Shallow-minded

Redfish Series competitors focused on meager depths

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – A rare lunar eclipse darkened an otherwise full moon the night before the Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series event in Punta Gorda, Fla. but that didn’t dim the hopes of anglers fishing the Eastern Division opener.

A perennial inshore hotspot, the vast Charlotte Harbor region holds a bounty of redfish, but heavy fishing pressure has educated the reds. Most teams will either sight-fish by push poling across shallow flats and looking for specific targets, or stake-out and fan cast likely redfish spots such as bars, troughs and potholes.

The morning’s outgoing tide, magnified by the full moon phase, will shrink the playing field by thinning flats and limiting boat access. John Oliverio of Brandon said several years of fishing Charlotte Harbor have taught him how to anticipate his quarry’s movement.

“At high tide the redfish run into the (mangrove shorelines), but on low tide the fish come out of the backcountry and gather in deep holes,” he said. “If you know the potholes that they fall into, you can have a good day.”

Oliverio invented the Power-Pole Shallow Water anchor system – a remote operated hydraulic arm, which holds a boat in place by sinking a thin composite shaft into the bottom. Most Redfish Series vessels sport this accessory, and Oliverio rigged two on his Ranger bay boat. The Power-Pole facilitates stop-and-go tactics, but Oliverio and partner Howie Green are planning a more stationary strategy.

“We looked at the chart and picked two areas that historically have been good for outgoing tides,” he said. “We’ll probably stay in one spot for a long period of time and work the area very thoroughly,” he said. “The fish should be in about two to three feet of water, but we’ll be parked in 12 inches of water.”

Expecting a slow bite, mostly because of post-cold front weather, Oliverio and Green will fish Berkley Gulp! Shrimp on the bottom. Oliverio estimates 13 pounds will be a competitive day one weight.

Bill Pittman of Fernandina Beach, Fla. and Brad Brown of Estero, Fla. will take a different approach on day one. Fishing Brown’s 16-foot Ranger Banshee – customized with an elevated console seat for better vision – they’ll push pole the shallow flats and sight-fish for reds.

“We’ve scouted the deep water and the shallow water and it looks like during these extreme low tides that the fish are concentrating in the pockets and depressions on the flats,” Pittman said. “On these extreme low tides, these fish will be in six to eight inches of water.”

Brown said he and Pittman will run south to Matlacha and try to pick their way into a competitive limit. “I’ll be poling all day, trying to put Bill on some fish. Our objective is to just get two (legal) fish in the boat and then we’ll go hog hunting to upgrade.”

Pitman said he and Brown will throw baits that imitate mullet, but they’ll remain open to any necessary alterations. “We’ve (practiced) with a bunch of different techniques – some fast fishing and slow fishing – and we’ve gotten a hodge podge of strikes on both ends. It’s just a matter of getting those two lucky bites.”

Logistics

All teams will compete during the first two days, and the top five teams based on accumulated weight advance to day three. Final standings are determined by the total weight from all three days.

Anglers will take off at 7 a.m. each morning from Laishley Park, located at 100 East Retta Esplanade in Punta Gorda. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park beginning at 3 p.m. today and Friday. Saturday’s weigh-ins start at 4 p.m at the Wal-Mart store located at 3811 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda. Take-offs and weigh-ins are free, and the community is invited to attend the festivities.

The Punta Gorda FLW Redfish Series event is hosted by the City of Punta Gorda.

The top award of $50,000 includes $20,000 cash plus a $15,000 cash bonus from Ranger Boats and a $15,000 cash bonus from Yamaha or Evinrude if contingency guidelines are met.

The top 50 teams in each division of the 2008 FLW Redfish Series, based on Land O’Lakes Team of the Year points standings at the end of the season, will advance to the $300,000 Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series Championship Oct. 30-Nov. 1 in Biloxi, Miss. The winning team at the championship will earn as much as $100,000.

Thursday’s conditions:

Sunrise: 7 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 62

Expected high temperature: 78

Water temperature: 68

Wind: Southeast 12 mph

Humidity: 64

Day’s outlook: Partly cloudy, afternoon showers possible