Tired of the rainy weather? Go fish
Fishing tourney won't be stopped by forecast
By Amanda Cuda
Staff writer
Meteorologists are forecasting the weather will continue to be soggy throughout Saturday. But organizers of area events aren't letting the weather rain on their parades.
Or, rather, fishing and tennis tournaments.
Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin said there will likely be heavy rainfall and some wind throughout Saturday, due to tropical storm Danny, which is making its way north. Jacquemin, also owner of the Connecticut Weather Center in Danbury, said the storm stalled on Friday, so it was unclear exactly where in this region it would fall and how severe it would be. "It really depends on the track of the storm," he said.
But it's likely the rain will taper off after 2 p.m. Saturday, with skies getting progressively clearer Sunday. Gary Lessor, assistant to the director meteorological studies and weather center at Western Connecticut State University, agreed that the wet conditions should improve by late afternoon. "Everything should get better as the day progresses," Lessor said.
Meanwhile, both the Saturday session of the Pilot Pen Tennis Tournament in New Haven and the 2009 WICC Greatest Bluefish Tournament on Earth were scheduled to go on as planned, as of late Friday afternoon. The Bluefish Tournament takes place Saturday and Sunday, with fishing enthusiasts in Long Island Sound looking for the biggest bluefish they can catch.
Tournament director Chris Mancini said roughly 4,500 people were expected to compete in the event, including some people from as far away as Florida and Texas. Mancini said the tournament would go on in pretty much any weather conditions short of a hurricane, though he advised those with small boats to wait until the rain subsides to head out.
Competitors in the tournament are supposed to take the fish they catch to designated bait shop weigh stations scattered throughout the coastline in both Connecticut and New York. One such station is Seaview Avenue Fish, 365 Seaview Ave., Bridgeport. Bob Simna, who works at Seaview, said the weather predictions hadn't deterred any of the fishermen he'd spoken to and that most of them were "gung ho" about the contest.
"They are fishermen," Simna said of the competitors. "That's the most important thing to them. The weather isn't going to stop them."
That might be so, but those heading out on the water should be careful, said Lt. Junior Grade David Moser of the Coast Guard Long Island Sound Sector in New Haven. "We'd like to warn all mariners to exercise caution while getting underway," he said.
Weekend forecast from Connecticut Weather Center: Saturday: Flash flood watch until 6 p.m. Cloudy skies with periods of rain and thunderstorms, heavy at times with increasing winds. Highs near 75 degrees. Winds east to northeast 10 to 20 miles per hour with gust 20 to 25 miles per hour. Saturday night: Showers and thunderstorms ending. Lows 60 to 65 degrees. Winds southwest five to 10 miles per hour. Sunday: Becoming partly sunny. Highs near 80 degrees. Winds west five to 10 miles per hour.
Call ahead Interested in making sure that the 2009 WICC Greatest Bluefish Tournament on Earth and the Pilot Pen are still a go? Call 203-366-BLUE for updates on the bluefish tournament. For updates on Pilot Pen, visit www.pilotpentennis.com or call 1-888-99-PILOT.
Fishing tourney won't be stopped by forecast
By Amanda Cuda
Staff writer
Meteorologists are forecasting the weather will continue to be soggy throughout Saturday. But organizers of area events aren't letting the weather rain on their parades.
Or, rather, fishing and tennis tournaments.
Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin said there will likely be heavy rainfall and some wind throughout Saturday, due to tropical storm Danny, which is making its way north. Jacquemin, also owner of the Connecticut Weather Center in Danbury, said the storm stalled on Friday, so it was unclear exactly where in this region it would fall and how severe it would be. "It really depends on the track of the storm," he said.
But it's likely the rain will taper off after 2 p.m. Saturday, with skies getting progressively clearer Sunday. Gary Lessor, assistant to the director meteorological studies and weather center at Western Connecticut State University, agreed that the wet conditions should improve by late afternoon. "Everything should get better as the day progresses," Lessor said.
Meanwhile, both the Saturday session of the Pilot Pen Tennis Tournament in New Haven and the 2009 WICC Greatest Bluefish Tournament on Earth were scheduled to go on as planned, as of late Friday afternoon. The Bluefish Tournament takes place Saturday and Sunday, with fishing enthusiasts in Long Island Sound looking for the biggest bluefish they can catch.
Tournament director Chris Mancini said roughly 4,500 people were expected to compete in the event, including some people from as far away as Florida and Texas. Mancini said the tournament would go on in pretty much any weather conditions short of a hurricane, though he advised those with small boats to wait until the rain subsides to head out.
Competitors in the tournament are supposed to take the fish they catch to designated bait shop weigh stations scattered throughout the coastline in both Connecticut and New York. One such station is Seaview Avenue Fish, 365 Seaview Ave., Bridgeport. Bob Simna, who works at Seaview, said the weather predictions hadn't deterred any of the fishermen he'd spoken to and that most of them were "gung ho" about the contest.
"They are fishermen," Simna said of the competitors. "That's the most important thing to them. The weather isn't going to stop them."
That might be so, but those heading out on the water should be careful, said Lt. Junior Grade David Moser of the Coast Guard Long Island Sound Sector in New Haven. "We'd like to warn all mariners to exercise caution while getting underway," he said.
Weekend forecast from Connecticut Weather Center: Saturday: Flash flood watch until 6 p.m. Cloudy skies with periods of rain and thunderstorms, heavy at times with increasing winds. Highs near 75 degrees. Winds east to northeast 10 to 20 miles per hour with gust 20 to 25 miles per hour. Saturday night: Showers and thunderstorms ending. Lows 60 to 65 degrees. Winds southwest five to 10 miles per hour. Sunday: Becoming partly sunny. Highs near 80 degrees. Winds west five to 10 miles per hour.
Call ahead Interested in making sure that the 2009 WICC Greatest Bluefish Tournament on Earth and the Pilot Pen are still a go? Call 203-366-BLUE for updates on the bluefish tournament. For updates on Pilot Pen, visit www.pilotpentennis.com or call 1-888-99-PILOT.