GALVESTON, Texas – The $1.9 million Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series – the most lucrative redfish tournament trail in the world – is headed to Galveston, Texas, Aug. 5-6 for the circuit’s sixth event. Up to 150 teams will be competing in the Western Division tournament, which features a $200,000 cash purse.
Anglers, competing in two-man teams, will fish for a top award of as much as $50,000. Competitors will also be vying for valuable points that could earn them a berth into the no-entry-fee $300,000 Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series Championship in Mobile, Ala., Oct. 27-29 for a shot at as much as $100,000.
Barring any inclement weather due to hurricanes and tropical storms, FLW Redfish Series pro Chief Tauzin of Kingwood, thinks Galveston could be one of the best venues on the circuit this year. “Galveston is underrated,” Tauzin said. “It’s as good as any place in the south if you get on the right fish, and it’s been a real good summer for just catching fish.”
While many of the redfish events thus far have been about sight casting to reds in vast expanses of grass, Tauzin believes this event will be very different. “You’ll see a lot more banging the banks and long drifts over deeper water -in this tournament because Galveston doesn’t have the true grass flats like many other waters,” he said.
Tauzin believes, however, that 18 pounds for two fish will be very likely to win the event. “You won’t catch 18 pounds both days, but you’ll need that on one day and 15 pounds on the next to win,” he said. “If you have 16 pounds a day you’ll be in the hunt.”
Teakwood Marina will host daily takeoffs and weigh-ins at 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively at 400 Tiki Drive in Galveston. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
Teams will compete for two days to determine the winner based on accumulated weight.
The winning team earns $25,000 cash. If a member of the winning team is the original owner of a Ranger, Champion, Aquasport, or Wellcraft boat or a Hydra Sports 1900, 2000 or 2300 Bay Bolt that is used during the tournament, the winners also receives a $12,500 bonus. Additionally, if a member of the winning team is the original owner of a Yamaha outboard that is used during the tournament, the winners also receives a $12,500 bonus from Yamaha for total award of $50,000.
Every team that receives weight credit in a tournament earns points that determine angler standings. Two hundred points are awarded to the winner, 199 points for second, 198 points for third, and so on. The top 50 teams from each of the Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series’ two divisions – Eastern and Western – will advance to the championship.
Each Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series Division features four regular-season tournaments.
Named after the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L. Wood, FLW Outdoors administers the Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series and seven other national tournament circuits offering a combined $30 million in awards through 214 events in 2005. The 27-year-old organization is the purveyor of America’s largest and most prestigious fishing tournaments, including the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, EverStart Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League and Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour.
For more information on FLW Outdoors and its tournament programs, browse FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.
Wal-Mart and many of America’s largest and most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart signed on as title sponsor of the FLW Tour in 1997 and today is the title sponsor of all FLW Outdoors events. For more information on Wal-Mart, visit Wal-Mart.com.