NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

May 26, 1998

CONTACT: Dan Dobbins (850) 627-9674 Kelli Peacock (850) 674-4519

ANGLERS VIE FOR CASH, PRIZES AT FLATHEAD TOURNAMENT

For the first time in months the Apalachicola River is clear and low. Anglers are flocking to the river and they’re catching a variety of fish, including flathead catfish.

Flatheads are live fish-eaters and are now found throughout the 107-mile long river and inter-connected waterways. Fishermen generally wish they weren’t in the river, due to their penchant for dining on other fish, but fisheries biologist Dan Dobbins of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says we should take advantage of the fishes’ presence.

"They certainly are a predatory fish but they’re delicious when prepared properly and we have to learn to use them," said Dobbins. "They can be caught on a variety of tackle and live baits, including small bream and shiners."

In flathead stomach analysis surveys, Dobbins said native crayfish are one of the most common food items but most anglers fish with live bream as bait.

Dobbins has monitored the flathead catfish expansion in the Apalachicola over the last decade and says the majority of the bigger fish, those 20 pounds and larger, are found from mile marker 50, which is below Blountstown, upriver to the Jim Woodruff Dam at Chattahoochee. All of the state record flatheads weighed and measured from the Apalachicola have come from this same 30-40-mile stretch of the river.

For those who want to catch flatheads and compete for some valuable prizes and money, Dobbins said they may want to participate in the Blountstown Rotary Club’s Annual Flathead Tournament. This year’s 24-hour event is scheduled from 4 p.m. May 29 - 4 p.m. May 30 at the Blountstown Public Boat Landing.

Local tournament director Jim Whaley says they are expecting approximately 300 anglers to plunk down their $45 entrance fee to compete for cash prizes, and if anyone catches a new state record flathead, they’ll take home a brand new truck valued at over $30,000 and an $8,000 boat-and-motor.

Anyone interested in competing in the tournament can call Whaley at (850)674-5575 or Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce representative Kelli Peacock at (850) 674-4519.