by Kimberly Shumack
The Alabama Gulf Coast recreational fishing industry is offering the first Saltwater Series World Championship, from now until May 26, and thousands of fishermen are angling for their part of the $150,000 purse.
"We are really pleased with the turnout and ex citement surrounding the Saltwater Series World Championship," tournament director Tony Kennon said. "In response to the ever-changing red snapper regulations, we decided to move our fall fishing rodeo to the spring, and this tournament is the end result."
Offshore anglers are competing in the king mackerel, tuna, Wahoo, grouper, vermillion snapper, amberjack, triggerfish and cobia categories while speckled trout, redfish and sheepshead are the inshore categories.
Anglers may weigh in their fish at the following locations: Zeke's Landing Marina, Dauphin Island Marina, Dog River Marina, Fisherman's Discount, Gulf Shores Yacht Club and Marina, Orange Beach Marina, Outcast Marina, SanRoc Cay, Reel Surprise Charters and Scott's Landing.
To compete in this tournament, participants purchase a $10 daily ticket or a $250 full tournament ticket online at www.orangebeachsnapper.com. Tickets are also available at the following locations: Dauphin Island Marina, Dog River Marina, Fisherman's Discount, Gulf Shores Yacht Club and Marina, J & M Tackle, Orange Beach Marina, Outcast Marina, Reel Surprise Charters, Sam's Stop & Shop, Scott's Landing, Sportsman Marina, Top Gun Tackle, Zeke's Landing Marina, Mo Fish'n Bait & Tackle and Bluewater Ships Store.
"This tournament is an excellent opportunity for anglers to discover our extensive reef system," Kennon said. "Thanks to this tournament and the Red Snapper World Championship, proceeds generated over the years have given Alabama the world's largest artificial reef program. With three-to-one matching funds, these tournaments have raised almost $1 million."
Alabama has about 1,200 square miles of Gulf waters occupied by this artificial reef program.
Click here for Tournament Photos.
Click here for a map of the ticket outlets.
Click here to visit the Orange Beach Saltwater Series Tournament web site.
