The Elite Redfish Series is taking on a different setting for its Port Arthur weigh-ins.
After many stops at Pleasure Island, the series will crown its next Port Arthur winner at the Bob Bowers Civic Center at the conclusion of the series’ “Border Wars” tournament. This four-day event will also include a kayak tournament.
Weigh-ins will be at 3 p.m. each day June 29-July 2 at the civic center. The Elite Redfish boaters will compete June 29 and 30, with the top five anglers moving on to the July 1 final round. The kayakers will compete July 1 and 2 with the releasing of the fleet at 5 a.m. each morning from the Civic Center parking lot.
Admission is free to the public, and attendees are invited to bring lawn chairs and umbrellas for shade, as well as cameras of someone holding a redfish as the fish swim in cool, aerated release tanks.
Tournament host Pat Malone will interview each fishing professional for stories on their day on the water for a program to air later on Discovery Network’s Destination America cable channel.
The boat launch location for the Elite Redfish anglers has also changed from past events in Port Arthur. Ancelet’s Marina, 7069 Rainbow Lane, will host pro launching at 6 a.m. June 29-July 1.
On July 1 at 1 p.m., the Nederland High bass fishing team will weigh their fish and receive awards on the big stage. They, too, will be interviewed and tell their stories.
Meaux’s Gumbo food truck will be onsite with seafood nachos, crawfish etouffee, red beans and rice, and snow cones.
Visitors to the tournament activities can fish Sabine Lake and Sea Rim State Park. Kayak renting is available at Sea Rim, and birders can visit Sabine Woods.
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Information on tournament: http://theredfishseres.com/wp/event-2
Port Arthur attractions: www.VisitPortArthurTX.com