IFA Redfish Tours Move Punta Gorda Events to Steinhatchee, Florida
Fishing ban due to red tide includes redfish and trout
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – Due to a fishing ban that includes both redfish and spotted sea trout along Florida’s southwest coast, the IFA Redfish Tours have moved the event scheduled for Punta Gorda, Florida, to Steinhatchee, Florida. The dates for each event will remain unchanged.
“Due to the damage from the extended red tide in southwest Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission decided to extend the ban on snook and redfish and added sea trout to the list as well,” said IFA Tournament Director Keith Green. “Steinhatchee has quality fishing with top-notch flats and friendly locals. It will be a great substitute for our Punta Gorda event.”
The tournaments serve as the final season events for the Florida West division of the 2019 IFA Redfish Tour Presented by Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s and IFA Kayak Fishing Tour. The dates are set for August 24-25.
The IFA Redfish Tour Presented by Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s will begin its activities on Friday, August 23, with tournament registration from 5-7 p.m. at Sea Hag Marina (322 Riverside Dr., Steinhatchee, FL 32359) with the captain’s meeting following registration. Anglers will launch at safe light on Saturday, August 24, from the marina and return to the marina for the weigh-in. Check-in times will be assigned at Friday’s captain’s meeting.
Competitors in the IFA Kayak Fishing Tour will have registration from 6-7 p.m. with captains meeting to follow on Saturday, August 24, at Sea Hag Marina. Anglers will launch Sunday, August 25, from the location of their choice with the weigh-in set for 3 p.m. at Sea Hag Marina.
Continuing to draw inshore anglers from Texas to the Carolinas, both IFA Tours include five different divisions, each with a two-event regular season. With budget-friendly entry fees, both tours offer opportunities to compete close to home while keeping anglers’ expenses to a minimum.
In addition to nearly 200-percent payback, every regular-season IFA Redfish Tour event guarantees fully rigged RB190 Ranger boat prize package powered by a 90-horsepower, 4-stroke Mercury outboard valued at $26,706 for first place. Each IFA Kayak Fishing Tour event will feature a guaranteed $1,000 cash prize.
IFA events are made possible through the sponsorship and continued support of these well-respected brands: Hobie Fishing, Ranger Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Mercury Marine, Garmin, Berkley Gulp!, Berkley Gulp! Alive!, PENN Reels, Spiderwire, Navionics, Power-Pole, Valley Fashions, T-H Marine, ATLAS, G-Juice, and Powertex Group.
For more information or to become a member of the IFA, the fastest-growing inshore fishing tournament series in the United States, go online to www.ifatours.com.
