Snopek-Hallmark lead Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series event in Venice

VENICE, La. – Steve Snopek, of New Braunfels, Texas, and Trey Hallmark, of San Antonio, Texas, caught a two-redfish limit weighing 17 pounds, 1 ounce to lead day one of the Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series Western Division event in Venice, where teams are competing for a top award of $50,000.

“We had a limit within the first hour we started fishing,” Snopek said. “We’re fishing the Delacroix area and concentrating on backwater ponds.”

Snopek said he and Hallmark practiced for four days, catching 16 or more pounds each day the throwing Triple Play saltwater spinnerbaits they used exclusively in competition today.

“The dirty water didn’t affect us at all, because we’re not fishing in a muddy area,” Snopek said. “We’re going way, way, way back in the marsh until we find the clear water. We’ll go right back to the same place and to the exact same thing tomorrow.”

Rounding out the top five teams are Todd Dufour, of Marrero, La., and Alden Bourgeois, of Barataria, La. (two redfish, 16 pounds, 9 ounces); Anthony Randazzo, of Marrero, La., and Billy Wallbaum, of Shreveport, La. (two redfish, 16 pounds, 7 ounces); Tony Grose, of New Orleans and Sal Fontana, of Metairie, La. (two redfish, 16 pounds, 4 ounces); and Stephen Stork of Houston and Bo Johnson, of Cape Coral, Fla. (two redfish, 16 pounds).

Teams caught 195 redfish Thursday weighing 1,302 pounds, 8 ounces.

Qualifying tournaments in the $1.9 million Wal-Mart Redfish Series – the most lucrative redfish tournament trail in the world – are three-day events. The full field will continue competition Friday, and the top five teams based on the heaviest combined weights from Thursday and Friday will advance to Saturday’s final round. The winning team will be determined Saturday based on the heaviest three-day accumulated weight.

Boats will launch from Venice Marina each morning at 6 a.m. Friday’s weigh-in will be held at Venice Marina beginning at 3 p.m. The final weigh-in will be held Saturday at the Wal-Mart store located at 1501 Manhattan Blvd. in Harvey, La., beginning at 4 p.m.

The FLW Redfish Series consists of two divisions – Eastern and Western – and the $318,500 Redfish Open. Each division is comprised of four $170,000 qualifying tournaments. The top 50 teams from each division based on Land O’Lakes Team of the Year standings will advance to the no-entry-fee $300,000 Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series Championship to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 2 in Biloxi, Miss. The championship winner will take home as much as $100,000.

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.

Coverage of the FLW Redfish Series stop in Venice will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program airing Aug. 3. “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.

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, browse FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.

Awards are based on a full field of 125 boats in every tournament.