Cody Chivas and Fred Myers continued their catch fest with an early redfish on Day 2, but they also continued to miss the slot.
Myers landed an early 6-pounder that was close to 26 inches, over the required 17- to 23-inch slot. Moments later, the team of Gary Moreno and Tony Viator landed one that was just over at 23 ¼. It’s been an issue for most of the teams. A lot of fish have been caught, but only 10 made it to the scales on Day 1 out of a possible 40.
Chivas and Myers started Day 2 in second place, 8 pounds back of the leaders, and offered a rundown of what they needed today.
“We’ve got to catch four 4 ½-pound fish today and tomorrow if we hope to have any shot at winning this,” Chivas said.
Myer quickly amended that goal.
“We got to catch four fish of any size,” he said. “I think it’s going to be just as hard for the leaders to catch their four fish today. They were fortunate to have four yesterday. We’re fortunate to have two. We did catch numbers. I can’t tell you how many overs, 16 ½ fish we caught. I would very content to come in this afternoon with four fish that measure.”
The team was starting on a spot where they’d caught tailing fish that were a little bigger, but the full moon that sank as the 10 teams prepared to launch will change things.
“Redfish do different stuff than they did a few days ago,” Chivas said. “I still think we’ve got a good shot. We’ve got an 8-pound difference to make up. You saw how tough it was yesterday. I think a lot of team caught fish. Just getting them in the slot, we underestimated how tough that would be.
“An 8-pound lead is a big deal. In redfish or bass, that’s a big lead. One thing that sets this a place apart is the slot of the fish, and if you get stuck one day, you’re done.”
That happened Friday to two teams expected to do well, 2021 Redfish Cup winner Capt. Ryan Rickard, teamed with Elite pro Justin Atkins, and last year’s champs Eddie Adams and Sean O’Connell. While those teams lamented getting stuck, Myers lamented their Day 1 fish that was a quarter-inch over the slot, a 6-pounder that would have cut their deficit for just 2 pounds.
“That was basically two fish,” he said. “There are a few freaks out there and I think were around them. That would be a heroic deal.”
Both Myers and Chivas said a lot can change over the final two days, even for those teams that zeroed. It’s not over by any means.
“I think a team that’s not even in game, come Sunday they might be in there,” Chivas said. “Somebody could catch 20 pounds.”
