PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (May 1, 2008) – Blair Wiggins of Cocoa, Fla., and Travis Tanner of Titusville, Fla., caught a two-redfish limit weighing 15 pounds, 14 ounces to lead day one of the Wal-Mart FLW® Redfish Series Eastern Division event in Panama City Beach, Fla., where teams are competing for as much as $50,000.
“I feel great after today,” said Tanner, whose team placed fifth in the Redfish Series Sarasota event in March. “You have to have it together the first two days to make the cut and anything could happen out there. It’s hard to get on a consistent pattern with the fish because of so many different factors that could affect the bite.”
Tanner said that his team was done fishing by 10 this morning and believes they are on a good pattern. Tanner said that they will likely stick to the same plan tomorrow and make the 60-mile run to their key area depending on the wind.
“The wind was blowing 15 to 20 mph today and it wasn’t too bad, so I think that we will be able to make the run again tomorrow. We will see what happens though, the weather could always change.
“Going into tomorrow, I feel very confident, he said. “Hopefully, we will get another 15 pounds and make the cut.”
Rounding out the top five teams are Capt. Frank Jackson of Saint Petersburg, Fla., and Charles Espenlaub of Lutz, Fla. (two redfish, 14 pounds, 7 ounces); Ken Mullett and Jeff Mullett of Sarasota, Fla. (two redfish, 14 pounds, 6 ounces); Brady Nelson and Josh Ramsey of Palmetto, Fla. (two redfish, 14 pounds, 2 ounces) and Raymond McDonald and Sean Creel of Panama City, Fla. (two redfish, 14 pounds, 1 ounce).
Teams caught 110 redfish Thursday weighing 615 pounds, 11 ounces.
Qualifying tournaments in the $1.9 million Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series – the most lucrative redfish tournament trail in the world – are three-day events. The full field will continue competition Friday, and the top five teams based on the heaviest combined weights from Thursday and Friday will advance to Saturday’s final round. The winning team will be determined Saturday based on the heaviest three-day accumulated weight.
Boats will launch from Bay Point Marina each morning at 6 a.m. Friday’s weigh-in will be held at Bay Point Marina beginning at 3 p.m. The final weigh-in will be held Saturday at the Wal-Mart store located at 10270 Front Beach Road in Panama City Beach beginning at 4 p.m.
The FLW Redfish Series consists of two divisions – Eastern and Western – and the $318,500 Redfish Open. Each division is comprised of four $170,000 qualifying tournaments. The top 50 teams from each division based on Land O’Lakes Team of the Year standings will advance to the no-entry-fee $300,000 Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series Championship to be held Oct. 30-Nov. 1 in Biloxi, Miss. The championship winner will take home as much as $100,000.
Tournament pros aren’t the only ones winning big this season. With the introduction of FLW Fantasy Fishing™, FLW Outdoors® offers anyone the opportunity to enter for their chance to land the catch of a lifetime with the opportunity to win $7.3 million in cash and prizes. Players can become a virtual pro angler by signing up for Player’s Advantage, providing them with exclusive insider information that could guide them to a $100,000 victory at every Wal-Mart FLW Tour® stop and the Forrest Wood Cup. Player’s Advantage will give them an edge over the competition and increase their shot for a $1 million cash grand prize that will be awarded to the FLW Fantasy Fishing cumulative points winner. Those who visit FantasyFishing.com today can sign up for Player’s Advantage and FLW Outdoors will include a $15 Wal-Mart gift card.
Coverage of the FLW Redfish Series stop in Panama City Beach will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program airing June 29. “FLW Outdoors” is also broadcast in Canada on WFN (World Fishing Network) and to more than 429 million households in the United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East through a distribution agreement with Matchroom Sport, making it the most widely distributed fishing program in the world. The program airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time in most markets. Check local listings for times in your area.
FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits targeting bass, walleye, redfish, kingfish and striped bass. FLW Outdoors is also taking fishing mainstream with the largest cash awards in the history of fantasy sports, $7.3 million.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.
Awards are based on a full field of 125 boats in every tournament.