Competition and Conservation in Crystal River The Plantation Redfish Classic has grown into a go-to annual event for anglers local and beyond BY CARLTON REESE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY RALPH DEMILIO
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cloudless, azure sky upstaged only by the crisp moderate temperatures greeted the anglers on a chamber of commerce Saturday morning. On land, such a placid scene belied what the Gulf of Mexico had in store: double digit winds and choppy seas that bring regret to even the veteran mariner. The recent 7th Annual Plantation Redfish Classic in Crystal River would go on, anglers undaunted in their pursuit of a prize-winning haul. For those casting toward the mangroves, only the tides and shallows would warrant any consternation. But for those headed to deeper water in search of grouper, the negotiation of swells and whitecaps would not be
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for the faint of heart. “Those guys aren’t scared, that’s for sure,” said Kayla Livingston, one of three tournament directors along with Paul Cross and John Spann. Their event has quickly turned into one of the go-to tournaments for fishermen in Crystal River and the surrounding areas, including Levy and Marion counties. The third weekend of October now belongs to the Plantation Redfish Classic and at the 2022 version, choppy waters couldn’t keep Garrett Norris’ team from hauling in the grouper division’s winning 23.5 pounder. As the 4 p.m. deadline approached, Norris steered his boat toward the weigh-in area, where Blake Schidler’s team was currently
on top with an 18.22 pounder. Murmurs could be heard throughout the gathering: “I wonder what he has?” and “Do they have enough time?” Four large grouper were tossed into a bin, but the biggest was raced to the officials’ table where the moment of anticipation had arrived. The last fish of the day to be weighed would be the largest of the day. That drama capped a day of competition that has helped make this tournament the treasure it is. “This isn’t just a fishing tournament, it’s an event,” said Cross, who believes the growing popularity of the tournament will result in bigger payouts at future events and possibly expansion into two days of competition.