Quick Bites: Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour Championship, Day 2
2007 Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour Championship
Biloxi, Miss.
Opening round, Saturday
Day-one leaders keep hammerlock on first… When all was said and done, Team M&M’s 51-pound, 10-ounce kingfish (caught on opening day) continued to be the fish to beat. Although many more teams brought in quality fish in the 30- to 35-pound range, not one team managed a catch over 48 pounds in today’s competition. But although Team M&M’s easily qualified for the top-five cut as well as a spot in Sunday’s all-important finals, team captain Randy Griffin Jr. won’t be resting easy tonight. “It feels good. It worked out well,” said Griffin. “But there were a lot of good fish caught today – better than yesterday. And the top five teams are pretty close in (overall) weight. So we’re hoping we can get us a good fish tomorrow. We have to make something happen.” During Sunday’s finals, the top five teams will get to add one kingfish to their current weight totals. The team that ultimately records the best two-fish catch will be crowned the winner of the 2007 Kingfish Tour Championship.
From zero to hero … After coming up empty during the first day of competition, Team Hooligan knew that one bite could turn things completely around. Well, as it turned out, they did get one bite – and one bite only – and their fortunes did turn around – completely. “It was the only bite we had in two days of fishing,” said Capt. Joe Winslow, whose team landed a 47-pound, 15-ounce kingfish to grab the third qualifying position heading into the finals. “We’re really proud of what we did today, especially (in light of) how tough it’s been for us.” How tough has it been for Team Hooligan? For starters, Team Hooligan was one of only five teams to qualify for the championship from the smaller-stakes FLW Kingfish Series. They accomplished this by winning the overall points championship in the Upper Gulf Division. Then, on the first day of competition at the championship, the team not only blanked, but also struck an underwater piling which almost ended their run at the title. “We hit a piling last night with our new boat. It really shook us up. We were worried about the motor as well as the hull,” said Winslow. “But when we pulled the boat out, everything was fine – just a scratch and a glancing blow.” During today’s competition, after a change in strategy, the team came up empty at their first main spot. “That’s when we decided to gamble and make a long run,” said Winslow. “It was a tough decision for us, but we made it, and everything worked out. We’re thrilled, just absolutely thrilled.”
Zero to hero part deux … Amazingly enough, Team Reelin‘s championship run is eerily similar to that of Team Hooligan. On day one, Team Reelin blanked. On day one, Team Reelin had mechanical problems. And on day two, Team Reelin reached down deep and landed a 43-pound, 5-ounce kingfish, good enough to leapfrog into the top five. “We just stayed at it,” said Capt. Marc Pincus. “After losing our motor the first thing in the morning yesterday, we just wanted to put a respectable fish on the board today. We wound up catching our big fish about 2:30 this afternoon. For one day of fishing, we’re very happy.” Ultimately, Team Reelin qualified for the finals in fourth place.
Ex champions come up short … Although Team Raymarine won the inaugural Kingfish Tour Championship title in 2005 and managed to follow that up with a second-place finish in 2006, the team finally failed to qualify for the finals. “We finally found the right water today, but we just didn’t get the big bite,” said Robert Daugherty. “We had a big fish on today, but we just couldn’t get it in the boat. It ripped off 30 to 40 yards of line, but I got too impatient trying to make the top-five (cut) once again, and I missed it. But we’ll be back next year.”
That’s what friends are for …While camaraderie, teamwork and encouragement usually top the list of defining characteristics of friendship, all good fishing buddies know that “humiliation” is also right up there. Such is the case with Team Yozuri/The Fischer King. Months before the championship, it appears that Capt. Ozzie Fischer and crew member Paul Michele placed a little side bet on an NFL game between the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins. Michele picked the Giants and Fischer had Miami in a straight-up bet. In the end, Michele won the bet. As a result, Fischer was forced to go onstage wearing a New York Giants hat as well as a pink T-shirt with a photo of Michele and a line that read: “Paul Michele is the greatest.” However, as bad as that was, the original bet was worse. “Originally the bet was that the loser had to wear a pink Speedo to weigh-in,” said Michele. “But with Miami being so bad, (Fischer) pleaded and pleaded with me a week before the game to change the bet (to the T-shirt). He’s been dreading this the whole time. Needless to say, I’ve been having a blast with it all week.”
Where do the kingfish go? … That’s one of the more interesting questions fans of the sport have. While nearly all FLW Outdoors events are catch-and-release formats, that isn’t the case with kingfish events. So, what’s the answer? According to FLW Outdoors tournament director Ronnie Brinegar, the fish are donated to a fishing company that is charged with selling the catches. The proceeds of the sale are then donated to the Long Bay Artificial Reef Association – an organization charged with maintaining and building new reefs to ensure quality habitat for underwater marine life.
Quick numbers:
55: Total number of teams qualifying for the 2007 FLW Kingfish Tour Championship.
32: Total number of teams that weighed in during the second day of competition.
905-06: Total weight, in pounds and ounces, of kingfish caught during opening day of competition.
150: Total prize money, in thousands, earmarked for the 2007 Kingfish Tour Championship winners.
51-10: Total weight, in pounds and ounces, of largest kingfish caught during the first two days of the 2007 Kingfish Tour Championship.
2: Number of new teams (Hooligan and Reelin) that jumped into the top five during today’s competition.
Sound bites:
“Even a blind hog finds an acorn.” – Team Hooligan’s Winslow, talking about the satisfaction of qualifying for the finals after landing only one bite in the tournament.
“That’s what happens when you make a football bet and lose.” – Michele ribbing his Yozuri/The Fischer King teammate Fischer about having to wear a pink shirt with Michele’s photo on it at weigh-in after losing a bet.
“Now the fish are scattered. That’s why you’re not seeing big numbers (or size) of fish at weigh-in.” – Kingfish Tour pro Jack Wood of Team Predator, talking about the dearth of 40- and 50-pound fish at weigh-in over the past two days.
“(M&M’s Capt. Randy) Griffin’s got a great team, he’s a good fisherman, and he’s got a great boat. But we’re going to give them a run for their money. Look out (Team M&M’s), we’re coming!” – FLW Kingfish Tour angler Mike Muhlbauer of second-place Team Collins, expressing confidence in catching No. 1 qualifiers Team M&M’s in the finals.
Day three of Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour Championship action continues at Sunday’s final takeoff, scheduled to take place at 7 a.m. Central at the Isle of Capri Casino and Hotel marina, located at 151 Beach Blvd. in Biloxi, Miss.