ESPN Freshwater

PORT ARTHUR, Texas — Texas natives Tim Young and Jason Catchings are happy the community of Port Arthur, Texas, pulled out all the stops last August during the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup.

But they're even happier the Cup is returning to the same site this week, giving them a chance to defend their win in the Lone Star State, as this year's Port Arthur event marks the second stop on the 2008 tournament circuit.

The Redfish Cup comes back to the Pleasure Island Marina Boardwalk May 30-June 1. The decision to return to Port Arthur was an easy one for Redfish Cup officials: Founded on the western bank of Sabine Lake, Port Arthur boasts a rich history, prime redfish fisheries and big Texas smiles.

The city of Port Arthur has a proud history. During September of 1863, a Confederate company of 40 Irish dock workers defended Sabine Pass from a Union invasion with just six cannons. This spirit of independence among all Texans contributed to the rise of oil barons around the turn of the 20th century. Soon the city became the site of one of the largest oil refineries in the world, and today the oil industry still comprises a large part of the region's economy.

As for the redfishing, some of the most lucrative small ponds, lakes and marshes on tour are less than 30 miles from the launch site. And with the higher slot limit in Texas (28 inches for the top limit), anglers will be looking for those hefty bites.

During last year's action, Young and Catchings found success in water less than 3 feet deep, but this year anglers are predicting a different approach, especially given the time of year for the tournament.

"There will be fish everywhere at Port Arthur," said Redfish Cup pro Travis Holeman.

With a large number of Cup competitors hailing from the Texas coast, angler familiarity with these waters is both a blessing and a curse.

A "home" angler may be able to identify a school of feasting redfish or find a new hole well off the beaten path. On the other hand, the added pressure and knowledge of multiple, proven spots may frazzle the competitor when fishing the waters he or she knows best.

"We consider this a home venue for us, even though it's 60 miles from Galveston," said Redfish Cup angler Ray Malone of Friendswood, Texas. "And we can always expect lots of fish there, and a really great time. We just hope to do better than the seventh place finish we had last year," Malone said. "We should have won it but we just made a bad decision."

Other than defending champs Young and Catchings and the duo of Loring and Malone, be on the lookout for teammates Robert Scherer from Houston and Blaien Friermood from Baytown, Texas. The duo finished fifth there last year, but won the Kemah event just down the Texas coast.

With only one stop in Texas on this year's circuit, every team will be looking to make the most out of the Lone Star State.