Punta Gorda, Florida– The sun is out, the waters are warm and the fish are biting. That can mean only one thing – the return of the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup to Laishley Park in Charlotte Harbor. The nation’s premier saltwater fishing championship is docking in the Gulf waters April 25-27 and promises to deliver bigger thrills than ever. The three-day fishing frenzy officially begins at 7 a.m. on Friday, April 25 with the morning launch and ends with the dramatic final day weigh-in at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 27 when one teams walks away with the $50,000 grand prize and valuable points in the Academy Team of the Year presented by Crocs standings.

But the best saltwater anglers in the world won’t be the only attraction. The Redfish Cup is part of the Charlotte Harbor Redfish Festival, a three-day extravaganza featuring fun for the whole family. The crowd-pleasing Splash Dogs competition is back, as is the tragic comedy of the cardboard boat races. Saturday night features a performance by the band Low Rent, and festival goers all weekend long will have a chance to catch the Relatively Redfish Art Exhibit. In addition, the top five angler teams from each day of Redfish Cup competition will be available to sign autographs at the Oh Boy! Oberto tent immediately following the weigh-in.

“Our Redfish Cup anglers look forward to the Punta Gorda stop every year because of the community support, the amazing festival atmosphere and of course the world-class fishing,” said David Healy, senior director of sales and sponsorship for Career Sports & Entertainment, the agency that owns the Redfish Cup. “This year we’ve got the best field we’ve ever had, more prize money than ever before and tons of family-friendly activities. We’re poised to make the 2008 season the best on record for our fans and anglers.”

“Charlotte Harbor couldn’t be happier to welcome the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup back to our community,” said Becky Bovell, director of the Charlotte County Visitor’s Bureau. “The fact that ESPN and the Redfish Cup have chosen to make us their only permanent stop on the tour is a testament to the area as a world-class fishing destination with something fun for everyone.”

The new season of the Redfish Cup also marks a new community outreach initiative called Net Gains. The program allows local youth the opportunity to attend a free fishing and conservation clinic taught by the Redfish Cup pros on Thursday, April 24 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Laishley Park. Ages eight and up are welcome and all attendees will receive a Redfish Cup goodie bag and a photo with their favorite angler upon completion.

Now in its sixth season, the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup has become the nation’s premier saltwater fishing championship. The event will visit five venues across the Southeast in 2008 and give away more than $1 million in prize and contingency monies.

Punta Gorda is the first stop of the 2008 season, followed by three additional stops throughout the Southeast before the season-ending championship Oct. 10-12 in a yet to be announced location. Each event features a $50,000 grand prize and more than $193,000 in total payout. The 2008 season begins airing on July 5 at 8:30 a.m. on ESPN2 with the first of a two-part episode featuring the Punta Gorda tournament.

Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup and Festival, April 25-27
When: 7:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Friday and Sunday)
7:00 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Saturday with concert)