Running for Moonshine
Top 10 anglers expect good fishing thanks to fewer boats
CLEWISTON, Fla. – The 2006 season’s first set of final-round anglers took off on Lake Okeechobee this morning practically giddy with anticipation. It’s not just the shot at big money and prestige that has them all worked up – it’s the prospect of not having to share their fishing hole with a hundred other boats.
This year, the Moonshine Bay area is last year’s Monkey Box – in other words, the best spot in Okeechobee for clear, quality water. As a result, an estimated 100 to 120 boats could be found crammed into Moonshine at any given time over the past two days. But with the field cut from 200 boats to 10 for the final two days, traffic is a lot lighter, and Okeechobee is thus expected to put its best foot forward today and tomorrow.
“I think the fishing’s going to get a lot better,” said pro Sean Hoernke, who went out in boat No. 9 this morning. “A lot of the guys have gone home, so we have a lot more elbow room. We’re going to see some giant fish. They’re going to go crazy.”
Chad Grigsby, who left the dock in boat No. 7, also expects to see an improvement thanks to the mass exodus of anglers. However, Grigsby did say that most of the anglers in the top 10 will all be fishing Moonshine Bay.
“Florida bass don’t like trolling motors, so when there are 120 motors around them, they don’t really like it,” Grigsby said. “I think it will be better today.”
Logistics
Weights from days one and two were cleared for the final rounds, and co-angler competition will conclude this afternoon. The top 10 pros continue competition Saturday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from days three and four. The winning co-angler will take home a top award of $20,000 cash, while the winning pros are in the hunt for a cash prize of $100,000. Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 1005 W. Sugarland Highway in Clewiston beginning at 4 p.m.
Friday’s conditions:
Sunrise: 7:13 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 65 degrees
Expected high temperature: 78 degrees
Wind: from the east at 16 mph
Maximum humidity: 68 percent
Day’s outlook: a mix of clouds and sun