Charlotte County Habitiat for Humanity will hold it's second annual tournament on September 11th at Laishley Park. The event will include a Capt. Meeting on Friday, Septeber10th at the Laishley Park Community Room with a Seafood Boil and Shrimp Creole, free beer, and a silent auction and raffle.
The tournament is $300 per 3 angler team and teams are fishing for 2 redfish using their bait of choice.The Weigh In will be under the Laishley Park Pavillion and will feature a BBQ and Awards Ceremony.
Registration is available at Laishley Marine in Punta Gorda, Capt. Ted's Tackle in Port Charlotte, and at the Punta Gorda Habitiat for Humanity office.
The Flatsmasters Redfish Series continues to bring out the best competition in each of it's events and Redfish Series #5 was no exception. With a strong 47 team field and a redfish bite in Charlotte Harbor that is on fire, it was anyone's guess as to who would come out victorious in the next to the last event of the year. Early afternoon storms blew across Charlotte Harbor and they had some early spectators wondering if it threw the bite off too early. But as the first Flatsmasters teams hit the scales it was evident that many teams had a great day of fishing. Mike Delagarza, Terry Brantley, and Paul Lambert fishing as Team Mystick Lubricants for this event put up the first 14 + weight with 14.14 lbs. While several teams were able to cross the 13lb mark, no one could challenge the lead until Team Reel Salty Charters with George Franz III, George Franz Jr, and Kristen Tucker busted through to top the scales at 14.61 lbs. After they weighed in they sat nerviously through the rest of the weigh-in anxiously watching team after team cross the scales. The scare came near the end of the weigh in when Team Fish Benthic with Bear Smith, Chris Slattery, and Justin Coleman put two good redfish on the scales, their total weight was an impressive 14.60 lbs. -just one hundredth of a pound less than the leaders and they had to settle for second place.
In all it took a little over 12.50 lbs. to make the top ten. There were 32 teams that weighed in and a total of 61 redfish entered.
In the Team of the Year Race- Team Saltlife Charters held on to their Number One ranking but now are being pushed hard by Team Cape Tool & Tackle who are only one point behind. Several other teams in the top ten still have a shot at the Flatsmasters Team of the Year Title. The Points Race will play out at the last Redfish Series event of the year on September 25 at the Laishley Crab House. The Flatsmasters Redfish Series Championship for all teams who fished at leastfour events this ear, will be held on October 9th during the Kixx Country Fall Boat Show and Seafood Fest at Laishley Park. The 2010 Flatsmasters Champions will walk away with one of the biggest grand prizes in professional redfishing- A brand new Cobia 21 Bay boat with F150 Yamaha engine, and trailer provided by Maverick Boat Co., Yamaha outboads, and Ingman Marine.
