Weather a Challenge in the Flatsmasters RedPlug

 Summer in Southwest Florida is always unpredictable, especially the weather.  Extreme heat, afternoon thunderstorms, tropical waves, depressions, and storms are all a possibility.  So when the date for the Flatsmasters RedPlug Challenge approached and the forecast was 20% rain chance, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.  But as the weekend approached a trough of low pressure dropped in on the west coast of Florida and brought back the dreaded summer weather curse!

 After a brief shower during the Capt Meeting at the Goal Post Grill in Port Charlotte on Friday night, Saturday morning’s weather looked great; one of calmest mornings in recent Flatsmasters history greeted our anglers at the 6:30am start. But by noon threatening clouds approached the Harpoon Harry’s Dock. 

 
“Team SunTrust Center opens the scales with 12.97lbs.”

 Several teams opted to weigh in early to prevent a clash with the weather.  Team SunTrust Center (Hoke,Hoke,Hoke) opened the scales up with a solid 12.97lbs.

Several other 12 lb. plus weights were posted early with Team Outcast

(B.Brantley,Woods,Williams) putting up the top weight at 13.11lbs.

As the 3:30pm deadline drew near, the skies opened up with rain and lightning.  At one point the weather was so severe they weigh in was suspended for 20 minutes.  The weather curse struck several teams who tried to push the weigh in time and got caught in conditions they couldn’t run in, and they missed the 3:30pm deadline.  When the weigh in resumed, the top five was filled out by Team Andros Boats, Team Renegade, and Team Century/Yamaha.

 Top Five Teams on Saturday

1. Team Outcast (Bryan Brantley, James Woods, Trey Williams)

            Red#1- 6.77lbs.  Red#2- 6.34lbs.  Total- 13.11lbs.

2. Team Andros Boats (Wade Waltimyer, Chris Davids, Dusty Horrman)

            Red#1- 6.68lbs.  Red#2- 6.32lbs.  Total- 13.00lbs.

3. Team SunTrust Center (Dave Hoke, Bill Hoke, Jon Hoke)

            Red#1- 7.48lbs.  Red#2  5.49lbs.  Total- 12.97lbs.

4. Team Renegade (Brian Harris, Lisa Harris, Troy Gale)

            Red#1- 6.72lbs.  Red#2- 5.81lbs.  Total- 12.53lbs.

5. Team Century/Yamaha (Jeff Totten, Ozzie Lessenger, Jeff Wise)

            Red#1- 6.12lbs.  Red#2- 6.29lbs.  Total- 12.41lbs.

 
“Team Renegade- Brian & Lisa Harris, Troy Gale”

Day Two started out with showers all over the Charlotte Harbor area.  A clear window opened up at 6:30am, and our Top Five Teams were released for one more day of fishing.  All of the Top Five Teams had to deal with rain, wind, lightning, and even waterspouts through out the day.  Conditions were tough to say the least.  Luckily as the 3:30pm Shootout deadline approached the rain subsided and we were left with just a strong west wind.  All of the finalists beat their way back across a sloppy Charlotte Harbor and made it back to the Harpoon Harry’s Dock by the deadline.

In typical Flatsmasters Shootout fashion, all five teams line up in the order of their day one finish.  The weigh In starts with the #5 position team weighing in their first red and works up to the #1 team weighing in last.  After the first weigh in round, Team Outcast held onto the top position with a  7.22lb. fish.  Team Renegade and Team Century/Yamaha both posted good fish with Team Andros Boats and Team SunTrust Center falling to the back of the pack.

Round #2 saw another solid fish by Jeff Totten’s Team and by Brian Harris’ team, but neither were heavy enough to overtake Team Outcast as Bryan Brantley and his team bagged a 6.16lb. second fish for a total of 13.38lbs.

Easily beating out the competition by over two pounds!

TEAM OUTCAST WINS THE 2008 FLATSMASTERS REDPLUG CHALLENGE

 
“Team Outcast wins with 13.38lbs.

 
“Team Outcast- Bran Brantley, James Woods, Trey Williams”
RedPlug Champions

“Click Here for 2008 RedPlug Challenge complete results”

 Bimini Big Game Resort Team of the Year Race coming down to the wire !!!

 
“The Bimini Big Game Resort and Marina, Bimini Bahamas”

 With three events in the books, The Bimini Big Game Resort Flatsmasters Team of the Year is heating up.  Team Ego Nets relinquished their hold on the top spot to Team SunTrust Center (Hoke,Hoke,Hoke).  The Hoke family team now has 433 points and an 11 point lead by virtue of 2 top five finishes this year and 2 bonus points for heaviest trout in event #1 and heaviest redfish in event #3.

Team Century/Yamaha (Totten,Lessenger,Wise) are in striking distance of the Hokes with 422 points and one event to go.  Still in the hunt is Team Maverick Boats (Withers,Manis) trailing Jeff Totten’s team by only a single point.  Team Maverick Boats had the big snook in The Grand Slam Plug event back in March and with snook on the score sheet in September, it could be right for a late season charge by Jay and Mike.

Whoever wins the Team of the Year will be happy, because in addition to being considered the best backcountry team in Florida, receiving custom SPI Gallery Bronze Trophies, and being Team #01 in all Flatsmasters Events for 2009, The Team of the Year will receive an all expense weekend at the Bimini Big Game Resort and Marina in Bimini, Bahamas.

It’s easy to speculate in July who will come out on top, but everyone will have to wait for September to see who prevails.

“Click Here for 2008 Points Totals”