One of the most notable features of the redfish are its unusual spots. While some are sparsely spotted others can be almost leopard-like. With this phenomenon in mind, Matlacha businesses are currently organizing the first of its kind Wet Spots fishing tournament. The Wet Spots tournament will take place on Sunday, Feb. 21, from safe daylight until 4 p.m.

“The concept of this tournament will focus on the number of spots on a single redfish,” said tournament organizer, Jim Frock owner of Seven Seas Bait and Tackle. “This is also an opportunity to draw attention to the great fishing opportunities in our area as well as the wealth of amenities Matlacha has to offer.”

The cost to enter the tournament will be $50 per angler with up to four team members per boat. Those who enter the competition will receive an official tournament T-shirt however, the shirts will be limited to the first 144 entrants. Prizes and awards will be presented in three categories. The most number of spots on a single fish will be awarded $500, the most number of spots accumulated by an individual with both fish and/or spots obtained at Official Sponsor “Wet Spots” on PIne Island will also earn $500 and $1,000 will be awarded for the most spots accumulated by a team for up to four redfish.

The spots will be counted and officially documented at the docks behind Bert’s Bar and Grill in Matlacha. For this first event, the spots will be counted by guest spots counter, Jack Glarrow, publisher of the Cape Coral Breeze and the Pine Island Eagle.

The rules of the Wet Spots fishing tournament are as follows:

n All entry fees must be received by Feb. 20. There will be no refunds

n All teams must be designated before the tournament begins and must fish out of the same boat. All persons in the boat must be entered in the tournament. Only one team per boat

n All bait is permitted. No gigging. No dynamite or other explosives

n A captain’s meeting will be held at Bert’s on Feb. 20 at 6:30 p.m. No entries will be accepted after the captains meeting

n We encourage and support live release after the spots are counted by our counter. There will not be a penalty for deads

n One fish per person and four fish for the team. You cannot transfer a fish from one boat to another boat. Fish have to be brought to the dock. The redfish must be legal 18 to 27 inches

n In the event of a tie by the number of spots on the fish, and/or spots obtained at official Pine Island Wet Spots, the first to check in will break the tie

n All judgments by tournament directors will be final. All protests must be in writing and submitted to a tournament director by 5 p.m. on Feb. 21

n In case of tournament cancellation, the makeup date will be two weeks later

All proceeds from the Wet Spots fishing tournament will be donated to the Matlacha Mariners to support the organization’s charitable causes.

For entry forms or for more information, call tournament director, Jim Frock at 283-1674.