The Early Times Professional
Fishing Team Prepares For
The 2005 Redfish Tour.

Follow Early Times professional husband-and-wife team, John and Terry Hoffman, as they compete in this year's Inshore Fishing Association Redfish Tour. John and Terry have fished together since they first met in 1989, but only began redfish fishing seven years ago. This year will mark their fourth season on the IFA Redfish Tour, which began holding professional redfish tournaments in 2000. They feel confident that they've scaled the "learning curve" and are looking forward to a very competitive season.

The Redfish Tour is a seven-event series of two-day total-weight tournaments emphasizing "catch and release." The series is limited to about 125 teams and has a payout of cash and prizes valuing over $100,000. We'll post tips and updates on this site throughout the tour so you can keep track of John and Terry as they compete in events and as excitement builds toward the championship in Hopeldale, Louisiana. You can also enjoy Early Times the way Terry and John do by trying their easy and satisfying recipes.

Whether you're fishing for the table or just for sport, Sciaenops ocellatus, commonly known as redfish, is the number-one choice of inshore saltwater anglers throughout the southern U.S. From the outer banks of North Carolina to the beaches of southern Texas, the once-depleted stocks of this fine sports fish have made an explosive recovery. As expected, along with the surge in redfish stocks, there's been a surge in the number of anglers pursuing them.

Redfish are shallow-water dwellers for the first four or five years of their lives, attaining a weight of 10-12 pounds. Upon reaching maturity, they migrate into the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico where they can attain weights of 80-90 pounds. The current World's Record Redfish was caught off Avon, N.C., and weighed a whopping
94 lb, 2 oz.

Some say redfish fishing is like bass fishing with tides. And it's true, tides do make it challenging and are probably the most important influence on "reds" feeding habits. But when tournament fishing for redfish, a lot more than tides come into play. Fishermen have to adjust for everything from unique coastal weather patterns like hurricanes, to water clarity and level. As Terry and John can tell you, it can be tough staying focused and confident when nature turns against you. Their advice, "Don't give up just because you're having a bad day. We've caught some of our best fish within two minutes of having to quit and be back in time for weigh-in."

Welcome to the Redfish Tour - www.redfishtour.com
A Series Of: Two Day Events Catch & Release Two-Angler Teams Close To Home Inshore Saltwater Artificial Lures Only	2005 Schedule June 24-25 Pirates Cove Marina Grand Isle, LA July 8-9 Darien, GA August 5-6 Teakwood Marina, Galveston, TX August 12-13 Venice Marina Venice, LA September 23-24 Venice Marina Venice, LA October 7-8 Sarasota, FL October 27-28 Mobile, AL November 5-7 TBD