November 5, 2009 - LIZELLA, GEORGIA - Redfish anglers from Texas to North Carolina and surrounding regions will converge on Orange Beach, Alabama, November 6-7 for the IFA Redfish Tour Championship tournament, the culminating event of the tour's 2009 season. The event, hosted by The Wharf Resort in conjunction with the Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission, will see field of two-anglers teams from six different divisions of the IFA Redfish Tour competing for $77,000 in cash awards and prizes (based on a 100-boat field) as well as yearlong bragging rights.

Defending champions Glen Finley and Dodd Wood, winners of the 2008 event in Panama City Beach, Fla., will return to this year's championship after qualifying through the Atlantic Division. In addition, last year's Cabela's Overall Divisional Team of the Year, Jay Cedotal and Chad Dufrene, will defend their title in the tournament-within-the-tournament after winning the 2009 points race in the Louisiana Division. The Cabela's Overall Divisional Team of the Year Award is contested during the championship event with a $5,000 cash prize awarded to the division-winning team with the highest place of finish.

2009 Division Winners/Cabela's Team of the Year Competitors:

Atlantic Division - Rennie Clark Jr. and Drew Arndt
Florida East Division - Bob Looper and Rick Walters
Florida West Division - Geoff Page and Rick Murphy
Gulf Division - Barnie White and Steve White
Louisiana Division - Jay Cedotal and Chad Dufrene
Texas Division - Charlie Barton and Jack Barton

During the 2009 championship, another tournament-within-the-tournament prize will be up for grabs. Added this year, the "Ultra 6" award and its accompanying $5,000 cash prize, will be awarded based on the highest place of finish for teams that fished six or more regular-season events. Designed to reward the passions of teams across the region that capitalize on the bevy of lucrative, close-to-home tournament opportunities, teams are automatically qualified to compete for the prize upon competing in its sixth event.

The 2009 Championship Weekend's activities begin Thursday, November 5 with registration from 5-7 p.m. inside Live Bait at the Wharf (4851 Wharf Parkway - Suite 130; 251-224-2248), which overlooks The Wharf Marina, the sight of the tournament's launch. The Captain's Meeting will follow registration where check-in times will be assigned. Anglers will launch from The Wharf Marina at safe light on both days of competition.

In addition to the championship event and increased payouts for qualifying teams and contingency awards, the event will also host product displays and kayak demo rides from Hobie Fishing; displays from local Ranger Boats dealer, Legendary Marine; and an inshore fishing seminar hosted by legendary inshore angler Ray Van Horn. The seminar will be offered on both Friday and Saturday from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Shuckers. Space for this seminar is limited, and attendees are encouraged to reserve a space by calling Legendary Marine at (251) 971-8300.

The 2009 IFA Redfish Tour Championship is hosted by Wharf Resort, Alabama's premier resort community. With opportunities to bike, boat, golf, fish, dance, swim, and sun, visitors can also go shopping, see a movie, catch a live concert, get a massage or enjoy a gourmet meal - without ever leaving the resort. For more information about The Wharf Resort, go online to thewharfal.com. Information about available lodging and discounts for IFA Championship participants and guest, go online to alabamagulfcoastsports.com.

"The Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission is excited to welcome the 2009 IFA Redfish Tour Championship to Orange Beach and welcomes all the competitors and their families to one of the Gulf Coast's most beautiful and family-friendly areas," said Michelle Russ, Sports & Events Sales Manager for the Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission. "We wish all of the competitors the best of luck and hope they enjoy their time in Orange Beach, both as an angler and a visitor."

With easy registration and participation opportunities available to all anglers, the IFA Redfish Tour continues to draw redfish teams from Texas to the Carolinas and beyond. The tour's format offers two-angler teams the opportunity to compete in six different divisions, each offering a three-event regular season. Low entry fees for the one-day, regular-season tournaments allow anglers the opportunity to fish close to home and minimize expenses while still being a part of a premier inshore, catch-and-release redfish tournament organization.

This year's 18 regular-season events offered $47,000 in payouts per event (based on a 100-boat field), as well as increased first-place prize packages. In 2009, every regular-season tournament winner - regardless of field size - won a fully loaded 2009 Ranger Banshee Extreme powered by a 60-horsepower, four-stroke Yamaha outboard and equipped with a Bob's four-inch Ultra Light Jackplate, Power-Pole shallow water anchor, Minn Kota trolling motor, Humminbird electronics, Blue Point Fabrication metal work and Loadmaster trailer. The entire first-place prize package is valued at $30,000.

For more information on the IFA Redfish Tour, the 2009 Championship Tournament, to become a member of the IFA or to be a part of the fastest-growing inshore fishing tournament series in the United States, go online to redfishtour.com.

IFA Redfish Tour events are made possible through the sponsorship and continued support of the fishing industry's most respected brands: Ranger Boats, Hobie Fishing, Cabela's, Yamaha Outboards, Rapala, Trigger X, Sufix, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Power-Pole, Wrap This, CW Crab, Charter Lakes Marine Insurance, Solar Bat, Gemini Custom Apparel, Navionics, Bob's Machine Shop, Blue Point Fabrication, Terminator, VMC Hooks, Loadmaster Trailers, Powertex Group, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission and The Wharf Resort.

Event Details:
IFA Redfish Tour Championship
Competition Dates: November 6-7, 2009

Host Venue/Launch Site:
The Wharf Resort
23101 Canal Rd
Orange Beach, AL 36561
(251) 224-1000 or (877) 942-7325
Boat Check and Launch: At safe light from The Wharf Marina
Check-in times: TBD at Captains Meeting

Registration and Check In: Begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday, November 5
Captains Meeting: Begins at 7 p.m. following registration and check in
Location: Live Bait at The Wharf
4851 Wharf Parkway - Suite 130 (Overlooking The Wharf Marina)
(251) 224-2248

Payouts:
2009 IFA Redfish Tour Championship
Total Payouts (Based on 100-boat field) - $77,000
First Place - Ranger 173 Ghost powered by a 115HP, 4-stroke Yamaha outboard; equipped with a Power Pole shallow water anchor, Minn Kota trolling motor, Humminbird electronics and Blue Point Fabrication metal work. Estimated Retail Value $34,995
Second Place - $10,000
Third Place - $5,000
Fourth Place - $3,000
Fifth Place - $2,000
Sixth through 10th Places - $1,500
11th through 15th Places - $1,100
16th through 20th Places - $1,000
21st to 25th Places - $900

Tournament Contingency Awards:
Rapala Big Fish - $700 + $1,000 VIP Rapala Card
Minn Kota - $1,500
Humminbird - $750
Solar Bat - $100
Wrap This - Free Boat or Vehicle Wrap

Additional Activities:
Inshore Fishing Seminar with Ray Van Horn
1 to 2:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at Shuckers
Free to the public; to reserve a spot call Legendary Marine at (251) 971-8300