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Are Anglers Up To The Challenge?

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By FRANK SARGEANT

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 19, 2008

It just might be the test that determines who is the best flats angler on Tampa Bay.

The 24th annual Photo All-Release Challenge, hosted by the Coastal Conservation Association and West Marine on Sept. 26-27, requires all anglers to fish with artificial lures provided by the tournament. There's no sardine slinging, no shrimp shucking and no pinfish pitching to make things easy.

The tournament is based out of the Tampa Bay Watch facility in Tierra Verde, in the middle of what is probably the bay's best inshore fishing - so there won't necessarily be long, rough boat rides. In fact, there is so much protected water around the Fort DeSoto area that it would be no surprise for the winning angler to fish out of a kayak.

"This will be the third year we've had the tournament out of Bay Watch, and the first two years almost all the winning fish were caught pretty close to that area," tournament organizer Richard Seward said.

The All-Release was one of the first in the nation to use a "photo finish" system in which no fish are brought to the weigh-ins. Instead, the conservation-minded group provides anglers with cameras and measuring boards. Fish of legal size are placed on the board and photographed, providing proof of the size of the catch. At the end of the fishing day, the photos are used to determine the winners through the greatest total of inches caught; that is, three 15-inch trout equal 45 points.

There are awards for the best catches of trout, snook and redfish, and for an overall winner for the best total "grand slam" catch - at least one fish in all three species. The top winners get trophies and high-end rod-and-reels as prizes. The tournament, however, is mostly about raising money for the CCA, which probably has done more for inshore saltwater anglers than all other agencies in Florida's history.

The tournament tackle box and goody bag are worth close to the $100 entry fee, Seward said, so fishing the event is a good deal for anglers.

"We've got lures donated by Bass Assassin, Cotee, DOA, Love's Lures, MirrOlure, Tsunami, 12-Fathom and Woody's Rattlers, plus popping corks from Cajun Thunder," Seward said. "It's the best selection we've ever had, so pretty much any way an angler likes to fish, he'll be able to choose a lure to fit that style."

Seward said prospects look good for heavy catches if the weather cooperates.

"The water is cooling down and the snook are already coming back inside the bay from the passes and beaches, so there should be some big ones caught around the river mouths and in the potholes," he said.

The mouth of the Manatee and Little Manatee are likely spots, as are the flats between them. The lower Alafia often produces some large fish in the tournament, as does the Intracoastal Waterway between Clearwater and Pass-a-Grille. Bishop Harbor and Cockroach Bay are also likely spots. Plastic DOA shrimp are always a good bet for these fish, as are Tsunami-type swimbaits.

Seward noted that the fall run of spawner reds is also beginning.

"We have been getting a lot of big reds around Weedon Island, and most of these fish are over the legal slot," he said. "That's bad for someone who wants to keep a fish, but good for the tournament because you can enter any fish that's over the minimum legal size."

Jerkbaits are among the best offerings for reds on the flats, but they also attack topwaters. The South Shore flats are likely, as are the mangrove shorelines near Double Branch Creek and Rocky Creek in Old Tampa Bay.

When it comes to trout, the deep grass flats off Pinellas Point are a likely place to begin searching. Trout hang around baitfish schools here in 2 to 4 feet of water throughout the warmer months, and the bite gets best from late September into early November. Other strong areas include the Bulkhead off Anna Maria, and the deep grass south of the Port Manatee spoil island. Topwaters, jigs and jerkbaits are good choices.

TOURNAMENT FACTS

WHAT: 24th annual Photo All-Release Challenge

WHEN: Sept. 26 (registration and captain's party) and Sept. 27 (fishing)

WHERE: Based out of Tampa Bay Watch, 3000 Pinellas Bayway, Tierra Verde
ENTRY FEE: $100

MORE INFORMATION: (813) 238-2220

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