Tournament Report – Redfish Shootout Event #2
Bringing to the scales two red drum that equaled out to 15.91 lbs., team “Chasin’ Gingers” earned the top spot on the leaderboard at the Redfish Shootout Series Event #2. Without too much pre-fishing, the duo of Corey Durako and Richard Gilligan still claimed not only the top prize, but the big fish title with an 8 lb. red drum.
Checking out some small schools early in the week, the team returned to these same spots first thing on tournament morning. Quickly hooking up just 30 minutes after lines were in the water, Durako landed his first fish of the day, a 7.91 lb. red that fell for a Z-Man paddletail. Shortly after, a close boat wake spooked the fish, and the men pulled up the Power-Pole and headed out looking for a new school and a second quality fish.
Both guys hooked a few more reds, but the team’s single big fish came around 9:30 for Gilligan. Using a MirrOlure Top Dog, he hooked an 8 lb. red drum.
Team Chasin Gingers earned top spot at the Redfish Shootout Series Event #2, with Corey Durako and Richard Gilligan bringing two red drum to the scales that weighed 15.91 lbs.
“That fish was a stud,” said Durako. “We knew there were some 6-7 lb. fish in our schools, but we didn’t think there would be an 8-pounder in there. He was a mutant.”
After they landed the second fish, the pair felt good about what they had. “I knew we had over 15 lbs., and we felt like it was pretty much a done deal,” said Durako. “So we headed out to do some flounder fishing.”
Waiting around in the heat took a toll on one of the reds, so the team went out into the waterway to get some cooler water to refresh the fish (and themselves as well). “Once the fish hit the cooler water, it perked right back up with new life. We just dropped the Power-Pole, put our feet in the water, and tried to stay cool ourselves while we waited for weigh-in.”
Their patience paid off, and the pair took the win with the total weight of 15.91 lbs. The second place team of Clark/McMullan clinched their spot with an aggregate of 13.87 lbs., and third place went to Pederson/Henley with 7.47 lbs.
“It was definitely a day for the record books,” says Durako. “That fish was a real Cape Fear beast.”
For more information on the Redfish Shootout Series, visit www.redfishshootoutseries.com.
