Day 1 April 25, 2008 By Nick Gebhardt

The Porpoise-Driven Bite

Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup anglers Kris Walter and Danny Winters have always loved dolphins. But after Day One on the water, the Tampa-area residents may have truly fallen for one particular, toothy sea mammal.

“We were on the same school all day,” Walter said. “There must have been 600 redfish rolling out there.”

It seems one of Flipper’s distant cousins also had fishing on his mind when both anglers noticed acrobatics near a bank.

“That porpoise just held the fish right there,” Winters said. “I’ve never seen anything like it”

Walter and Winters finished the day in 11th place with 12.57 pounds.

Increasing Traffic

With the weekend here, almost every Redfish Cup angler expressed fear a local guide or angler might find their beloved fishing hole. Due to the abundance of boating and fishing enthusiasts around the area, a prized spot may be taken if not claimed first.

“We’re going to open it up to get there early,” angler Ray Malone, Jr. said.

Another factor adding to more boat traffic is the fact the last day of April marks the end of snook season.

Uncles Watts

Heath Seckel has added pressure to perform at the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup event in Punta Gorda. Besides the fact he lives in Winter Haven, Florida, Seckel is the nephew of both Bryan and Greg Watts.

“They’re great uncles to have,” Seckel said. “I remember them taking me bass fishing when I was younger.”

Seckel’s mother is the popular anglers’ sister.

Fishing in tournaments for just two years, Uncle Greg already sees a rising star.

“Look out for those two right there,” Greg said motioning toward Seckel and partner Brian Ulch. “They know how to do it.”

“I didn’t pull my weight, I polled my weight today.”
Fred Lynch, 15th place, 11.49 responding to a question from Ken Chambers

“We ran 200 miles today. We actually went home.”
Bill Faulkner, 44th place, 2.11

“Because they’re the Watts brothers—they have two of everything.”
Mike Friday, 2nd place, 13.88, on why the Bryan and Greg Watts have two Power Poles

“At 11:00 a.m. we hadn’t found a fish, and we we’re just sitting there scratching our heads.”
“Cajun” Phil Broussard, 10th place, 10.62