Redfish Cup 101

Why the Redfish Cup?

>>	Almost a million dollars in payouts over the course of the 2008 season — the largest in the history of competitive saltwater fishing;

>>	A television broadcast relationship with ESPN2, featuring new timeslots to further maximize audience size and scope.

>>	Each event features a variety of activities for the entire family, drawing an estimated 150,000 attendees over the course of the season.

>>	Extensive Internet coverage, including stories, notes, quotes, photographs and live streaming video on both redfishcup.com and ESPNOutdoors.com.

>> Net Gains presented by ARC Dehooker - Each Thursday prior to a tournament stop, anglers will take time off the water to connect kids with conservation.

Redfish Nation, a quaterly print publication with over 2,500 Redfish Nation members, which supports the tournament by providing in-depth analyses, behind-the-scenes glimpses into the lives of Cup teams, and tips and tricks from the pros.

What is the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup?

The Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup is the nation’s premier saltwater fishing championship, stopping at four venues, one championship and one invitational tournament across the Southeast. Each tournament lasts three days.

Are a redfish and a red drum the same fish?

They most certainly are. The scientific name for a redfish (or red drum) is Sciaenops ocellatus.

How much is on the line during the Redfish Cup?

Besides a hefty redfish? This year, the Redfish Cup offers anglers over $1 million in total prize money.

Can anglers use live bait?

No. Anglers can only use artificial lures in the Redfish Cup.

So what do redfish eat?

Young red drum feed on small crabs, shrimp, and marine worms. As they grow older, they feed on larger crabs, shrimp, small fish, and sometimes their cousins, the Atlantic croaker.

How heavy can redfish grow?

One of the biggest redfish ever caught weighed in at a staggering 94 pounds, 2 ounces. ⁽²⁾

Are other fish ever caught in a Redfish Cup tournament?

Absolutely. Sometimes, speckled trout and other species of fish turn up in a net, only to be returned to the water.

What is a livewell?

A livewell is an aerated tank on a boat so anglers can keep redfish alive until weigh-in.

What are the more popular fishing lures?

Most anglers carry a gold spoon, a topwater plug and some type of jig with a trailer.

Is the Redfish Cup on TV?

It sure is. So tune into ESPN2 starting in July on Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. ET to watch your favorite team in its quest for the Cup.

What is sight fishing?

Sight fishing takes place when an angler can see his targeted redfish through the water and then must decide how to best present the bait so the fish will bite.

What is "tailing?"

Tailing occurs when redfish hunt for food in waters so shallow their tails actually break the surface of the water.

Do tides affect the fishing?

Many anglers think redfish bite on either an incoming or outgoing tide. But no one really has all the answers!

Is the Redfish Cup a catch-and-release tournament?

Yes, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. All efforts are made to responsibly release redfish back to their natural habitat.

Can redfish have more than one spot on their tail?

It is not unusual for redfish to feature multiple spots.

Who fishes in the Redfish Cup?

Forty-nine of the world’s best, two-person teams compete on this premier circuit. Fathers and sons, brothers, lady anglers and lifelong friends hope to catch the two heaviest redfish within the slot limit each day.

What is "the slot"?

The slot limit is the length of a redfish (for example, between 26 and 34 inches in Florida) where an angler may legally take a fish. Slot limits differ depending on the individual state.

How many fish can each team take?

One fish per each angler.

Are there penalties?

Yes. Penalties points are assessed for safety violations, regulation infractions, late arrivals, and expired fish.

How is the game played?

During Day One and Day Two, each team competes on the water for up to eight hours, searching for the two heaviest redfish.

The five teams who catch the heaviest total redfish (two fish on Day One and two fish on Day Two) earn the chance fish on the tournament’s final day--Day Three.

The team who wins outright on Day Three wins the tournament, right?

Yes.

Because Day One and Day Two weights are zeroed before Day Three, the top five teams start the morning even. After Day Three’s action, the team with the heaviest pair of redfish wins the tournament.

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