Fishing event rescheduled
PANAMA CITY BEACH - The Grand Lagoon National saltwater fishing tournament has been rescheduled for Oct. 3-5, tournament chairman Bill Spann announced Monday.
The tournament originally was scheduled for last week, but the impending, and at the time unknown effects of Tropical Storm Fay delayed the event until Labor Day weekend. Subsequent talks between the tournament committee and fishermen the past few days led to Monday's decision.
"In polling the anglers, a lot of them have family plans and that (Labor Day) is an important weekend for a lot of folks," Spann said. "We looked across the board for dates in September and there simply was nothing open so we settled on the first week in October."
Spann noted the Labor Day slot conflicted with an annual fishing tournament in Orange Beach, Ala., which would have attracted most if not all of the contestants in the Grand Lagoon's Big Game Division. The October dates allow for competition in all eight tournament divisions.
"We want to earn the confidence of our anglers, our sponsors, our supporters and friends," Spann said "We are, therefore, making changes to throw open the doors of this year's tournament as a way of saying ‘thank you.'"
Spann said the kickoff party will be Oct. 3, with the possibility of weigh-ins in the Big Game Division on the same night.
Oct. 4 and 5 will feature weigh-ins in all divisions at the towers at Capt. Anderson's, Pirates Cove, Treasure Island and Lighthouse marinas.
Spann hopes to have many of the vendors return in October. He also said there's a chance Andy Griggs, originally scheduled to perform last Saturday, could return in October if he doesn't have a scheduling conflict.
Entry fees in the eight tournament divisions have been reduced. The list of eligible tournament fish also will be revised based on the seasonal change in October.
Spann said there will be a noticeable drop in some species at that time, including dolphin and Spanish mackerel, while the populations for trout and cobia will be plentiful.
He said he will determine what changes will be made to the list of eligible fish in the near future.
The new entry fees follow, with original fee in parentheses:
- Big Game - $2,500 for two crew and four anglers ($5,750)
- Offshore - $1,000 for two crew and four anglers ($1,150 for two anglers)
- Inshore - $500 for four anglers ($900 for two anglers)
- Flats - $250 for two anglers ($600 for two anglers)
- Kayak-Canoe - $100 per angler ($125)
- Dive - $100 per diver ($125)
- Party Boat - $25-$100 per angler/all days ($75-$100 per angler per day)
- Charter Boat - $250 per boat, $100 per angler per day ($500 per boat, $150-$200 per angler per day)