SOUTHPORT, N.C. – The $1.82 million Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour – the most lucrative kingfish tournament trail in the world – is headed to Southport, N.C., Sept. 21-23 for the circuit’s final regular-season stop powered by Tyson. Up to 125 teams will be competing in the tournament, which features a $330,000 cash purse.
Anglers, competing in teams of as many as five people, will fish for a top award of as much as $100,000. Teams will also be vying for valuable points that could earn them a berth into the no-entry-fee $500,000 Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour Championship in Mount Pleasant, S.C., Nov. 9-11 for a shot at as much as $150,000.
“We should have a pretty good tournament if the storms stay away,” said Team Kellogg’s Captain Bryan Edwards of Little River, S.C., whose team currently holds the 12th position in the points race. “It will take a 52-pound king to win it and a 40-pound-plus to make the top five.”
Pogies and ribbonfish will be the two most popular baits, and a lot of teams will fish the Cape Fear River channel, according to Edwards.
“The river channel should turn on by the end of the month,” he said. “Some teams with the larger boats may opt to make the long run up to Morehead City. If 50-pounders are reported being caught there within the next week or two, many boats will make that run.”
Teams will take off from South Harbor Village located at 4909 Fish Factory Road in Southport at 7 each morning. Scales open at 3 p.m., and all teams must check in by 5 p.m. The morning takeoffs and afternoon weigh-ins are free and open to the public. Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 1675 N. Howe Road in Southport beginning at 4 p.m.
Teams will compete Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Winners are determined based upon the heaviest kingfish from Thursday or Friday plus the heaviest kingfish from Saturday.
The winning team earns $40,000 cash. If the team captain is the original owner of a Hydra-Sports or Wellcraft boat that is used during the tournament, the team also receives a $30,000 bonus. Additionally, if the winning captain is the original owner of a Yamaha outboard that is used during the tournament, the team also receives a $30,000 bonus from Yamaha for a total award of $100,000.
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 at the end of the regular season will advance to the championship.
The Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event. For more information visit their Web site at southport-oakisland.com.
The $1.82 million Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour consists of four regular-season events. After four events are complete, the top 50 teams compete in the three-day, no-entry-fee $500,000 Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour Championship to be held in Mount Pleasant, S.C., Nov. 9-11. The championship team will take home as much as $150,000.
Named after the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L. Wood, FLW Outdoors administers the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail presented by Abu Garcia, Stratos Owners’ Tournament Trail, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series, Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series and Wal-Mart FLW Striper Series. These circuits offer combined purses exceeding $37.9 million through 249 events in 2006.
For more information about 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 an FLW Outdoors sponsor in 1997 and today is the world’s leading supporter of tournament fishing. For more information about Wal-Mart, visit Wal-Mart.com.