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00:00This week on Elite Fishing Series TV, the spring fling continues when the anglers and the tourer make the move to Louisiana.
00:09It's time for the Lafitte Championship, presented by Visit Jefferson Parish.
00:15Tour stop number two in the Frogtogs Elite Solo Tour season.
00:30Hey folks, I'm Pat Malone, host and tournament director of the Elite Fishing Series.
00:59My travels have taken me to a lot of great coastal communities, each one special in their own way.
01:05And this week's stop in Lafitte, Louisiana, located in the Jefferson Parish, a stone's throw from New Orleans, is no exception.
01:14Did you know Louisiana produces almost one-third of all the seafood sold in the United States?
01:20And some of that comes from right here in the Jefferson Parish.
01:23But good food is a given any time you get the chance to visit this exciting destination.
01:28Add to that once-in-a-lifetime excursions, where you can take a step back in time.
01:35And finally, some of the best saltwater fishing in the country is to be found right here in the Jefferson Parish.
01:41That's a beautiful Lafitte redfish right there.
01:45That's a nice one right there.
01:47Featured this week by the pros of the Elite Fishing Series at the Lafitte Championship.
01:51Prior to hitting the water for a full day of competition, we caught up with Strike King Pro Mike Fournette
01:58to get his keys to what it would take to make the cut and fish in the Final Four on Championship Sunday.
02:04Well, what I really have to hope for is that the water doesn't come up too high like it was all week,
02:10because then it just spreads the fish out.
02:11I've got to be able to see the fish where I'm fishing or I'm kind of in trouble because they're spread out.
02:16It's all broken up marsh and there's really nothing that's holding them.
02:19I caught a lot of fish yesterday, but I had to work hard at it.
02:21So I've got to repeat it today.
02:23And what are you going to throw to them, Mike?
02:24What I had the best success at yesterday was just a quarter-ounce jig head with a flood middle Strike King soft plastic on it.
02:33I tried spinnerbaits.
02:34They would just come up and nip the spinnerbaits.
02:36I tried it underneath the popping cork thing.
02:38It was just too shallow for popping corks.
02:40So I'm just going with a light jig head, soft plastic, put it in front of their face and hope for the bite.
02:45And as we hit the road to southeast Louisiana for tour stop number two,
02:54it's clear that the wet and windy weather of tour stop number one has followed us to the bayou state.
03:00So it's important to be prepared and have a plan.
03:04The boat in the water.
03:06Hopefully we can find some fish.
03:08It's going about, I don't know, I'd say 25.
03:12The gusts are pretty good.
03:13Not looking like it's the ideal conditions to go find some fish, but we're going to do what we can do.
03:19And a backup plan.
03:21If not, I bet we can tie one on tonight.
03:24It's going to be raining tomorrow.
03:26But regardless of the weather, once again, some of the best anglers in the country have traveled here to compete for the top prize.
03:33A $10,000 check and title of the Elite Solo Tour Champion.
03:38Boomtown Casino and Hotel hosted the anglers and tour this week and was the official weigh-in location for days one and two.
03:48The field would launch at Lafitte Marina for all three days of competition, offering the chance to run less and fish more, with great fishing just moments from the marina.
03:59After a full day of fishing, the field returned to Boomtown for the weigh-in.
04:06It's important to get off to a good start, as only the top four two-day total weights will move on to day three, Championship Sunday.
04:15Coming up next, Mr. Mark Robinson from Victoria, three fish, three alive, 23-57.
04:22Yeah, I casted at one fish all of practice.
04:26That's all I saw.
04:26We had terrible weather.
04:28Weather's nice.
04:28Sun's out.
04:29You know, everything lined up.
04:31I saw some fish on the way to my spot, and I just happened to stop, and then it was just fish after fish.
04:35I don't know, until I got tired of catching them.
04:3715-81 at 17-41.
04:40The fish bit good.
04:4120-33.
04:4222-48.
04:44And often on day one.
04:4523-25.
04:47And I had all three of my fish by 15-20 minutes of stopping at my first stop.
04:52All right, it's day two, the fishing series.
04:56As the field readied their rigs and prepared for day two, everyone shared the same thought.
05:02Just make it better cast, the bigger fish.
05:04Go big.
05:05I'm a pound and a half out of the top four, so we're going to swing for the fish today.
05:10Big fish, big fish, big fish.
05:11Or go home.
05:12Day two's underway.
05:13Sitting in second place.
05:15Let's hope we can catch them again.
05:17Mark's having a great start to day two, but on the bayou, that can change in a moment.
05:22I keep finding new areas, and everybody's loaded with fish.
05:27Nine o'clock in the morning.
05:29We're about to start getting on some upgrading.
05:31So far, so good.
05:32But during this move to his upgrade spot, Mark's luck almost ran out.
05:38Run right here, and my trail takes me right over top of all those posts right there.
05:45Where I usually run, tide's low today, like lower than normal.
05:49And, yeah, I've been driving overall every time I've come here.
05:53Right over it.
05:54Wow.
05:55Culling systems like these.
05:58Never hook them through the bottom lip.
06:01Always hook from the top.
06:03That will let the fish swim freely without something pulling up on their mouth.
06:07And I promise you, you do that, and you will not lose a fish.
06:12Welcome back to the Elite Fishing Series and the Lafitte Championship, presented by Visit Jefferson Parish.
06:192.13, so we've got to be at the dock by three.
06:23I think I've caught enough fish today.
06:25I'm going to go ahead and just make my way back to the dock, and we'll see how we did.
06:33Starting off day two's weigh-in is Texas Ranger Whiskey Pro, Will Granberry, 22-17.
06:40They always say you can lose a tournament on day one, but you can never win one.
06:43That's a perfect example, you know, and you just live and learn, and you just keep going.
06:47And sometimes you have to swing for the fences, and yesterday I was a little zealous and swung for the fence,
06:51and your hero are zero, and I zeroed, and it is what it is.
06:5519.35, 23.48, 22.72, possibly the fishing capital of Louisiana.
07:05Lafitte did not disappoint over two days of qualifying, with several 20-pound-plus bags of live redfish.
07:12That's a great stringer, 24-23, put your hands together.
07:19I was crying big time.
07:20I said, this tournament's going to be a horrible tournament for everybody,
07:23and it wound up being one of the better tournaments for all the anglers as far as the weather,
07:27and the fish just turned on for everybody.
07:29I mean, it was such a competitive tournament, the way that the fish did.
07:32Can't ask for anything better.
07:35Frog-togs earlier in the week?
07:36Yep.
07:37And I wish I'd have had some suntan lotion the last couple days.
07:41Mike just missed making the final four by 15 one-hundredths of a pound,
07:45but what a great tournament he had.
07:47Making it through to fish Day 3, Championship Sunday, is Max Martin, Mark Robison, Tony Vietor, and Gary Marino.
08:01Early on Day 3, the final four from the two days of qualifying meet up at Boontown Casino,
08:08as Championship Sunday begins with a 40-minute drive to the Lafitte Marina, located in South Jefferson Parish.
08:17All right, we're in Lafitte, Louisiana.
08:19It's Day 3.
08:20The top four are fishing against each other today, so let's hopefully we can fly some fish out here.
08:27Look forward to big waits today.
08:30We have ideal conditions.
08:32It's going to take at least 24 pounds, if not better, to win this event.
08:45And so, you know, I've been fortunate enough to be on good fish for the past two days.
08:50The first day I had the biggest bag so far of the tournament.
08:54Yesterday I just did, I got enough to know that I was going to be in the top four,
09:00and I just kind of hung out all day on the water.
09:03I didn't really do much past 10 o'clock.
09:06And I'm going to go back.
09:07I didn't beat up my fish.
09:08I'm going to go back to where I got my big bag on Friday here
09:12and see if I can't put in 24-plus pounds on the boat again.
09:16I think 24 to 25 pounds is going to win it today, and I think I got those fish.
09:20I just got to go make sure we can get to them.
09:22The water's low.
09:24Give it some time getting there.
09:30Everybody's going to be out fishing.
09:33It's a beautiful Sunday.
09:35Hopefully there's not too many, you know, recreational boaters out,
09:37but if there is, there is, and we'll go do something else.
09:39Should be able to do pretty good today.
09:41While Max is considered the favorite,
09:44the previous waits from days one and two are zeroed.
09:47The final round is a one-day shootout with a $10,000 check
09:52and title of Elite Fishing Series Champion waiting for the winner.
09:56A beautiful sunrise breaks over the bayou,
10:01signaling that Championship Sunday is about to start under perfect conditions.
10:07The final four have made it to the Lafitte Marina,
10:11launched their boats,
10:12and are heading out for the final round of the Lafitte Championship
10:16in the Jefferson Parish.
10:18As the anglers race to their first spots of the final day,
10:23an exciting conclusion to this week-long event begins
10:26when we return after these short messages.
10:40Got one.
10:41Got to start somewhere.
10:59I hate you all.
11:02It's not bad.
11:02It's not bad.
11:05It's not good.
11:05Welcome back to the Elite Fishing Series
11:09and Championship Sunday in the Jefferson Parish.
11:13Elite Fishing Series television is brought to you by
11:16Tidewater Boats,
11:18the official boat of the Elite Fishing Series.
11:21Yamaha Outboards,
11:22the official outboard motor of the Elite Fishing Series.
11:25Frog Togs,
11:26Total Outdoor Performance Gear,
11:28McLean Trailers,
11:29Built for the Long Hauls,
11:31Waterloo Rods,
11:32Might as well fish the best,
11:34Check-and-Stick Measuring Systems,
11:36Bregnell Scales,
11:38Speedy Stop Fuel and Bolt,
11:41the Silver Slipper Casino and Hotel,
11:43and our community partners.
11:50As the leader prepares to start his day three,
11:54his earlier confidence seems validated
11:59by landing his first cast in the perfect spot.
12:04Max hooks up on a good fish.
12:18This is a real good fish.
12:19If this is one of those monster Lafitte Slotfish,
12:30what a way to start the day.
12:34But that's not to be.
12:40This is an oversized fish,
12:42and we'll have to go back.
12:45This is a good fish.
12:53Oh, yes!
13:01Spit me out the minute I put him in the net.
13:05Ain't gonna be long.
13:09Yep.
13:13Almost 30 inches.
13:16That's a beautiful Lafitte Redfish right there.
13:20There he is.
13:21There he is.
13:22Johnny.
13:27He sure caused a lot of ruckus for being no bigger than he is.
13:28It's a start to the morning.
13:30You know, one thing about it.
13:31If you're gonna win, you gotta catch three before you catch three big'uns.
13:35At least we got one.
13:367.20, so that's...
13:37He'll probably take a boat ride for most of the day.
13:38So that's a nice one.
13:39I thought he was like a six pounder.
13:40Yeah, we'll just catch him just to put one in the boat.
13:43There's several more right here.
13:44Hitting one.
13:45No part of it.
13:46He's a good one.
13:47Oh, yeah.
13:48We're gonna get one.
13:49It's a start to the morning.
13:50You know, one thing about it.
13:51If you're gonna win, you gotta catch three before you catch three big'uns.
13:52At least we got one.
13:557.20, so that's...
13:56He'll probably take a boat ride for most of the day.
14:00So that's a nice one.
14:01I thought he was like a six pounder.
14:03I was catching just to put one on the boat.
14:06There's several more right here.
14:08Hitting one, no part of it.
14:38Let's just see what we got.
14:4824.
14:54I know this fish will keep.
14:56I'm not even gonna measure him.
14:59Because there's so many fish out over there right now.
15:08Not the biggest foot.
15:17At least it's a start.
15:24Stay tuned.
15:25We'll be back with more from the Lafitte Championship in the Jefferson Parish.
15:30But if the end of the tail is missing, the tip of the tail, or the longest part of the tail is missing,
15:36then you can't keep that fish.
15:39Can't bring him in the way, man.
15:40So we turned him loose, and now we're gonna go catch some more.
15:43Closed captioning provided by McLean Trailers, the official trailer of the Elite Fishing Series.
15:49Welcome back to the Frog Cogs Elite Solo Tour's Lafitte Championship, taking place in Louisiana's Jefferson Parish.
16:01Mark secures fish number three.
16:03Time now to upgrade and build his weight.
16:05A baby.
16:06A baby.
16:07I gotta get rid of that sucker.
16:08Five-fives, not gonna cut it.
16:09Not with these boys.
16:10I see a little fray in my line.
16:11I rub it on the boat.
16:12Not taking time to check your gear, especially your line, can cost you.
16:13Catch a nine-pounder, I don't want to break all.
16:14And Mark's not gonna make that mistake again.
16:18Broke off the big one yesterday.
16:19Probably a nine-pounder.
16:20While I was fighting that fish.
16:21The angle of the sun on the line.
16:22It let me see.
16:23That's a bad spot.
16:24A spray.
16:25Probably from fighting the fish yesterday.
16:26And the fish getting under the boat or something like that.
16:27So, we're gonna.
16:28We're gonna.
16:29Take it.
16:30Pull it through here.
16:31Take it.
16:32Pull it through here.
16:33And the fish getting under the boat or something like that.
16:36And cut this section in line out.
16:37And we'll just go from there.
16:38Retie real quick.
16:39Hopefully that'll keep us.
16:40All right.
16:41You know, if you want to get the water out.
16:42There's a just, you know, one hundredlan.
16:43Wow, and the fish.
16:44There's a good one here.
16:45I'm just gonna cut that because you're going to go down.
16:46That's a really fine.
16:47There's a lot of holes in it.
16:48I'm just gonna cut that down.
16:49I'm just gonna cut that off.
16:50And so I'm just gonna cut this off.
16:51I'm just gonna cut it down.
16:52I'm gonna cut this off.
16:53I'm gonna cut it down.
16:54So I'm gonna cut it into the water.
16:55So I'm gonna cut it.
16:57I'm just gonna cut it.
16:58And I'm gonna cut it down.
17:00cut this section of line out, and we'll just go from there, retie real quick.
17:05Hopefully that'll keep us from losing the tournament-winning fish later on today.
17:10Mark Robinson and Tony Vietor are ready for the final push of the afternoon.
17:18Max Martin boats a beautiful fish, but just 24 inches long. He'll need to find the bigger fish
17:25if he wants to win this event, and he's quickly back to hunting them.
17:37Gary Marino is fighting a solid five-pounder,
17:41and if he can land this fish, he'll put another good one in the box.
17:44He lands the fish, and puts number three in the box. It's number three.
18:06He's pulling a little better.
18:10Didn't look that big.
18:11See? He's just angry.
18:23Pretty nice.
18:23He's pretty nice.
18:25Let's see how long he is.
18:30He's going to be 27 and three quarters.
18:38That's a good one.
18:38It's never good when they get hooked in the tongue.
18:46Apparently there's a big blood vessel in there that can lead to a lot of bleeding.
18:52You never want to see one bleeding when you're fighting him like that.
18:55The fish turned on just in time.
19:09Grease a little heavier.
19:10And the field begins throwing back the lightest of their three fish in a process known as culling.
19:16Oh, s**t.
19:21After making sure they have only the heaviest three fish in their live whale,
19:26they begin packing up their gear and making ready for the ride back to the Lafitte marina.
19:31The fish are checked and measured at the marina prior to heading over to the festival grounds
19:49for the final weigh-in of the Lafitte championship.
19:52As part of the Jean Lafitte seafood festival, already in progress.
19:59Max Martin saves his best for last, weighing in 25.38 pounds to take home the tough spot at the Lafitte championship.
20:27Congratulations, Max, and to all of the anglers that competed this week.
20:34This is your host, Pat Malone, thanking you for watching the pros of the Elite Fishing Series.
20:40Tune in next week when the tour visits the shores of the Sunshine State at the Jacksonville Open.
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