Feeding time

FLW Kingfish anglers hoping to break 40 pounds, make cut on day two

SARASOTA, Fla. – This week, anglers have been saying it will take a catch somewhere in the 40- to 45-pound range to make the cut in Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour competition at Sarasota, but nobody caught anything more than 38 1/2 pounds on opening day. Competitors are hoping to push through that barrier as they fish in the second half of the opening round Friday.

“I don’t know if the fish are feeding any better,” eighth-place Team Relentless Capt. Tony Davenport said, “but we’re certainly going to try and feed them better Friday.”

So far, blue runners and ribbonfish appear to be the bait of choice for many of the top teams. Some of the better fish Thursday, like leading Team Slip N’ Slide’s 38 1/2-pounder, were caught closer to the beach where baitfish are schooling at the moment. The wind has lightened up slightly for day two, however, which might move fish around.

The 85-boat opening round ends after today’s fishing. The field will be cut to the top five, based on the heaviest single fish over the first two days, and will advance to Saturday’s final round. The winning team will be determined by heaviest two-fish weight, combining the opening and final rounds.

At stake in Sarasota is a potential $100,000 payday for the winning team. The total purse for the event is $330,000.

The scales open at 3 p.m. Eastern time Friday at Marina Jack, located at 2 Marina Plaza in Sarasota, with official check-in time at 5 p.m. The final, top-five weigh-in Saturday will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 13140 South Tamiami Trail in Osprey, Fla., beginning at 5 p.m.

Thursday’s conditions

Sunrise: 7:07 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 60 degrees

Expected high temperature: 84 degrees

Seas: 2-3 feet

Wind: NNE at 10 to 15 mph

Maximum humidity: 53 percent

Day’s outlook: plentiful sunshine