Redfish Cup tournament circuit is shut down
By ALAN CLEMONS, The Fishing Wire

The championship was held just weeks ago down in Florida, with all the hoopla and celebration afforded to top teams and champion anglers. Now, that event has become the swan song for the Redfish Cup inshore saltwater tournament circuit. Officials with Career Sports & Entertainment of Atlanta, parent company of the Redfish Cup circuit, confirmed to The Fishing Wire on Thursday that it will not continue the tournament trail in 2010. The circuit just completed its seventh season. "You've heard correctly -- the Redfish Cup will not be moving forward with a 2010 season," Cama Poffenberger, public relations specialist for CS&E, said via email.

"Career Sports & Entertainment is looking forward to 2010 which will include the 15th season of Spanish Fly, the sixth season of Under Armour College Bass and our continued work with ESPN on the Bassmaster Classic and 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series."

The Redfish Cup site is still up, showing the championship winners, photos and the logos of major sponsors. They're not small, either: Plano, Academy, Crocs and others. But to run a major fishing circuit with events spanning the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida, it takes a lot of money along with manpower, time and effort.

The latter three things didn't appear to be a problem. Neither was media coverage, which ESPN and other outlets provided. Money, of course, is a big factor. Tournament circuits aren't held for goodwill. Tournament circuits like this one are held for profit, and if there isn't any profit or it's always break-even then at some point the bottom line has to be examined.

This marks at least the third major fishing tournament circuit to die in the last couple of years. The In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail ended a year ago, and the FLW Outdoors saltwater circuits were eliminated after the 2008 season. Other circuits have taken body blows with the current economic problems but, so far, are still standing.

The Redfish Cup appeared to have a nice following along the coast. Weigh-ins were relaxed and, in the past, combined with the popular "Dock Dog" events. Folks enjoyed seeing the dogs leaping into the water in a distance competition as well as getting freebies from sponsors. There was a bit of laid-back beach attitude with the formalities of weighing in redfish.

But what's past is past. We can't see into the crystal ball and, honestly, don't forsee another major circuit springing up anytime soon. But it was cool while it lasted.

Amberjack season closed

Mobile Press-Register outdoor writer Jeff Dute reported Thursday that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has unexpectedly closed the amberjack fishery in the Gulf of Mexico. http://blog.al.com/south-alabama-outdoors/2009/10/feds_unexpectedly_close_recrea.html

Charter captains were caught off guard by the move, and now must inform customers that yet another species for their bag won't be permitted. Amberjack offer outstanding opportunities for a great experience and, when prepared correctly, are pretty good table fare.

- Alan Clemons