ESPN Outdoors, the worldwide leader in outdoor events coverage, announced today the schedule for the 2009 ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series. The Series, created in 2008, will again highlight six world-class, stand-alone events which will be covered on ESPN Outdoors multimedia platforms.
The 2009 series will receive television coverage on ESPN2 in 2010. Additionally, timely event coverage will appear on the ESPNOutdoors website including photo galleries, features and game stories.
The season will kick off with the Baker’s Bay Marsh Harbour Bonefish Classic on April 3-6 out of Abaco, Bahamas. Other high-profile events include the Florida Keys Outfitter’s IGFA Inshore World Championship, set for July 7-9 out of Islamorada, Fla.
Earlier this week, ESPN Outdoors officials announced that the 2009 IGFA Championship event will join the tournament schedule, which will add considerable cache to the Series. The EOSS will also head to hotspot Islamorada for the final event of the season on Nov. 6-8 for the Redbone Celebrity Tournament.
“The ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series generated tremendous interest in its inaugural season” said Jamie Wilkinson, senior director of event operations and business development, ESPN Outdoors. “We are excited to build on that momentum and will continue to deliver the compelling content associated with the saltwater lifestyle.”
Participants will include world-renowned professional anglers and accomplished guides from the sportfishing industry as well as celebrities from the sports world. In 2008, competitors included Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Wade Boggs; fly-fishing legends Stu Apte and Flip Pallot; and Bassmaster Elite Series pros Chris and Bobby Lane. The ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series will focus on several different types of sportfish including redfish, striped bass, tarpon, bonefish and permit.
A full schedule of events including the featured sportfish can be found below.
“We are proud to be associated with ESPN and its leadership place in the industry,” said Gary Ellis, founder of Redbone, who will manage five of the EOSS events. “The influence that we receive due to ESPN’s multimedia coverage is unmatched.”
The Mercury Redbone Celebrity Tournament Series was founded by Gary and Susan Ellis in 1988 with a mission “To catch the cure for cystic fibrosis.”
The coverage of the 2008 Series will air on ESPN2 starting at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 29. Also beginning in April, ESPN Deportes will air a total of six 30-minute episodes starting April 4, 2009, at 6 a.m. ET. The half-hour program will be hosted by ESPN Outdoors personality Jose Wejebe.
2009 ESPN OUTDOORS SALTWATER SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE LOCATION EVENT NAME EVENT TYPE
April 3-6 Abaco, Bahamas Baker’s Bay Marsh Harbour Bonefish Classic Bonefish
April 24-26 Duck Key, Fla. Sunrise/Sunset Tarpon Tournament Tarpon
July 7-9 Islamorada, Fla. Florida Keys Outfitter’s IGFA Inshore Tournament Redfish, Bonefish, Tarpon, Permit, Snook
Sept. 23-25 Long Island, N.Y. F.C.A. Montauk Redbone Bluefish, Striped bass, Albacore
Oct. 8-10 St. Simons Island, Ga. Rich’s Golden Isle Red Trout Classic Redfish, Trout
Nov. 6-8 Islamorada, Fla. Redbone Celebrity Tournament Redfish, Bonefish
About ESPN Outdoors: Since its inception in 1980, ESPN Outdoors has strived to inform and entertain anglers, hunters, campers and people of all ages who enjoy the outdoors. ESPN Outdoors is committed to increasing awareness of and participation in outdoor activities, a direction best exemplified by television programming on ESPN2.
Each year, ESPN Outdoors stages more than 30 marquee events, including the Bassmaster Classic. ESPN Outdoors is comprised of BASS, the worldwide authority on bass fishing, and a growing array of multimedia platforms, including Bassmaster website, ESPNOutdoors website and programming on ESPN2, in addition to promotions and activities that deliver a clear message of conservation and ethical sportsmanship.
By: ESPN Outdoors
