NEW ORLEANS (March 30, 2008) – Pro Chad Dufrene of Purvis, Miss., caught two redfish weighing 15 pounds, 7 ounces to win the Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Open held in conjunction with the Southern Sportsman’s Expo in the Louisiana Superdome this week. Dufrene had a four-day total of eight redfish weighing 61-03 to net him the win and $37,500.
“Everything worked out in my favor today,” Dufrene said. “We got the sun we needed today to spot the fish and I had a great amateur partner. I was really fortunate. Everyday, my partners were there to help me win this. I really owe them a lot for helping me come out on top.”
Dufrene said he targeted redfish in heavy grass fishing spoons and Berkley Jerk Shad baits.
“This was a great experience,” Dufrene said. “I had a lot of fun fishing with a different partner everyday. I hope that FLW will use this format again in the Redfish circuit.”
Rounding out the top five pros are Todd Dufour of Marrero, La. (eight redfish, 60 pounds, 6 ounces, $15,000); Alden Bourgeois of Barataria, La. (eight redfish, 59 pounds, $10,000); Stephen Stork of Houston, Texas (eight redfish, 58 pounds, 3 ounces, $9,000); and Hugh Lebeouf of Thibodaux, La. (eight redfish, 51 pounds, 12 ounces, $8,000).
Gerald Rabroker of Belton, Texas, wins the co-angler division and $5,000 with a four-day catch of eight redfish weighing 58-06 beating the closest competitor by 1 pound, 2 ounces.
“I am so excited to win this event,” Rabroker said. “This is my first win on the Redfish Series. It’s like a dream come true.
“Going into today I had a 2-pound lead in the co-angler division so I really didn’t feel any pressure. I went out with Todd today and had a great time. I don’t know what else to say, it was a great tournament.”
Pros and co-anglers fish for a combined boat weight. Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Barnie White of Brewton, Ala. (eight redfish, 57 pounds, 4 ounces, $2,500); Eugene Abadie of Covington, La. (eight redfish, 56 pounds, 7 ounces, $2,250); Billy Blackwood of San Antonio, Texas (eight redfish, 55 pounds, 7 ounces, $2,000); and Dwain Bankston of Cypress, Texas (eight redfish, 49 pounds, 7 ounces, $1,800).
The FLW Redfish Open format is modeled after the highly successful Wal-Mart FLW® Walleye Tour, where randomly paired pros and co-anglers fish as a team and carry their combined catch weight to the next day of competition. The full field will compete for two days and then be cut to the top 30 pros and co-anglers for day three. After day three, the field will be cut to the top five pros and co-anglers for the fourth and final day of competition. Winners in each division will be determined by the accumulated weight of their respective catches during all four days of competition.
Coverage of the FLW Redfish Open will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program airing April 27. “FLW Outdoors” is also broadcast in Canada on WFN (World Fishing Network) and to more than 429 million households in the United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East through a distribution agreement with Matchroom Sport, making it the most widely distributed fishing program in the world. The program airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time in most markets. Check local listings for times in your area.
The top award of $100,000 in the Pro Division includes $50,000 based on a full field of 100 boats plus a $25,000 Ranger bonus and a $25,000 Evinrude or Yamaha bonus based on a full field of 100 boats if contingency guidelines are met.
Tournament pros aren’t the only ones winning big this season. With the introduction of FLW Fantasy Fishing™, FLW Outdoors® offers anyone the opportunity to enter for their chance to land the catch of a lifetime with the opportunity to win $7.3 million in cash and prizes. Players can become a virtual pro angler by signing up for Player’s Advantage, providing them with exclusive insider information that could guide them to a $100,000 victory at every Wal-Mart FLW Tour® stop and the Forrest Wood Cup. Player’s Advantage will give them an edge over the competition and increase their shot for a $1 million cash grand prize that will be awarded to the FLW Fantasy Fishing cumulative points winner. Those who visit FantasyFishing.com today can sign up for Player’s Advantage and FLW Outdoors will include a $15 Wal-Mart gift card.
FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits targeting bass, walleye, redfish, kingfish and striped bass. FLW Outdoors is also taking fishing mainstream with the largest cash awards in the history of fantasy sports, $7.3 million.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.