Published: Friday, Jul. 10, 2009

Updated: Friday, Jul. 10, 2009

Anglers anxious for DeSoto tourney

Tim Huffstutler’s voice raises to a high pitch when he talks about his experience in the DeSoto Fishing Tournament.

He gets excited about being part of a winning team a few years back with the famous Tommy Butler as the captain.

He gets excited about finishing in third place one year.

And you can even hear the excitement in Huffstutler’s voice about his fifth-place finish last year.

“The DeSoto Fishing Tournament is like the Daytona 500 for fishermen in Manatee and Sarasota counties,” the offshore angler said. “This tournament is not for beginners. It’s for fishermen who’ve been around for awhile.”

The 13th annual DeSoto Fishing Tournament starts today with the offshore fishermen setting sail this evening, while the junior, nearshore and inshore anglers start Saturday with a 7 a.m. shotgun start.

Huffstutler, 51, who was a commercial fisherman for almost two decades before switching to sports fishing about four years ago, said he’ll take his 36-foot boat named “Lucky Legend” — one that he rebuilt himself— offshore about 140 to 150 miles to “bring home a winner”.

“You know about the Exxon Valdez?” Huffstutler said of the infamous oil tanker. “I’m going so far out that they are going to have to hook that up to me to get me home, so I won’t run out of gas.”

Huffstutler said he’ll fish for dolphin, mahi mahi and swordfish, among other fish that swim 500 feet to 1,000 feet down in the Gulf of Mexico.

Others will settle for smaller fish closer to shore.

Jimmy Campbell, 16, said he’ll fish from the the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to the Long Bar in Sarasota. That plan brought the Manatee High junior a Juniors Division Inshore title last year.

“I had the biggest snook and redfish last time,” said Campbell, who along with Tyler Orban, 16, make up Team Action Yamaha. “We use a lot of shiners and shrimp too, depending on what kind of fish we are after. It makes a difference sometimes.”

Bragging rights make a difference, too. And with the DeSoto Fishing Tournament comes the right to boast for a year if you are able to bring home a win in your category.

“This is a wonderful tournament,” Huffstutler said. “With it comes bragging rights, and it’s all in good fun.”