PORT LAVACA, Texas – As the top-five Redfish Series team finalists departed Lighthouse Beach marina shortly after 7 a.m., they did so amidst some of the windiest conditions of the tournament to date. With temperatures dipping down to the low 60s for the first time all week and wind gusts projected in the 15- to 25-mph range, anglers hit the open waters of the Texas Gulf Coast bundled head to toe and on their guard.
However, with the last day of competition unfolding in the next few hours and a tournament title on the line, there was little time for anglers to feel sorry for themselves. But that didn’t mean that the wind-swept conditions weren’t front and center in everyone’s mind just before takeoff – especially for the teams making long runs this morning.
“We have some protected shorelines to fish but we still have to cross four big bays,” said Judd Johnson, who currently resides in first place along with pro partner Recie Tisdale. “We’re making a 100-mile one-way run and we’re hoping we get at least an hour to fish. But if things get so bad out there that we don’t think we can make it back, we’ll stop short. We hope that’s not the case though because this is the area that got us into the finals.”
With the top-five teams separated by less than 3 pounds and the prospect of the weather wreaking havoc on the best laid plans of the finalists, everyone seemed to be in agreement that the tournament title is there for the taking for any team.
“Honestly, I think it’s anybody’s game right now,” said Johnson. “With this change in the weather, it’s really up for grabs. But if we can get to our spot, we feel confident that we have as good of a chance as anyone to win this.”
The competition
The Port Lavaca event, which concludes after Saturday’s competition, represents the first FLW Redfish Series Western Division tournament of the 2008 season. The top-five teams that survived Friday’s cut will compete today for a tournament title. At the end of today’s action, the final standings will be determined by the total weight brought in from each team over the course of all three days of competition.
Up to two redfish may be weighed in per team, per day. However, each fish must fall within the regulated 20- to 28-inch slot limit to be counted.
Finalists are competing 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 Biloxi, Miss., slated for Oct. 30-Nov. 1. The winning team at the championship will earn as much as $100,000.
Saturday’s final weigh-in begins at 4 p.m. Central time at the Wal-Mart Supercenter, located at 400 Tiney Browning Boulevard in Port Lavaca, Texas.
Saturday’s conditions:
Sunrise: 7:04 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 61 degrees
Expected high temperature: 80 degrees
Water temperature: 67-70 degrees
Tides (at Sarasota, Fla.): low 8:19 a.m., high 8:25 p.m.
Wind: NNE at 15-25 mph
Maximum humidity: 39 percent
Day’s outlook: Mostly sunny with strong wind gusts possible