The first IFA Redfish Tour Kayak Division is finished for 2010, and while the numbers were a bit down from what they anticpated three anglers still walked away with new Hobie Kayaks.
The prefish was a bit rough with the cold temps and rain, but the tournament was even tougher. The day started out overcast and winds 20 mph gust to 30 and was just not a good day to be on the water. It made for a couple hard days of fishing and in fact sevaral of the Ranger Tour Teams ended up being skunked; there were quit a few skunks over the weekend. Was talking to the winning team and they told me that they only landed three fish for the full day of fishing.I hate to admit that I joined the ranks of the skunked, but I had a lot of good company. Suber and Chappy both joined the ranks of the fishless.
Good thing there is always next month and the chance to find a few more fish.
Did manage to catch a few Bass just not at the right time and I stayed another day and went fising wth some friends, sure wish we had gotten into the fished yesterday like we did today.
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Eagles may soar, but weasels never get sucked into jet air intakes
sorry i could make it but i hope to see you here in chucktown. If you need a place to stay give me a call. PS. Did you here anything about your 2010 model yet?
The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad. </font id=“size2”> Hobie Adventure Kayak </font id=“size2”>SC Chapter- Heroes on the Water http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org </font id=“size2”>
They added the rule that any fish over 27 will be counted as 27. This is a new animal for them and they are learning a bit as they go. When they decided to allow live bait it was to increase participation in the tournament. When they started hearing about people camping out and throwing chunks of mullet or crab, they wanted to level the playing field. Saturday night at the Captains meeting they took an informal vote of allowing bait or no bait and only three or four people wanted to see live bait, the rest were against it.
The three people that got slams all used live bait, of the top 6 I believe only one person used artificial exclusively. I considered stopping at the wally world and buying some mullet, but decided that I was going to sink or swim with artificial and we know how that turned out.
The top three:
1.Roger Bump, local guide and has won the JAX classic the last two year, we were fishing together for a bit till he took off and loaded his yak and went to a honey hole.
2.Mike Kogan
3.Dan Arvin. (Hobie Team)
Hobie Pro Angler
Hobie Revo
Hobie Outback
Eagles may soar, but weasels never get sucked into jet air intakes
Allowing bait will increase the amount of people they can get to fish the tourney… we all know at this level it ain’t about the fishin… Hell if you have to pass a lie detector test if you win the focus on fishin is looonngg gone
Ken, they took an informal poll at the captains meeting and less than 5 people said they wanted to be able to use live bait. I was told and not sure what the source of information is, but that there were about 30 guys who did not fish since they allowed bait in the Tournament. Some people see the Redfish tour as a step above the local events and a chance to fish against fellow anglers at a higher level in order to earn points and to be able to fish a championship. A lot of these guys are trying to get sponsorships and to join Pro Staffs. If bait is allowed they see it taking away from the ability to gain support from most of the companies out there. Not saying this is my view, but it was a topic in JAX and has been brought up on the Forums.
Still need to talk to you one day about that Ride.
Hobie Pro Angler
Hobie Revo
Hobie Outback
Eagles may soar, but weasels never get sucked into jet air intakes
Thanks for the info James. From what I have seen and heard it seemed to be more of a marketing show than really about fishing. I agree wiht the no bait policy. You are right it is a higher level and it’s sad to see so many people dropping out because if it. Thats where I made my assumption, I feel if the IFA was really about fishin at a higher level they would keep the bait soakers out and let them stick to “lower” level tourneys. I have no real experience wiht tournaments so it’s all just an “outsiders” view of it. BTW… I sent you a PM
sooo that casting deck up front… how is it to stand on it and fish 
