IFA Kayak Tour Kicks Off 2012 Season in Punta Gorda Feb. 25-26
OutdoorHub 02.20.12
Anglers from across Florida and surrounding regions will converge on Punta Gorda, Fla., February 25-26 for the first Florida West Coast Division regular-season event of 2012 for both the IFA Redfish Tour presented by Cabela’s and the IFA Kayak Fishing Tour Presented by Hobie Fishing. Saturday’s IFA Redfish Tour event, which will operate out of Laishley Park Marina, (120 Laishley Court, Punta Gorda, FL. 33950) and Sunday’s IFA Kayak Fishing Tour are the first of two regular-season tournaments for the Florida West Coast Division, one of six divisions of IFA Tour events running from the Carolinas to Texas.
Tournament activities begin Friday, February 24, with the IFA Redfish Tour registration from 5-7 p.m. at Hooters of Port Charlotte (1360 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, FL 33948) with the Captain’s meeting to follow. Tournament anglers will launch from Laishley Park Marina at safe light on Saturday for the one-day event. Check-in times will be assigned at the Captain’s meeting.
Participants in the IFA Kayak Fishing Tour Presented by Hobie Fishing will have a registration meeting 6-7 p.m., Saturday, February 25 at Laishley Park Marina with the Captain’s meeting to follow. Sunday’s weigh-in will be at Hooters of Port Charlotte.
Each of the Cabela’s IFA Redfish Tour 12 regular-season events will commence on Saturday with the IFA Kayak Fishing Tour Presented by Hobie Fishing contested the following day (Sundays). The IFA Kayak Fishing Tour Presented by Hobie will feature 12 regular-season, catch-photograph-release events across six different division (mirroring the IFA Redfish Tour format, location and scheduling) as well as extremely lucrative payouts and expanded fishing opportunities for non-motorized fishing crafts.
The redfish/trout tournament will pay twenty places plus Big Redfish, Big Trout and Junior Angler Awards with a total payout of approximately $9,500 (based on a 100 boat field). The winner will take home a guaranteed Hobie Mirage Pro-Angler valued at $2549, 2nd place is a guaranteed $1,000 Hobie Cash and 3rd place is a guaranteed $500 Hobie Cash. Hobie will be paying $200 to the highest angler fishing out of a Hobie kayak at each IFA Qualifying event, $400 at the Regional events and $1,000 at the Championship.
