The 5th Annual Red Snapper Tourney followed close in the wake of the departing Saltwater Tourney. Director Mark Mallet had hardly finished passing out the awards when the Snapper “fleet” came into view.

Tired but happy Mallet felt good about the coming event. He announced that eight weigh stations had been set up from Mobile Bay (Dog River) to Perdido Pass. He praised his immediate staff Amy Hicks and Stan Moss, as well as the marine managers for being on top of the game leading to a successful finish on Aug. 4. 

The announcements show that about $150,000 will be for the taking with a modest registration fee. Mallet said that he followed the catch of one angler in the Saltwater Tourney who could have won a prize in three categories amounting to $13,000 but…

You guessed it — the angler had not bought a $10 ticket. “Duh” is the operative word agreed to by Mallet.

Mallet and the fishing organizations and notably the sponsors are trying to save and aggrandize the recreational fishing industry. Monies gained from the tourney will not only reward the anglers, but also will continue to build the reefs so that the little fish will be protected from predators until they grow up to defend themselves. 

Mallet was a bit skeptical about the mythological big reds coming up from Tortuga Island to tempt the anglers. Big red is the Gulf counterpart of Huckleberry Finn’s Old Lead Pencil, a huge catfish in the Mississippi River with whiskers as large as country-store marking pencils. Mallet said he would be happy if an angler caught a 41-pound red to break the state record of 40 pounds, and a 51-pounder to break the national record of 50 pounds. Fisherman’s luck could set a new state and national record. 

There’s a new Ford truck in your future as a lagniappe for breaking the 40-pound record. Of course it will be a big red, too, and a perfect coincidence to the Tortuga big red. 

An angler may buy a $10 dollar ticket or buy 34 days of tickets for $250, and not be worried about paying when he could be fishing. Putting a small boat (under 35 feet) into the tourney will cost $200. Putting a big boat (above 35 feet) will cost $500. 

Prizes for the small boats (based on 50 participating) will pay $5,000 for first prize. First prize for the big boat (based on 150 participating) will pay $25,000. Up to 20 place winners will receive prizes no less than $1,000. in the big boat category and $500 in the small boat category. 

“Fishin’ Control” is at Zeke’s Landing and the staff dutifully records the daily weights. The tourney is single species,k and the recording will be less complex than when Saltwater recognized 11 species in the tourney. Finding experienced weighers and helpers has been a chore, so if you have experience and inclination in this area, you may wish to keep up with future tourneys and offer your services. Anglers and sponsors alike are contributing to maintaining sport fishing and the Gulf as the Fishing Capital of the World. 

Further rules and details (time and place) will be given when buying a ticket.