NEWS

FIRST FLATSMASTERS ELITE SERIES A BIG HIT!

The first ever Flatsmasters Elite Series tournament was held March 13-14 at Laishley Crab House in Laishley Park, Punta Gorda. The concept of the new Elite Series is to gather the very best redfish tournament anglers from across Florida to compete in a limited entry, high stakes fishing tournament.

"With the demise of the ESPN Redfish Cup, we felt there was an opportunity to provide a high quality event that would make the top anglers want to come to Punta Gorda and compete" said Jerry Cleffi, Tournament Director. Many teams arrive as much as a week in advance to pre-fish for upcoming tournaments. With all five of the Elite Series events being held in Punta Gorda, the economic gain for Charlotte County is spread out over an eight month period instead of just one week a year.

Many of the former Redfish Cup anglers were competing along with top local teams in this first event to see who would be the first ever Elite Series Winners. 30 teams set out on Saturday morning with the goal of catching, weighing, and releasing 2 slot sized redfish using only artificial lures. Tough weather conditions including 25 mile per hour winds, cold air and water temperatures, and extreme low tides made fishing tough, but 16 teams managed to weigh at least one redfish. The Top five teams by weight were invited back on Sunday to compete in the Elite Series Top Five Shootout. All five teams started off with zero weight and were again challenged to capture two legal reds. As the weigh in kicked off on Sunday, Team Mystik Lubricants was recorded late as the 150 mile round trip to their fish caught up to them. Team ReMax Harbor Realty with Lyn and Colby Bevis, and Bing Blackburn were unable to get back on to their fish from Saturday and finished fourth with zero weight. Of the top three teams, 2 were former Redfish Cup teams, first to the scales was the team of Tadd VanDemark and Chris Joseph who weighed a 2 fish limit of 13.89lbs. The last team to weigh in was the team in first on Saturday, Team Reelfishing.com with Dan Latham, Steve Matthews, and Tony Pabon repeated their feat from Saturday putting up an impressive 15.06lb. total including a hefty 8.06lb big red. Team Clean Source from Ft Myers rounded out the field in third Place.

Team Reelfishing.com takes home the first ever Elite Series win and a $10,000 First Place Prize.

The Elite Series will be back in town on April 24-25 with the brand new Punta Gorda Redfish Festival to be held at Laishley Crab House in Laishley Park. The festival will include everything to do with fishing and boating on Charlotte Harbor including Boat Demos, Free fishing seminars, marine and fishing vendor area, nautical flea market, marine and wildlife art show, and lots of entertainment. In addition to the Elite Series Weigh In each day at 3:30pm, the Junior Flatsmasters finals will be held on Sunday with the weigh in at 3:00pm.

For more information regarding the Flatsmasters Elite Series or The Punta Gorda Redfish Festival call 941-637-5953 or click here to contact us.

MAVERICK BOATS FLATSMASTERS REDFISH SERIES MAKES A BIG SPLASH AT THE FIRST EVENT OF THE SEASON!

51 teams kicked off the Redfish Series on February 20th with some impressive weights. Team Wild Alaska Salmon with Andy Medina, Rick Seachrist, and Steve Griffing set the bar high with a very impressive 15. 14lbs with a 8.41lb big red. They were followed closely behind by Team Towboat US Charlotte Harbor with Kyle and Dale Potts, and Chris Magnano who weighed in a close second place with 15.02 lbs. The Redfish Series is a groundbreaking new tournament series from the Flatsmasters. The next event is on March 27th at Laishley Park in Punta Gorda. The Redfish Series is a low entry fee, big prize series with six events from February to October. Here are some of the highlights for the 2010 Flatsmasters Redfish Series:

• $225 entry fee per team (only $75 per angler)- Register for up to 6 events and lock in your boat #
• Fish four events and qualify for the Championship
• All events at Laishley Park, Punta Gorda
• Capt. Meetings before each event at Laishley Community Room with food/drink/raffle
• Drawing at each Capt. Meeting for Boat #1- (all other in order of registration)
• Sign up at Capt. Meeting with $25 latre fee (cash only)
• Sign up at Ramp in morning with $25 late fee (cash only)
• Redfish only- Anglers bait of choice- Wading allowed
• $3,000 first prize in each event
• Grand Prize- Cobia 21' Bayboat with Yamaha F150. and trailer presented by Maverick Boat Co, Yamaha Outboards, and Ingman Marine

Learn more about the Redfish Series

Redfish Series Results Event #1

FLATSMASTERS ANNOUNCES THE ELITE 50 SERIES

The new ELITE 50 Series is the pinnacle of backcountry tournament fishing. Designed for the anglers who are always fishing for First Place, The ELITE 50 has some of the strongest payouts available anywhere. The format is limited to 50 three angler teams, all artificial lures, and the challenge of tournament redfishing. There are less than 15 spots remaining in the field. Don't delay - register now to make sure you don't miss out on the premier inshore tournament in Florida.

Learn More about the Elite 50 Series

Elite 50 Results Event #1

2009 CHAMPIONS