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 Southern Kingfish Association Competition Angling Team

February 14th, 2010

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Team FishDancer is doin' just fine and headed to the Miami International Boat Show to cover the show......

Travis Tritt Sings – Its a great Day to Be Alive

We’ve got Verados humming on the back of the boat
Got our tournament calendar set despite an early sour note
And it's a goofy thing; the reaction to what I wrote, but
Hey we’re doing alright

It's 35 straight PRO tournaments that we have known
We enjoyed success and events we could have won that we have blown
We gave it our all but for now it’s time we left it alone
Oh...we hope they’re doin’ it right

It's a great day to be alive
We know the fish are still biting and we expect to thrive
There's some unsettled times that have to be withstood
But why can't every day be just this good?

Now I look in the mirror and what do I see?
The division 11 schedule starin’ back at me
Early in the season but we are still as committed as can be
Just know we are doin’ alright

Yeah I think I'll make us some homemade rigs
Get ready for the Abacos with some brand new jigs
The Key Lime Cottage will be our temporary digs, and
Yeah, we’re doin’ just fine

And it's a great day to be alive
We know the fish are still biting and we expect to thrive
There are plenty of charity events to fish, that’s understood
So why can't everyone be just this good?

>>))))))">

Bob Dylan Sings The Times They Are A-Changin'

Come gather 'round professionals wherever you roam
And admit that the tour that you used to call home
Has a new format and schedule as complicated as the genome
If a 'pro' tour to you is worth re-arranging
Then you better start fishin' or the wildcards will sink your scores like a stone
For the tour it is a-changin'.

Come anglers and fishers who hold live bait in your pens
Keep your ears open, its no longer big fish but now about zen
Keep your mind clear, for how to crown the angler of the year
And there's no tellin' who that it's namin'
For the losers now will be later to win
For the tour it is a-changin'.

Come sponsors and owners please heed the call
Don't hide in the Ethernet, you’ll end up with a brawl
For he that catches Kings will have percentages installed
There's a storm on the playground and it is ragin'
It'll soon shake your motors
And rattle the association walls
For the tour it is a-changin'.

Come friends and associates throughout kingfish land
Let’s not criticize what we don’t understand
Our comrades who hung out together like a travelling band

Are no longer playing
After years of support it seems they now run the wrong brand
For the tour it is a-changin'.

The format is drawn, the points system is cast,
The collegial now have become the outcast,
As a big fish now will be by math later surpassed;
The Angler of the Year titles are rapidly fadin'
As the first one now will by percentage be last
For the tour it is a-changin'.

     2010 ...the times - and SKA PRO Tour - are indeed changing.  Team FishDancer has worked to understand what the 2010 pro format might be since October of 2009, well before the SKA Nationals last November. We have called, emailed and communicated with many sources to better understand possible changes so that Nancy and I might make the decision that is best for our angling team. There is still great uncertainty about the tour's format, its scoring system and despite promises about clarity for the anglers and a chance to have our questions answered, time has simply run out for our team to plan for 2010 -- so we have chosen to move forward with what we know now. From what we can determine there are still possibly more changes to come -  not a good thing once the season has begun.  Way too much uncertainty.

      The new Yamaha pro schedule virtually eliminates the camaraderie we have enjoyed from the five fixed event PRO circuit which followed the kingfish migrations. The new format calls for teams to fish 2 fixed events 4 weeks apart and then not get together again until the SKA National Championships which is not yet scheduled?  The new format creates what have been called Wild Card (WC) events. Beginning in Key West, pro teams can now fish up to 10 divisional events anywhere on the SKA schedule to earn 30% (4,000 of 13,500 total points) of the points for AOY.  These WC events are scheduled to be fished under the individual rules of the divisional events and not the standardized pro rules of the past, meaning that up to 30% of the points for AOY titles could be earned by teams staying out overnight and fishing at 'lines' in time if local rules allow, by teams who were subjected to travel limitations (boundaries) while others were competing without boundaries or by teams who catch a very small fish in very poor weather with little to no competition in a captain's choice scenario.

(Another hypothetical for illustration purposes;  A team who  competes against 600 other divisional teams, weighs a 50+ pound fish and wins a two day WC event will be granted 1,000 points while a team who competes against 50 other divisional teams, weighs in a 40 pound fish and wins a 1 day WC event will be granted 1,000 points all the while a team who competes against 130 divisional/pro teams comes in 2nd place and weighs in a 30 pound fish in a fixed event earns as many as 1499 points.  WC event one was fished in the Atlantic Ocean with a check out, boundaries and perfect weather, WC event two was fished in West Florida had no check out, no boundaries and typical weather and the fixed event was held in the GOM with poor weather and  during a bite affected by the affects of a storm - or visa - versa; the combinations are virtually infinite.   Is this a level playing field and /or the best methodology from which to determine AOY?  You decide.) 

This change alone virtually abolishes the head to head - level playing field AOY competition where all pros fish together in the same locales under the same rules and angling conditions. When the changes to format and schedule are combined with the uncertainty regarding the current standings and dramatic and untested changes to the AOY, scoring and variable rules, the 2010 new Yamaha pro seems to be more of a new type of divisional competition and less of a true pro circuit. In my view, this is not the best way to manage competition and/or award the coveted AOY titles. 

    After analyzing the details, I fail to see how the new format, schedule, rules et al, will assist in achieving the stated goals to reduce costs for the anglers and increase participation for the sponsors. After running the numbers, because of the new format with WC events, to compete for LAOY (if there is such a title?) Team Fish Dancer's costs would have increased more than $5k vs. YAG, primarily driven by the number of WC events teams we would need to fish to stay competitive.  Relative to participation goals,  history shows that over the past 7 seasons the SKA PRO tour has seen a high of more than 100 teams and only time will tell of the new Yamaha pro can increase participation beyond this level. It has become apparent to us that the timing, format and schedule of the new Yamaha pro does not currently fit with the FishDancer philosophy -- in fact, as Yogi Berra once said; "..it feels like Deja Vu all over again...".

   After analyzing the new format, Team FishDancer fails to see the fundamental reasoning behind the new scheme and/or any long term vision being applied to it. Angler and SKA input has been disregarded and communication with the greater angling community has been non-existent -- all tenants of a do it my way or its the highway process?  YIKES!  Perhaps this new one way street methodology is a way to try and differentiate in the competitive marketplace?  I sincerely hope not as everyone involved should have learned from past events that further division of the angling community - especially the diverse sub-community of committed Kingfish Anglers known as pros -  is not good for any of the stakeholders.  In today's economy everyone - sponsors, the association and anglers alike - should all be working together to keep the ship afloat until the economy turns. The do it my way or I will take my marbles and go home approach is in direct conflict with a sophisticated and partner based win:win partnerships needed in today's complex business world and difficult economy.  Unfortunately for 2010 this is the playground that has been presented and while we were hoping for a different outcome and are disappointed, it is what it is. Team FishDancer wants to wish everyone involved with the new Yamaha pro, good luck. All we can do is choose to fish the new tour or not....nothing more - nothing less, and we will make our choice as a customer of the SKA,  kingfishing sponsors and KMTs. 

      So within these 'changin' times and tours' -- Team FishDancer is proud to announce we will continue to compete during 20th Anniversary Season of the SKA.  Nancy and I will continue to support the SKA and compete in our 15th consecutive SKA season. However, for the first time in eight years after and competing in 35 consecutive SKA PRO tournaments, Team FishDancer will focus our angling efforts supporting the SKA at the divisional level.  The rationale for this decision is simple for us; without the traditional SKA PRO circuit to fill our team's needs in 2010, we will focus our efforts on SKA divisional competitions and add some other, long postponed adventures where we can apply our time, fishing energy and money.  Since the fall of 2002 Nancy and I have focused 100% of our angling efforts on the SKA PRO tour - to the exclusion of local SKA events we enjoy and many other angling opportunities we have missed due to our commitment to the SKA PRO tour.  This includes postponing some BIG adventures, among others,  heading to the Bahamas to fish.  While there are still many details to work out and more than one TBD remaining on our calendar, the FishDancer 2010 angling plan is a simple one. Compete in the SKA's Division 11 to allow 'THE' FishDancer to compete for the Lady Angler Divisional 11 title as well as to compete and hopefully qualify us early for the Big Dance.  Early qualification will then allow us to focus on other fun events and angling opportunities.  New adventures will include running the FishDancer to Guana Cay, Abacos in early June, to fish in a week long tournament with the Atlanta Saltwater Sportsman Club.  Jobu is pleased....   

Stay tuned, next up is the Miami Boat Show.......Captain Jeff is trying to learn how to effectively troll for Marlin.  All suggestions welcomed......really he needs help!!!!!!

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The Chum Slick

Editorial Comment by Captain Jeff

 Yamaha 'PRO' tour 2010 New Format, New Schedule....has it been improved????

'THE' FishDancer and I have been competing for the past seven seasons on the Yamaha Professional Kingfish Tour and have enjoyed every minute of our participation. We have enjoyed the Yamaha Pro Tour for five critical elements it provided to our angling team; 1.  it has been the toughest test of angling skills, 2. the format of weighing 7 of your best 10 fish caught in five events allowed for some margin of equipment/angling error, 3. the payouts for winning were 40 times your entry fees, 4. the tour had a great sense of camaraderie between most competitors and 5. there was a lady angler title at stake. Since 2003 we have invested our time and effort into three boats, 10 motors, many individual entry fees, multiple TWTS,  travel to multiple locations and literally thousands of transactions of needed equipment, bait, fuel and other supplies. These boats, motors and other transactions were all made to keep us competitive along the Yamaha PRO circuit and we have always tried our best to support those who support our sport.  In return we have experienced thrills of a lifetime, many podium appearances, some of the most competitive fishing anywhere on the planet and have been blessed to have created and enjoyed long term relationships and great friendships.  This series which has seen a high of over 100 and a low of approximately 60 teams competing during this time,  has long ago established itself as the series where the best of the best of King Mackerel anglers, deploy cutting edge boats, motors, angling equipment and techniques.  Teams fishing the Yamaha Pro Tour have chosen to test their skills and compete in the chase for the coveted SKA Angler of the Year titles (Men, Senior and Ladies) in a head-to-head competition.  The series has been remarkably consistent in its format and results over this time, making the year over year competition a true apples to apples comparison and has become the best test of angling skills for the competition teams.  Each of the teams competed at the same location, under the same weather and fishing conditions and within prescribed rules of these SKA produced events.  One of the features our team enjoyed most at these 'fixed' Yamaha Pro events was the competition and camaraderie between the teams as the 'travelling' circus moved through the 5 event tour and the SKA/Mercury National Championships.  Due to a variety of circumstances Yamaha has chosen to dramatically alter the format for the 2010 season and Team FishDancer is uncertain about the benefits and affects of the new circuit/schedule/format. 

 Understanding the need for change in almost every business model given the current economy, I am supportive of changes to the 2010 schedule and format. However much like our recent elections, I am now wondering IF the 2010 Yamaha Pro tour schedule and format is the change I can believe in????  I have reviewed the recently published information, contacted the Association several times and spoken with some of the more ardent 'PRO' teams and can not at this point understand how this new format will draw more people, sell more motors/boats or expand upon the heritage of excellence the Yamaha PRO tour has stood for in the past several seasons. 

The new format has been pitched as follows;     "...in and (sic) effort to lower expenses for Pro teams and to induce more participation in the Yamaha Professional Kingfish Tour a new format is being introduced...", yet when reviewed from the perspective of our team the new format does not seem to deliver any significant savings to competitors nor does it seem likely to bring new competitors to the tour.  Under the 2003-09 format each team would pay $1k per event, to fish all five PRO events.  Under the new format, each team is required to pay $1k to fish the three 'fixed' events and then pay additional entry fees for the 'wildcard' events. The concept here is that the teams can fish '..at home..' for their wild card events.  Since the three fixed events have no drop day or drop fish as previously discussed, teams wanting to race for the AOY titles will need to assure they pre-fish these three events and from the FishDancer perspective will be in town for these three events longer than the old format would require, adding additional travel, hotel, fuel and fishing costs. For a team fishing the wild card events there will an inequitable situation regarding costs as the new format provides a significant disadvantage to those teams fishing in 'home water' divisions where, due to the economy, events have scaled back to one day of competition. These teams will be forced to enter more events and pay twice the entry fees as the other 'PROS' fishing events and 'home waters' where the competition is two days.  If teams have to travel more to fill up their 'wildcard' scores the expenses to teams increase proportionately. I quickly constructed a 2010 schedule for the FishDancer team using the new format and ran the numbers to complete it.  The 2010 schedule would require we fish a minimum of 10 events vs. 5 last year and would end up costing us about $2500 more than 2009. When coupled with no payout guarantee, reduced 'fixed event' payouts based upon a number of boats and no 'drop day' at these events, I remain uncertain in my understanding of how these format changes will add participation to the Yamaha Pro Tour. I would favor fishing a PRO TOUR  with three 'fixed' events, a championship during SKA nationals week and one wild card contributing to the teams best 7 days fished or a schedule of 10 'OPEN' events where the teams would be required to designate upfront 5 as their PRO events, both of these seem to provide better alternatives.  In the end 'THE' FishDancer and I cannot see any savings to our team with this new format/schedule and if the new format/schedule is pitched as a cost savings format, I cannot see how these savings flow to the angling teams??? The 2010 Yamaha Pro schedule is also a challenge for fishing teams - the 'PRO TOUR' has always been a circuit....teams fishing together in locations across the kingfishing geography testing their skills in a variety of waters, weather and fishing conditions.  In previous years the pro tour followed the fish migrations, Key West in January or early March - Fort Pierce/Jensen Beach in April - Fourchon in June - GA/N FL in August -- NC/SC in October and SKA Nationals November.  The 2010 schedule of fixed events indicates that there is not really a tour but rather just events to fish. With just two 'fixed' events five weeks apart - Jensen Beach in May, Fourchon five weeks later and no events before or between then until PRO championships which are TBD, how can this be considered a circuit? As a strong SKA and Yamaha Pro Tour supporter, I must ask is this really the best schedule that we could come up with - several other 'manufacturer tours' have failed partially due to poor or unclear scheduling?  I find it hard to imagine how this schedule will provide the proving ground for the skills of SKA angling teams that the Yamaha Pro tour had become?

The new format requires teams to weigh in 10 fish over the course of the Yamaha PRO season, which is now defined by 3 fixed events (Jensen Beach, Fourchon and the Pro Championship) as well as an unlimited amount of wildcard events where the four best fishing days for the team will be added to the six scored from the three fixed events.  There is no provision for a 'drop fish' or 'drop day' at the three 'fixed events' -- so anyone experiencing equipment failure on a single day or not catching a fish on ANY day of these 'fixed events' is virtually eliminated from the AOY races.  If it happens on Day One at Jensen Beach...the team might as well pack up and go home for the 2010 Yamaha PRO season. In previous years teams were advised that fishing the Yamaha Pro tour was a commitment to fish all 5 events... the new format and schedule will discourage teams that have ANY issues at any of the fixed events from fishing in all of them?  How is this better for title sponsors Yamaha, Contender, Raymarine or the SKA???  When I asked what the purpose of this new format was, it seems that there is a belief that Yamaha Pro Captains are not keeping up their equipment to standards and taking advantage of the the support trailers so there was scant interest in allowing for a 'drop fish' or 'drop day'.  OK ..... while I understand the sentiment as expressed to me, I do not share it or agree with it.  Speaking for our team, we have always worked hard to keep our boat, motor and equipment in tip top shape but have always been thankful for the support trailers when needed in an emergency.   In essence -- no matter how you maintain your equipment or hone your angling skills -- if something goes wrong (and it will -- that is a part of offshore fishing), teams will be penalized nearly 17% of the fixed point total and fully 10.42% of the total available points if they suffer any equipment issues or zero on any given fishing day. There is no way to make up for the loss of such a large percentage of a team's points over the course of the short two fixed event season. In my view, since the teams fishing the 'Pros' have been and are providing a proving ground to ALL boat, motor, electronics and other ancillary companies as well as a marketing platform on which they can launch their new product introductions, one might think a different approach might be adopted towards the Pro teams?  

A new scoring system, one that has never been applied in actual competition, will be put in play as the Yamaha Pro tour is moving away from a point per pound weight system, in favor of a complex points system based upon the percentage of a teams fish weighed each day in relation to the largest fish weighed that day. There are many arguments to be made on all sides of this issue -- (many of these theoretical arguments were made by many of the same people back in 2006 in relation to a new tour that applied a point system and subsequently failed) -- but the new format with 'wildcard' events has forced this decision as the size of fish must be redistributed to account for geographic size differences (i.e Gulf vs. GA).  I am unclear how changing the system of scoring will benefit participation, the anglers, the SKA or the Pro circuit but it seems clear to me that the AOY titles will be now be determined based upon how the 'PRO' teams perform against the divisional anglers in an unlimited amount of wildcard events, fished under different conditions and scored with an untested scheme of percentages and points per fishing day. YIKES!!!! How can AOY titles mean anything significant if they are not determined in a head to head competition?  I would expect given the new format there will be times when a PRO team earns points as the only pro boat fishing in a divisional event, is this really how to earn the AOY titles???  As we work to earn Nancy the LAOY title, is it a true test of her angling skill for us to review the past year's standings and pick divisional events with the least amount of Lady Angler participation to earn us more chances for wildcard points over her competition??? It is a test of my angling skills to create a complex computer spreadsheet which calculates where our opportunity to earn the most points will be based upon historical data of the divisions???  Should AOY be determined by teams fishing a wildcard event in a Captain's Choice format choose to fish the roughest day to reduce the number of competitors and where any fish regardless of size will deliver a maximum number of points? 

As I ran the numbers on the point system, fully 33.33% of the PRO points will come from the wildcard events....much more than any one of the 'fixed' events -- including the Pro Championship -- making the wildcard process one of the most important criteria for success on the Pro Tour. So other than the large non- guaranteed AOY payout what is the benefit of fishing the PROs v. the divisions? ALL PRO payouts are based upon 100 boats fishing...and it is uncertain that the tour will come close to that...especially with the new format.  As I see it, without 100 boats the AOY payout will be reduced to 50-60% of what is published and the 'fixed' event payouts will be also be reduced to reflect participation and in many cases actually be below many of the stronger divisional events. In 2009 Team FishDancer contributed $5k in entry fees for the opportunity to win $200,000 ($40k x 5 events), plus the AOY payout -- regardless of number of boats as first place was guaranteed. In 2010 we would pay more than $5k in entry fees (based upon the need to fish 10 events to maximize the scoring opportunity to get the best chance at the AOY payout) for the opportunity to win an undetermined amount of prize money, based upon an uncertain participation level??? How this draws more angling teams into the Pros or solidifies the Pro teams already there is a mystery to me.  We might just as easily enter 10 divisional events with the highest payouts and come very close to matching the 2009 pro payout opportunity -  $5k in entry fees ($500 entry fee x 10) to win $200,000 ($20,000 first prize times 10) add in the calcutta and we might be ahead of 2009's opportunity?  Or more simply fish for fun, enter the local events we like and step back from the SKA -- how sad is that??? There seems to be little monetary incentive for divisional competitors to make the jump into the PROS and even less incentive for established PROS to remain on the circuit. If there is no true head to head angling test, no room for error, no monetary incentive, no tour, limited camaraderie and AOY titles decided by something other than pure fishing team effort and talent our reasons for fishing the PROS have all been eliminated. And so it is with a heavy heart we ask ourselves and the SKA what is the reason to have one at all? 

It is clear to me that this new proportional point scheme coupled with three point 'layers' -- 1500 per day at the Pro Championship, 1250 each day at the Pro 'fixed' events and 1000 per day at 'Wildcard' events will make a calculator a needed piece of equipment on every PRO boat.  Since the wildcard events can be ANY of the 45 divisional events, PRO teams will not have any idea who is fishing where, what teams you are actually fishing against nor what the score of the tour is at any given time.  

Finally there are many open questions and uncertainty regarding Pro team qualification, team make up, boat substitution and other rules that create a difficult and uncertain environment for teams to decide what to do.  One of the lessons we should all take from the current economic downturn is that uncertainty is one of the most corrosive environments for a business to operate within. Significant changes in times of difficulty need to be accompanied by clear explanations as to the new rules and the reasons for the changes as well as how they benefit the end users. It has been my experience that any business that creates  and deploys a strategy of change that risks dissatisfaction with it's core customer base, should rethink its strategy -- and I believe the 2010 Yamaha Pro Tour format and schedule is no exception.   Without clarity, continued uncertainty will keep many on the sidelines.  For example Team FishDancer had hotel and marina reservations to fish the traditional Yamaha Pro and SKA divisional kickoff event in Key West in January 2010, but - as much as I am an SKA and Pro Tour supporter --  after reviewing the new format and discussing the future of the Yamaha Pro tour with the Association and other 'PRO' teams, our team has cancelled all of our reservations and instead we will fish a sailfish tournament out of West Palm Beach in January 2010.  It will cost less and we know what to expect -- the perfect tournament recipe for our team.  For those who think the PROs affect upon our sport is minimal consider this; in 2009 the SKA kickoff event in Key West saw 84 'open class' boats weigh in a fish for points and 49 of these (58%) were from the PRO tour....it will be interesting to see what 2010 brings.  IF the new format/schedule works total numbers for both should be way up...only time will tell for sure.

As of this writing we remain uncertain regarding what to expect or what the costs will actually be for Team FishDancer to compete along the 2010 Yamaha Professional Kingfish Tour or the SKA divisional circuits; there are other tours, other events and MANY other ways to spend our cash. We want to fully understand the new format and then decide how we will approach the 2010 season....PRO or NO.  So as we attempt to further understand and decide we wish all angling teams a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year....there are many more important issues to focus upon in this season of giving. Please look for our traditional Night Before Christmas story in the coming days...decisions/decisions....what would Jobu do????

'Captain Jeff '

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This high energy husband and wife team joined the SKA Professional Kingfish Tour after qualifying by finishing 8th in SKA Division IV in 2002.  In 2002 they won the Kingfish Division of the Offshore Blitz, won 1st place Lady Angler in the Two Way KMT, 2nd place Lady Angler and 9th overall at the Halfmoon KMT. Team FishDancer won the final leg of the SKA Pro Tour in Louisiana in 2003 by landing a 61.1 pound fish, the 2nd largest of the season and the largest weighed by a Lady Angler.  Team FishDancer has had 17 top ten day one performances on the SKA Pro Tour and seven top ten finishes; including  2 top Lady Angler wins; Golden Isles leg of the SKA Pro tour in 2007  and the Jacksonville leg of the SKA Pro Tour in 2005.   So far in 2008 the team has finished in 18th place overall in the Junior Angler Jacksonville King Mackerel Tournament and in 8th place at the SKA PRO tour stop in Brunswick, Georgia.   In 2007 the team has finished 4th overall at the Brunswick, Georgia SKA Pro Tour and earned 5th place in the 2007 ASWSC  20th Anniversary Sailfish Tournament, in Palm Beach, Florida. The team performed well in 2006 with 4 in the money finishes, including the 2 National Championships, 17th in the Rumble in the Jungle,  a 7th place finish in the 2006 Little River stop on the SKA Pro Tour and finished 6th overall in the 2005 SKA Pro tour event in Jacksonville. Nancy and Jeff, one of the top performing husband and wife competitive angling teams in the nation, finished 14th overall for the SKA Pro season with Nancy earning 3rd place Lady Angler. Nancy and Jeff  earned The team has completed the SKA Professional kingfish grand slam weighing in fish in the 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 pound classes, holds the SKA big fish (61.1)  for Port Fourchon, LA and has finished in the money 26 times in its SKA career.  Nancy is considered one of the top Lady Anglers in the nation and Jeff has received the prestigious SKA Director's award for his 'unselfish contributions to our sport"'

Nancy@FishDancer.net or Jeff@FishDancer.net

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