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Leave it alone, already. I pay and can t seem to pull the cord when it comes time to win on tourney days. I still love to go for the simple aspect of what Sea Spot got to enjoy this past weekend. You guys can say what you want but there is nothing better than to pull up to a big group of like minded buddies who have had their azzez handed to them by Mama Bay and pull out a fat azz big fish. Steve and crew pulled the proverbial mushroom from under the cow patty Saturday , too. Thats what its all about. Add to that, that on that day, for that moment , you are the top angler in the crowd and nobody can say different. Take all that and add a little cash to boot, you cant beat the format our founding anglers have put together. Steve, John, and I came up with the Mystery fish as a way to help boost attendance and excitement for the tourneys. On top of that I wanted to support this great organization a little more. I appreciate these tourneys and NFGFC for all the club does. Casey does an awesome job with the redfish pot and the organization duties he employs. Ive met new friends and gained a ton of angling experience from these tourneys. I used to fish the same ol waters every trip and now I can catch fish consistantly(EXCEPT TOURNEY DAYS!!! ) from Mexico Beach to Steinhatchee. The tourneys have opened up business opportunities for me and the commarderie is second to none. I d have to say that my entry fee is the "funnest" money I spend all month long! Good food, good friends, good times, all for twenty bucks. FInd that somewhere else without going to jail for it!! The last time I had that much fun for that amount of money, I wound up with a divorce and a shot of penicillin!!(JK ) Like I said, Leave it alone, its a good thing!!

I am glad that TinCan is now allowing people to mail in tourney forms or I would be done with the long driving just to check in at Jerry's and be forced to fish unfamiliar waters all the time. Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying fishing the Lanark area, but it will be nice to fish in some home waters as well. The smaller entry fee is what originally attracted me to fishing in the club tourneys since I am not "local" and have to do some travelling to fish. If more people are joining and fishing tourneys, then that is great and maybe we could just pay out more spots somewhere down the road if the participation is steady at 50+ boats a tourney!!!

I think the current system works great. Twenty bucks for a day of fun is hard to beat and you get to eat and a prize too.....no cheaper fun around. I say don't change a thing!

I feel the same way that the majority of you do. I wouldn't have a problem with increased tournament fees. I haven't fished many of the NFGFC tournaments, but would be more inclined if the prizes were greater. It gives you more to work for. I fish most of the tournaments for the competitive aspect, and the money. I can't justify, given gas prices, going down and fishing a tournament just to win my money back (although that is far better than winning nothing at all). Maybe its just me, but I need more insentive. That insentive is the chance for greater earnings. I know that this is not what the tournament is about and I hate to come across as being "just in it for the money" but its the truth. If I can only fish one tournament a month, then I am going to fish the one that gives me the opportunity to win the most money.

I must say though, as I am sure that I have come across the wrong way, that the most enjoyable part of every tournament is talking with folks at the weigh in. I didn't fish Saturdays tournament, but I came down just to hang. For those of you who think that the fee is too high to enter, I suggest you do the same. It is a wonderful opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and to just have a good time. Food helps also....

BayGator wrote:I am glad that TinCan is now allowing people to mail in tourney forms or I would be done with the long driving just to check in at Jerry's and be forced to fish unfamiliar waters all the time. Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying fishing the Lanark area, but it will be nice to fish in some home waters as well. The smaller entry fee is what originally attracted me to fishing in the club tourneys since I am not "local" and have to do some travelling to fish. If more people are joining and fishing tourneys, then that is great and maybe we could just pay out more spots somewhere down the road if the participation is steady at 50+ boats a tourney!!!

We don't have to drive to Jerry's in the AM?

So if I send in the entry fee for the tourney I can go fishing at 6:30 am in Carrabelle and just be at the weigh in with my fish by 3:00 or 3:30?

Is this right?

As I was told at the weigh in on Saturday YES, maybe TinCan needs to post up something more official though.

BayGator wrote:As I was told at the weigh in on Saturday YES, maybe TinCan needs to post up something more official though.

This is definitely a plus. We can now leave at 4:30 am instead of four. TC doesnt have to wait around as long before h can join in on the fun. Soiled reasons, Soiled reasons!!

CaptKeyser, I understand exactly how you feel. I'be been fishing bass tournaments for 35 years. I've fished everything from club tournaments to tournaments with $25,000 in prize money. Years ago there weren't as many money tournaments. At that time we had huge turnouts for club tournaments. When more money tournaments were put on, a lot of the club participants opted out of club fishing for a shot at more money. However, there are a lot of folks who are comfortable fishing a club tournament with a $20 entry fee that would never fish a tournament with a $100 or higher entry fee. Our club is providing the weekend angler the opertunity to competetively fish for $20. But the greatest benefit to fishing our club tournaments is not the money one might win. I assure you there is not another tournament group out there that will share any where near the information our club members share. To add to what Bad Behavior said, there are a lot of our club members that will quickly tell you how much they've learned about fishing our area because they've participated in our tournaments.

Club fishing is not for everyone. We have members that have never fished a tournament. Some don't care to fish on a designated day, for a designated period of time. For others, like yourself, club tournaments don't offer enough payback, or possibly enough challenge.

We can't make everyone happy. But, considering we have gone from 5 boat tournaments 3 years ago, to 25+ boat tournaments this year, we must be filling a niche.

Well that is a good deal. Jerry's is an hour drive and 45 miles from me. That does make a difference.

Jerrys is a 1 to 2 hour drive for everyone fishing it. It is 40 miles from my house to JBT. I could cut expenses on tournament day and fish St. Marks each tournament. I prefer to follow the fish bite. Sometimes that bite is in Keaton Beach, other times in Carrabelle or somewhere in between.
I choose to be as competitive as possible and go to the fish, not save a buck and hope the fish come to me.
One of the things that attracted me to NFGFC was the opportunity to fish other areas
Because of NFGFC I can fish in any water from Keaton to St. Joe and feel like I can catch a winning stringer of fish. If I don't catch them on tournament day that is my fault.
But I will drive the miles to try, regardless of the check in location.
Plus, most tournaments there are free lures and other products handed out at check in.
But you gotta be there to get them. No doggie bags.

Regarding Captain Keysers' view, he is not totally right about the payouts. The NFGFC tournaments payout along with redfish, big trout and mystery fish opportunites is greater than Team Seatrout.
I have won TeamSeatrout events as well as NFGFC events. You have the opportunity for more dough in NFGFC even though the initial entry fee is lower. A 2 person team in Seatrout is $50. A 2 person team in NFGFC including big fish pots is $45. NFGFC gives you 4 chances to win. 1. placing 1st 2nd or 3rd. 2.Big Trout 3. Big Red 4. Mystery fish (no cost prize).
Current potential payback over $800.00 last tournament for 1st place and all side pots.
Plus the great prize giveaway that usually includes items like Falcon rods, rod and reel combos, polar bear coolers, Costa Del Mar sunglasses and other prizes. Key word "GIVEAWAY" no purchase required.

Several posting here have said NFGFC must be doing something right. I must agree.

Jumptrout51 wrote:Jerrys is a 1 to 2 hour drive for everyone fishing it. It is 40 miles from my house to JBT. I could cut expenses on tournament day and fish St. Marks each tournament. I prefer to follow the fish bite. Sometimes that bite is in Keaton Beach, other times in Carrabelle or somewhere in between.
I choose to be as competitive as possible and go to the fish, not save a buck and hope the fish come to me.
One of the things that attracted me to NFGFC was the opportunity to fish other areas
Because of NFGFC I can fish in any water from Keaton to St. Joe and feel like I can catch a winning stringer of fish. If I don't catch them on tournament day that is my fault.
But I will drive the miles to try, regardless of the check in location.
Plus, most tournaments there are free lures and other products handed out at check in.
But you gotta be there to get them. No doggie bags..

I hear what your saying JT51, and agree with most of it. You say you can fish from Keaton to St. Joe, but not everyone is in that same situation. I will never fish Keaton-Ecky-Aucilla area with my boat. Its not worth tearing it up for a chance to win a few hundred dollars. So that narrows my fishing down to St. Marks, Carrablle, and back as far as PSJ. I can't justify what Blake and I did last Saturday as being a smart way to spend a day fishing. Leave PSJ at 0330, drive to JBT, drive back to Lanark, drive back to JBT for weigh in, drive back to PSJ. With this new option I get to fish what I know, not fumble around on a tourney day trying somewhere new and not catch any fish. Like I said, I understand your point of view but some of us have a little further to go on tourney days.

Tidedancer wrote:Well that is a good deal. Jerry's is an hour drive and 45 miles from me. That does make a difference.

That's a good deal to everyone but the tournament director and his partner waiting at JBT's for 6:30 to leave, it's not fair

Tin Can and JT51, you both bring up excellent points. I love the idea that this tournament provides everyone with a chance to win something, whether it be a giveaway or cash. Everything that you are doing is great, and I agree that the people in the club are the best part of these tournaments. I just felt like putting in my two cents. When I attended the first club meeting I was shocked at the turn out. I had no idea that a club like this existed. It is a fantastic organization and I don't think that you should change it a bit. However, some of the out of town tournaments can be expensive given lodging, gas, etc. Example: I was going to fish the Keaton and Port St. Joe tournaments but when I did the math I realized that even if I won I would still be losing money. This didn't make sense to me so I desided against it.

However, I still like the Idea of traveling. I fish Aucilla religiously and would probably get stomped if I fished a new area. But you can't learn it if you don't fish it. I like this aspect of NFGFC and think it should stay that way. It would be great though, if you could somehow up the potential winnings to make up for the increased costs on these out of town tournaments.

Good point JT51 on the $800, never really looked at it that way. Thankyou both for responding and please understand that I understand where you are coming from. More money would be great but you have this type of turnout for a reason. Keep up the good work.

By the way, anyone fishing the BBSC?

One more thing and I'll get off of my box.

June 20-22, I'll be on Lake Eufaula for a bass club tournament. That means I'll drive 150 miles Friday morning, then fish the rest of Friday, Saturday, and most of Sunday. Then I'll drive back home Sunday evening. If I take first place I have a chance of winning in the neighborhood of $60. It ain't about the money. I'll spend 3 days doing what I love to do with some of the best friends I have in this world.

I realize you're a charter captain, and make money fishing. Most of us don't. If I look at the cost of my 2 boats, all the tackle I own, and what I spend on boat maintenance and fuel, there's no way I'll ever win that much money fishing.

I'm doing what I want to do. I love the competition at the club level. And I spend time with the people I want.

I'll shut up now.

Chalk wrote:

Tidedancer wrote:Well that is a good deal. Jerry's is an hour drive and 45 miles from me. That does make a difference.

That's a good deal to everyone but the tournament director and his partner waiting at JBT's for 6:30 to leave, it's not fair

Stop your whinin. Somebody's gotta do it, and it just adds to the challenge.