B.A.S.S. officials made a decision to cancel the first day of competition on the St. Johns River today after the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a wind advisory making the fishery unsafe for boaters. The wind advisory is calling for winds 15-25 m.p.h. with guests over 40.
“Safety for our anglers and marshals is our primary concern,” said Trip Weldon, Bassmaster Elite Series Tournament Director. “We have been monitoring the weather closely, and had discussions with NWS last night and this morning to see if the weather situation would change.
“Beginning this morning and into the afternoon, the wind was just going to be too high to safely be on the water.”
Competition in the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River is expected to resume Friday morning, when the field of 88 anglers launches at 7:15 a.m. from Palatka Riverfront Park.
B.A.S.S. officials announced that the Top 10 would fish a shortened competition day on Monday, Feb. 10. Launch on Monday will be at 6:45 a.m. ET from Palatka City Dock and Boat Ramp, and the weigh-in will be held at the Palatka Riverfront Park at 2:00 p.m. ET.
The full field of 88 anglers will fish Friday and Saturday. The field will be cut to the Top 40 on Sunday. On those three days, anglers will takeoff from Palatka City Dock and Boat Ramp at 7:15 a.m. ET. Weigh-ins will be held at 3:15 p.m. ET at Palatka Riverfront Park.
From Florida, the Elites head to Dayton, Tenn., for the Bassmaster Elite Series at Chickamauga Lake. Competition on Chickamauga Lake will continue as scheduled Feb. 14-17.
