Elite Redfish Border Wars, kayakers, to hit Port Arthur

UPDATE: Weather delayed launch, so the Elite Redfish Tournament weigh in is scheduled to begin around 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 29, at the Robert A. “Bob” Bowers Civic Center. Stop by after work with the family and see what the anglers caught in Sabine Lake!

Elite Redfish Border Wars to hit Port Arthur; Nederland High fish team, kayakers part of action

Headturners3, LLC, producer of the Elite Redfish Tournament Series, is returning to Port Arthur with the 2017 Border Wars redfish tournament, June 29-July 2, presented by Mid County Ram.

The public is invited to watch live weigh ins from a professional stage as anglers compete for the big win. A kayak tournament is also part of this big week. The weigh ins are filmed, produced and aired on Discovery Network’s Destination America television channel.

• The pros will hit the stage at the Robert A. “Bob” Bowers Civic Center parking lot each day, at 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, June 29-July 2 for high-energy professional weigh ins this group is known for. Host Pat Malone will take the audience and viewers alike on a “reel” life adventure as he interviews each pro and “fishes” for stories from their day on the water as well as information on where they fished, what lures and techniques worked and what didn’t.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 29-July 2, the weigh-in show will be open and free to the public. Bring lawn chairs and umbrellas for shade and be sure to check out the live redfish experience stage side where attendees may see these fish alive and swimming in the cool, aerated, fish release tanks prior to their live release back into the marshes and ponds in and around Port Arthur. Bring a camera: Snapping photos while holding one of the big Port Arthur redfish is always encouraged.

Are you an early bird? Want to see the pros fancy rigs as they launch for their day of fishing? The official boat launch location for this event Ancelet’s Marina at 7069 Rainbow Lane in Port Arthur. Pro launching will be at 6 a.m. each morning.

Saturday, July 1, The Elite Redfish Series is will present the Nederland High School bass fishing team and will be weighing their fish and presenting their awards on the big stage complete with on-stage interviews, stories and photographs – just like the pros – beginning at 1 p.m. just before the pro redfish anglers hitting the stage at 3 p.m.

Be sure and bring your appetite as the Meaux’s Gumbo food truck will be onsite with seafood nachos, crawfish etouffee, red beans and rice and snow cones.

This week long tournament will offer something for just about everyone. Whether you like the run-and-gun style of the Elite Redfish Series pros or want to see how those who paddle and pedal do it on the Elite Kayak Series, one thing is for sure: Fun, food, family and fishing go hand in hand with the Elite Redfish Tournament Series and Port Arthur. We’d love for you to be a part of it.

For more information on the event and this series, please visit, http://theredfishseries.com/wp/event-2/ and be sure to join in on any or all of the days of this event at the Robert A. “Bob” Bowers Civic Center parking lot from 3 to 4:30 p.m. for exciting time with the professionals of the Elite Redfish Tournament Series.

The Port Arthur Convention & Visitors Bureau will host the tournament’s captain’s dinner for Elite pros, marshals and high school anglers at Mid County Ram and the Baymont Inn & Suites will be the host hotel facility for this event.

Visitors in Port Arthur can try their own hand at fishing Sabine Lake and Sea Rim State Park. Nature lovers can rent a kayak and paddle the marsh at Sea Rim and birders can head to nearby Sabine Woods.