro-am teams netted 14 pounds, 14 ounces to fall into a four-way tie for second place – just 4 ounces behind first place. Those anglers included: Pro Todd Dufour of Marrero, La., and his co-angler partner Barnie White of Brewton, Ala.; pro Jeff Steckler of Rockport, Texas and co-angler partner Wes Pady of Rockport, Texas; pro Andy Mnichowski of Marrero, La., and co-angler partner Jason LeBlanc of Marrero, La.; and pro David Nesloney Sr., and co-angler partner Gus Wilson.
In addition, four other teams managed to bring in weights 14 pounds or above which meant that nearly every angler in the top-10 (in both divisions) finished the day no worse than a pound and some change out of first place.
The competition
Per tournament rules, pros and co-anglers (amateurs) are randomly paired each day. Each boat is allowed a maximum two-fish stringer and each fish must fall into a 16- to 27-inch slot limit. Both the pro and co-angler will be credited with the combined stringer weight of the boat each outing. However, pros will only be competing against other pros while co-anglers will be pitted against other co-anglers.
The full field of 50 pros and 50 co-anglers will compete for the first two days of competition, which is scheduled to run from March 27-30. After Friday’s weigh-in, the field will be cut to the top-30 pros and top-30 co-anglers. After Saturday’s action, the field will be cut down once more to the top-five pros and co-anglers. During Sunday’s finals, the top-five anglers in both fields will fish for one final chance at the title. Winners in each division will be determined by the accumulated weight of their respective catches during all four days of competition.
Pros will be fishing for a top prize of $50,000 (assuming contingency guidelines are met) while co-anglers will be competing for as much as $5,000.
Friday’s FLW Redfish Open weigh-in begins at 5 p.m. Central time at the Louisiana Superdome, located at Sugar Bowl Drive in New Orleans.
Friday’s conditions:
Sunrise: 6:54 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 65 degrees
Expected high temperature: 81 degrees
Water temperature: 51-68 degrees
Tides (at New Orleans.): low 5:20 a.m., high 5:31 p.m.
Wind: SSE at 10 mph
Maximum humidity: 71 percent
Day’s outlook: Mostly sunny