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11/25/2018 1 Comment

torch ANNOUNCES the final 2019 rws team

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November 25, 2019
For Immediate Release
St. Bernard, LA

by RWS Staff


Torch Eyewear, a proud sponsor of the 2019 Redfish World Series, announces the Final Team selected that will be competing for the Title of 2019 Redfish World Champion!

Torch Eyewear may be a new name in the world of  competitive sports optics but the company was founded, and is being run by, a legend in the industry. Louis Wellen has been a mainstay in the arena of competitive sports eyewear for decades and now brings all those years of  experience into play with the development of the Torch brand and product line. Torch presents a spectacular selection of eyewear for the competitive angler with multiple lens and frame selections that offer varying levels of polarization so you will have the right lens for the conditions on the water every day! When the chips are down, every cast counts, and your vision on the water must be at its very best choose Torch and run with a winner.

The inaugural Redfish World Series – “Where Champions are Born and Legends Begin” – will take place in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana  September 26-29, 2019. Only 48 of the top redfish teams in the country, including several Legacy Teams from the past, will make the cut for this unique event. Never in the history of competitive redfish angling has a field of this magnitude been assembled and the team that comes out on top will truly be the Redfish World Champions.

The 48th team to be revealed is:


Jacob Leininger/Jeff Rogers

Congratulations to Jacob and Jeff and welcome to the Top 48 list for the 2019 Redfish World Series.

The RWS selection process has been an extremely arduous one for our committee but every effort was made to make fair and unbiased selections.  As the process continued we found that some of the final teams were so closely ranked that only a point or two separated them. Other than the 48 teams selected and announced there are twelve excellent teams that are very closely ranked and will make up an Alternate List should spots come open as we move through the Official Invitation and Entry process.

Congratulations to all 48 teams selected. Now the process of issuing the Official Invitations will begin.

Over the next few weeks these 48 teams will have the opportunity to select a team captain, review the 2019 Participation Agreement, and either accept or turn down their invitation. After captain selection and review of the Participation Agreement, these teams will receive an email with instructions to sign the Participation Agreement as well as how to pay the entry fee and the deadline by which it must be paid. Any team spots that are vacated for any reason will be filled with invitations to a team from the Alternate List.  

Our field of sponsors continues to grow as well. More sponsor announcements coming soon.

The List of the first 48 2019 RWS teams is now complete!


  1.           Kris Robert/Fred Peterman (Top Shelf Myrtle)
  2.           Shane Pescay/Nicky Savoie
  3.           Cole Starr/Brent Juarez
  4.           Tadd Van deMark/Travis Tucker 
  5.           Travis Land/T. Paul Dufrene
  6.           Mark Sepe/Jeff Pope 
  7.           Mike Tindal/Artie Price 
  8.           Jamie Hough/Trent Brady
  9.           Martin Simmons/Keith McBride
  10.           Austin Angel/Lance Reynolds
  11.           Mark Robinson/Tony Salinas
  12.           Rick Murphy/Geoff Page 
  13.           Barnie White/Chad Dufrene
  14.           Fred Myers/Britt Ordes
  15.           Barrett McMullen/Jay Cetodal
  16.           Charlie Barton/Cody Barton
  17.           Greg Watts/Bryan Watts 
  18.           Todd McKellar/Bart Crader
  19.           John Henninger/Chris Henninger
  20.           David Christian/Ray Malone
  21.           Joe Wortham/Randy Lane
  22.           Ryan Rickard/Graham Taylor
  23.           Joey Romero/Jesse Romero
  24.           Chris Evans/Matt Stinnett
  25.           Travis Hancock/Joseph Gumble 
  26.           Jimmy Lloyd/Jeff Steckler
  27.           Dwayne Eschete/Kevin Akin
  28.           Derek Taylor/Brian Goude
  29.           Marvie Benford/Rob Cowan
  30.           Glenn Winningham/Jamie Pinter
  31.           Kyle Potts/Cody Chivas
  32.           Jason Prieto/Brian Visnovec
  33.           Jason Dail/ Allen Jernigan
  34.           Trevor Taylor/Steve Ward
  35.           Chance Angel/Kevin Roberts
  36.           Chris Logan/Jason White
  37.           Bobby Weir/Matt Schoen
  38.           Rennie Clark/Ashley Lowder
  39.           Ron Hueston/Chris Hueston 
  40.           Jeremy Heimes/Mickey Gibbs
  41.           Bo Favre/Trey Fryfogle
  42.           Ronnie Pitts/Chris Rosengarten 
  43.           Mike Taylor/John Roberts 
  44.           Bobby Gilbert /Shane Dubose
  45.           Bobby Sullivan/Bo Sullivan
  46.           Eddie Adams/Sean O’Connell
  47.           Mike Frenette/Michael Frenette
  48.           Jacob Leininger/Jeff Rogers

  Congratulations to all these teams and best of luck as we move forward to the Official Announcement period.



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1 Comment

11/21/2018 0 Comments

Cold Weather Produces GIANT Results

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by Capt Mike Frenette​
 
  
For the most part hunting seasons are either over or winding down but does that mean that your weekends should be spent on the couch? Absolutely not, perfect time of the year to run your boat, play with your tackle, try different lures, and oh yeah by the way stretch your line on some tackle busting 30-40 pound (or larger), world class Redfish.

Years ago, Bull Reds were frowned upon as “trash fish” as they were and are still not the “ones” you want to keep to eat. Times are changing. There are many Louisiana Sportsman and women who do not judge the success of their trip by how many fish they bring back. Remember “back in the day” (how many times have you heard that saying?” when a trip was judged by how many ice chests were filled. This decided whether or not a fishing trip was successful.
 
With the tremendous loss of our largest resource that Louisiana has to offer, our wetlands, which as a result from hurricanes that have ravaged our coastline, sinking of land from miles and miles of canals dug by petroleum companies and estuaries that were heavily impacted “in a negative” sense by the largest man made disaster known to Louisiana in history, the BP oil spill, have all created question marks to what lay’s ahead to our fishery.
 
 
That being said, Louisiana anglers are extremely lucky as when it comes to catching saltwater species such as Redfish anglers can and do expect to catch Redfish twelve months of the year. Most other states do not come even close to the quality of Red fishing that affords anglers whom visit or reside in Louisiana, as a matter of fact Redfish especially the “Giants” are considered seasonal. In late winter there is one area of Louisiana that is considered “the” spot for large Bull Reds that being the Mississippi Delta, especially the Delta region from Empire south to the mouth of the Mississippi River.
 
February and the next couple months are considered a ‘stay home” month cause we usually relate this time period as windy, cold and even rainy days. Oh yeah that can be the truth but squeezed in between the “uglies” one can experience first class conditions and if your lucky you might experience an awesome weather day presenting great opportunities for Reds, especially the giants.
 
Where to Go
 
Unlimited, that’s about the best description that I can give, as there are many options as far as picking a spot or an area to fish. Take a look at any chart, map, Google earth, really doesn’t matter as you will see what I’m talking about. The delta region especially the areas in Plaquemines Parish from Empire south to the mouth of the river and this encompasses both sides of the river. From one side of the Delta to the other you will find numerous cuts, passes, ditches, areas that spin off the river and head to bays or “edges” of the gulf. Where these “cuts” enter the bays or edges of the gulf the water is always moving and as a rule, the higher the river, the more current you will find in the area of these “cuts”. Normally at this time of the year the river should be in the early stages of rising, so be looking for good currents in any of the cuts.
 
Because of the water movement at this time of the year these areas carry quite a bit of very small baitfish that the larger baitfish feed on and yes you guessed it, Redfish as well are searching out these bait fish. As the ole saying goes “Find the bait fish” and you will find the predators and as far as I’ m concerned Bull Reds are the predators of the delta.
 
Working the shorelines left and right of these cuts in waters 6’ or shallower is what you will target. Usually the closer you are to the cut, the deeper the waters will be and as you move away from the cut the shallower it becomes.
 
What to Use
 
Certainly you can pick a spot and cast some dead shrimp or cut mullet next to the shore line and yes you will probably catch a couple of giants, but personally that’s not my style.

Preferring artificial baits for many reasons but the most important is that you can cover so much more area than you ever will when fishing with natural bait. This is the time of the year that you will find the giant Reds working very slow along the bottom in search for crabs, mullet, pogy, or for that matter they are not picky during the colder months. You can almost bet they will eat anything in its way, especially if it’s moving slowly. Showing how close to the bottom they are working, don’t be surprised when you catch your beast that on its stomach you will find traces of mud
 
Couple of baits that I really like to use during the winter: Soft plastics and crank baits are my “go to” baits and you can bet my Plano Stow Away Utility Boxes will be stuffed with them. Reason why, in shallow water both can be worked slowly.
 
 As stated earlier, you are most likely to be fishing in 6’ of water or less and using crank baits that are designed for deep water such as Strike King’s 6 XD’s and 10 XD’s are deadly.
 
For the soft plastics consider Strike Kings Glass Minnow connected to a 3/8 oz. jig head. Certainly these are not the only baits that will work but over the years during this time of the year they have proven to create success.
 
Technique
 
First of all working the shore line left or right from the cuts with your trolling motor really gives the angler an advantage as during this time of the year the giant reds or even the smaller ones for that matter are not schooled up in huge schools as you might find in the early fall but finding small packs roaming the bank is quite normal. Using a trolling motor at very slow speeds allows a stealthy stalk along the shoreline. Usually working the first 100 yards in either direction are considered the “target zones”. When working left or right from the cuts position your boat so that you are going with the wind as this will make it easier for presentation of your baits.
 
Pay extreme attention at this time of the year. It might be just the slightest hint that action is close by.  A small swirl, a tiny flip from a bait fish, or if your lucky a “push” from the potential target, will alert you to the possible presence of the giants. At this time of the year heavy activity of baitfish is not likely so be alert. When you see the first sign of any activity, power pole down and work every inch along the bank.  Even if you do not see signs of baitfish, deploy your power pole about every 100 feet so that you can work the area nice and slow.
 
 
It would not surprise me if by now your wondering why the suggestion to use deep diving crank baits in water 6’ or less. As stated previously this is usually the time of the year when the river waters are usually on the rise and usually the water temperature is cooler. Not unusual to have surface temperatures in the low 50’s or even cooler and as also stated earlier the giant Reds are moving much slower than they would during the warmer months there for being able to work your baits slowly again is priority.
 
Working deep diving crank baits slowly in shallow water is very effective as the crank bait churns up the bottom, leaving a “mud trail”. It truly is amazing how slow you can work these baits, wobbling and chugging the bottom at the same time. All this commotion sends off tremendous vibrations that the Reds pick up on their lateral lines.
 
Now when it comes to the soft plastics and jig head, again SLOW is the key here.  Working the shoreline, cast close to the shore and let the bait fall to the bottom, slowly drag the bait on the bottom for about three feet, tighten up with your reel then raise your rod tip up just slightly so that the bait comes off the bottom just for a second. Drop your rod tip and continue this process all the way back to the boat.  As well, intermittently stop as you are retrieving along the bottom creating what’s called a “wounded technique”.  This bait stirs the bottom as well but in a moderate sense compared to crank baits. That is why the original H&H Cocahoe minnow and the Rage shrimp work well as both have great action when barely moving creating strikes during cool and cold weather conditions. Remember it’s all about slow.
 
Tackle
 
Rods such as medium to medium/heavy action seem to be popular when anglers are pursuing the giants. Sense we are targeting larger Reds you might need a little extra muscle on the strike.  A little stiffer rod may help you in turning the beast, keeping the Red from heading into or rubbing along the canes. If you feel comfortable using light action rods, have at it cause as far as I’m concerned when it comes to fishing, the lighter the equipment the more fun to be had. 7’ in length for the rod is perfect for a couple of reasons: allow you to make long casts and still maintain accuracy.

As far as the reels, that really is a matter of preference. Spinning or bait casters have and always will be debatable. Does it matter? No. I’m a bait caster type of guy but the guy next to me might prefer spin casting.  When your casting down the bank, basically in open water, both styles work.
 
Over the years using braided style lines have become extremely popular and when chasing the giants it becomes quite apparent that braided line either 20 or 30 pound test will truly give an angler “the edge”. During the colder months “the bite” might be very subtle and braided line is so sensitive that you will feel the slightest nudge on your bait.
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Usually when casting soft plastics attaching about an 18”-24” of  20 pound-45 pound test fluorocarbon line to the braid taking the “stiffness” out of the braid, making the bait (soft plastic) look more realistic. When it comes to the crank baits, keep it simple, tie directly to the braid. If you haven’t tried Vicious Braid or Vicious Fluorocarbon give it a try, might soon become your favorite.
 
Tips

  • Mid Day.
  • Incoming Tides
  • Muddy Bottoms
  • Check line for abrasions after each fish
  • Always net fish head first
  • Proper tools on boat
  • Take time when releasing 
 
 
No reason to head out on cold days at the crack of dawn. During the middle of the day when the sun is at its highest usually is when the bite is on especially if the tide is in coming
 
As the tide comes in giant Reds will begin working the shoreline as they usually stage from the deeper waters to the shallow waters with in coming tides.
 
If at all possible, look for muddy bottoms vs. sandy bottoms as mud bottoms gather and retain heat from the sun better than sandy bottoms.
 
Always check for abrasions after each battle, as it is very easy for the line to become nicked due to the bony make up and sharp gill plates of the Redfish.
 
Having a good strong net such as Frabill is an important factor. Don’t chase the fish with your net. Simply wait for the right time to net your fish. Allow the giant Red to get close to the boat, position yourself and the net so that the Red is approaching with its head first. Get the head of the Red in the net first. Turn the handle of the net perpendicular to the water and then lift the Red in the boat. Its Ok if the tail is hanging out of the net, he’s not going anywhere.
 
Making sure you have pliers and proper hook removal tools are essential as the mouth of these big Reds are extremely bony. Having proper tools will prevent damage to the Red when the hook is being removed.
 
Take a couple of pictures then lets release it, as these giants are not only old but are our breeding stock. Studies have shown that Redfish usually do not reproduce until the 7th year and that a 35-40 pound giant can be 20-25 years of age, if not older.
 
Don’t just toss the Red back in. Most of the time these giants have exerted themselves during the fight and a little thanks and assistance might be required. Cradle the Red, lower into the water then hold the fish by its tail. Some times they will swim right off but others might take a few minutes to rest. When they are ready, they will simply swim out of your hand.
 
It’s a great feeling to battle these giants on light tackle then watch them swim away to fight another day.
 
Having a successful trip isn’t always about “limiting out”
   
 
Capt. Mike Frenette
Redfish Lodge of Louisiana
venicefishing.net 
0 Comments

11/15/2018 0 Comments

only one team left -  who will it be?

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November 15, 2019
For Immediate Release
St. Bernard, LA

T-H MARINE , a proud sponsor of the 2019 Redfish World Series announces the next four teams that will be competing for the Title of Redfish World Champion!

The inaugural Redfish World Series – “Where Champions are Born and Legends Begin” – will take place in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana  September 26-29, 2019. Only 48 of the top redfish teams in the country, including several Legacy Teams from the past, will make the cut for this unique event. Never in the history of competitive redfish angling has a field of this magnitude been assembled and the team that comes out on top will truly be the Redfish World Champions.

Our field of sponsors continues to grow as well. More sponsor announcements coming soon.

T-H MARINE - Where anything and everything for your boating needs can be found. Visit their site - https://thmarinesupplies.com/ - thank 'em for helping to make the Redfish World Series a truly awesome event, and see what the buzz is all about with their product lines. T-H Marine Supplies is truly a one-stop-shop for anything on the water. If it goes on or in a boat these guys have it!

Forty Seven of the 48 teams have now been announced! There is only ONE team to go. The selection has been made and the Final Announcement will come very soon.

The excitement to see which new  teams have been added and who the Final Team will be is growing daily. As we approach the end of the selection/announcement process anglers, fans, family, and sponsors across the country have now realized that these are the most coveted invitations in the history of competitive redfishing and are holding their breath hoping that their favorite team will be chosen.

The following Four teams join the first 43 in their pursuit of the title of Redfish World Champion:  
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  1. Bobby Gilbert / Shane Dubose
  2. Bobby Sullivan / Bo Sullivan
  3. Eddie Adams / Sean O’Connell
  4. Mike Frenette / Michael Frenette     

Congratulations to these teams and best of luck as we move forward to the Final Announcement coming soon.

Don’t see your favorite team yet? There's Only One More Team To Go!

​Check back daily so you don’t miss the excitement of the Final Announcement and complete list. 
0 Comments

11/12/2018 0 Comments

evolution

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Baseball – from the earliest days of the sport to today there have been many advancements. The balls are better, the bats more robust, the gloves and other equipment have been upgraded many, many times. But one thing has remained constant – they still throw a ball and an opponent tries to hit it. The work, the skill, the effort, the desire, and the drive required to produce results at a championship level remain the same.

Football – tons of advances in equipment, workout regimen, dietary regimen, and strategies. But one thing remains the same – advance the ball beyond the opponent’s goal line by throwing and catching or running with the ball. The work, the skill, the effort, the desire, and the drive required to produce results at a championship level remain the same.

Golf – From hickory sticks to metallurgical wonders of alloy, golf equipment has evolved tremendously over the decades. But the game has remained constant - completion of a series of designated holes by striking a ball in such an incredibly accurate manner that one is able to complete the series of holes in fewer strokes than the opponents. The work, the skill, the effort, the desire, and the drive required to produce results at a championship level remain the same.

Basketball – by now you get the picture. The work, the skill, the effort, the desire, and the drive required to produce results at a championship level remain the same.

Every sport started out as a friendly method of competition. It was for bragging rights mostly. It was just to see who could master the skills required to perform better than others. And, over time, every sport evolved from that out-in-the-street backyard mentality to a tier of competitions led by those that were the very best at their sport.

It is notable that in every professional sport there has been a limit to the changes allowed by the groups of leaders that oversee the integrity of their sport. These are the people that founded and perfected the professional level of every competitive sport. The common thread among them is a deep and abiding love for, and belief in, their chosen sport.

These are the men and women who loved and cherished their sport above their own personal gain and wanted to be certain that the integrity, the heart, the very foundation, of their sport remained unchanged. They wanted to ensure that performing professionally in any sport became defined by the work ethic, skill, sacrifice, and desire that it takes to get there and stay there.

This is true in fishing as well because not every change in equipment, technique, or method is a good thing for the truth and integrity of the sport.

Fishing is as old as humankind itself. It is man versus fish. Pretty simple really – catch a fish, eat a fish. Then someone challenged someone else with the idea of catching more or bigger fish than the other person. From this very first competition, the idea and concept of organized competition took root and grew.

Methods and techniques and equipment changes flourished. Mason jar tournaments evolved for weekend fun and some of these anglers began to become known for their prowess and expertise in finding and catching fish. They used their knowledge from years of study and hundreds upon hundreds of hours on the water learning about the life and times of their prey. Again and again they were the victors in these competitions and it was due to their skill, intelligence, work ethic, and love of the “pureness” of their sport.

Many different fishing organizations have evolved from that first contest eons ago. All these organizations have at their very core an inviolate principle of sportsmanship. They deny their competitors the use of equipment or technique that gives an unfair advantage to the competitor. It doesn’t matter if that equipment or technique is available to everyone. It becomes a matter of principle,   of sportsmanship, and of honesty in competition. Utilizing a means that detracts from the skill level, work, effort, and drive required to compete at a championship level is simply not allowed in any other sport nor should it be allowed in competitive angling.

Now let’s talk about fishing at a championship level – particularly redfishing. Same story as the other sports. Equipment has changed, techniques have changed, competition has intensified, rewards are greater – and perhaps in no other sport have the changes been as dramatic. Boats, rods, reels, electronics, navigational aids, motors, lures, livewells – every single aspect of competitive angling has changed and changed dramatically.

B.A.S.S., the largest and most well-known fishing organization in the world, has enacted rules that disallow certain techniques that give an angler an unfair advantage over the fish as well as the other anglers. There is zero tolerance for an elevated platform of any kind and of any height. There is zero tolerance for those that would tarnish the sport by competing in an unsportsmanlike manner. There is enforcement of the rules evenly and fairly no matter the transgressor.

Then there is competitive redfishing.

A sport that, 20 years later, is still trapped and writhing in its infancy. A sport still fragmented and lacking in serious leadership and direction. A sport that has witnessed all the same changes in equipment and technique but without supervision, leadership, or direction. A sport that is still locked in the “out-in-the-street backyard” stages. In short, there is no comprehensive authority to turn to for definition of the sport as a sport. A fishing method or technique that is tremendously advantageous and blurs the line of work ethic, knowledge, and skill should not be allowed on the field of play.

But that is exactly what is happening with the equipment and technique of “burning”.

Any angler of moderate skill given the resources to be able to utilize the technique of running a boat on plane in shallow waters, around every shoreline, and across large shallow flats will be able to find fish and compete on the same level as a veteran angler who has honed his or her skills over years and years of tireless study and effort. It is not truth in action because it artificially transcends and defeats multiple levels of competence and skill. Burning is merely an easy shortcut that short-circuits and eliminates what should be the inherent advantages of knowledge, skill, hard work, and personal drive.
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Simply put, this technique detracts from the skill level required to compete at the highest level. It detracts from the merit, the honesty, and the truth of the sport. Until every redfish tour, trail, and competition in this country bans the use of this technique we will not, we simply cannot, build the sport of competitive redfishing to the level it deserves. Because, as long as this technique is allowed, the separation between anglers of moderate skill and those at the expert level will remain so blurred that a distinction between the two is impossible and the sport of competitive redfishing will forever be denied the growth to attain professional status.

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11/9/2018 0 Comments

clutch fishing reveals three more rws teams

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November 09, 2019
For Immediate Release
St. Bernard, LA

CLUTCH FISHING joins the 2019 Redfish World Series and is proud to announce the next three teams that will be competing for the Title of Redfish World Champion.

The inaugural Redfish World Series – “Where Champions are Born and Legends Begin” – will take place in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana  September 26-29, 2019. Only 48 of the top redfish teams in the country, including several Legacy Teams from the past, will make the cut for this unique event. Never in the history of competitive redfish angling has a field of this magnitude been assembled and the team that comes out on top will truly be the Redfish World Champions.

Our field of sponsors continues to grow as well.

This week we welcome Clutch Fishing. Visit their site - https://clutchfishing.com/ - thank 'em for helping to make the Redfish World Series a truly awesome event, and see what the buzz is all about with their product lines!

Forty Three of the 48 teams have now been announced! There are only five teams to go. The selections have been made and the announcements will continue weekly.

The excitement to see which teams are joining this select group is growing daily. As we approach the end of the selection/announcement  process anglers, fans, family, and sponsors across the country are holding their breath hoping that their favorite team will be chosen.

The following three teams join the first 40 in their pursuit of the title of Redfish World Champion:  

  1. Bo Favre/Trey Fryfogle
  2. Ronnie Pitts/Chris Rosengarten
  3. Mike Taylor/John Roberts      

Congratulations to these teams and best of luck as we move forward with additional announcements coming weekly.

Don’t see your favorite team yet? There's still Five more to go!

​Check back daily so you don’t miss the excitement of the upcoming announcements.
0 Comments

11/8/2018 2 Comments

watts up?

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by RWS Staff

The Past:
It’s a done deal. A record of events. You can see it, touch it, and know what it is.

1960 – Looking back on a simpler time in this country when the average cost of a new house was $12,700, average rent was $98, Gasoline was 25 cents a gallon, a loaf of bread was 20 cents, and you could get a new car for $2600. You could even take a selfie but it was a little more cumbersome with the Polaroid Land Camera and was considered pretty darned expensive at about $93.

And, in the sleepy little burb of Lakeland, Florida Sylvia Watts gave birth to twin boys – Greg Duward and Bryan Christopher.

2018 – Today the average cost of a new house - $369,400, average rent $2000, gasoline $2.80, loaf of bread $2.50, new car $36,270. And a selfie? That’s about $400 on the low end to $1500 at the top.

And, in the dark recesses of one man’s mind (yes, it was Gritter) an idea was born. An idea that would grow into a very special event. An event that will expose, celebrate, and nurture the competitive redfishing industry by showcasing the best redfish anglers in the country. These are the teams that consistently perform at a very high level and, due to their constant presence in the media, are the most influential group of redfish anglers in the world. These are the teams that will make up the 2019 Redfish World Series www.facebook.com/RedfishWorldSeries/

The Future: it’s a funny thing. It is not recorded because it’s not here yet. You can’t see it. You can’t touch it. You don’t have any idea what it contains. But…..we are all flying headlong into it.

Back in 1960 no one knew that home prices, rent, gasoline, food, and photos were going to become so expensive. No one knew that a World Series would come to mean something other than baseball. And, no one knew that these two infants - these Watts boys - would go on to become a couple of the most celebrated outdoorsmen and anglers of their time.

They grew up around water. They waded. They swam. They watched. They fished. They studied.

The water, the salt, the air, the pure joy of being outdoors soon intermingled with their blood and they became one with the environment. They followed, they observed, and they learned all about the creatures of the water, their habitat, and their habits. They became the quintessential hunters of the watery world they loved so well.

Then, came the competitions.

In their late teens and early twenties, they stalked the local bass competitions and became feared opponents. In the mid-1990’s they got interested in saltwater competition. They fished competitively for reds, snook, and trout with Bryan winning the SFFA Grand Champion title on the fly rod in 1997. In 2000 they fished the inaugural Herman Lucerne event in Flamingo, FL chasing six different species over two days. They won that event. And, in 2001, they backed it up with another victory in the same event. To this day they are the only team to win successive titles in that event.

The bit was in their teeth now and there was no turning back.

In 2000 the IFA came along and began their redfish series. The Watts boys were there too. Over the next several years they notched back to back wins, Championship Titles, Team of the Year, and were a constant and persistent force to be reckoned with. Their pervasive success continued with the ESPN Redfish Cup where they were the 2003 inaugural Port Aransas Cup Champions followed by a Championship win in Venice, LA and, subsequently, Team of the Year honors.

Additionally, they have won Team of the Year on the FLW redfish tour, have an uncountable number of Top Ten finishes, and may be the only team to hold Team of the Year honors on all three of those tours.

Not only have they been incredibly consistent with their competitive prowess, but they have contributed widely to the advancement of the sport of competitive redfishing. Their very notoriety brought much interest and involvement by anglers and industries to the sport. They helped make competitive redfishing a topic of general conversation thereby increasing its visibility and popularity.

Current Day: The Watts brothers are much more sedate now and don’t get on the water competitively as much as they have in days past. This is mostly because their days and weeks are consumed traveling and building the brand for one of the finest fishing products in the world – Power Pole! www.power-pole.com/

Oh, they still travel to competitions regularly. But now they are there as Power Pole company support instead of as competitors. This makes the other competitors happy on both accounts.

It is for good reason that these guys are known around the industry as the Godfathers of competitive redfishing. It is also for good reason that they are the first Legacy team invited to compete in the 2019 Redfish World Series in St. Bernard parish Louisiana www.sbpg.net

It remains to be seen if their competitive juices, their desire to win, their innate talents can be re-ignited, stoked to a high intensity, and brought once more to the pinnacle of victory in the fiery crucible of competition just one… more… time.
2 Comments

11/4/2018 1 Comment

ENgel Coolers announces four more rws teams

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November 04, 2019
For Immediate Release
Chalmette, LA

ENGEL COOLERS joins the 2019 Redfish World Series and is proud to announce the next four teams that will be competing for the Title of World Champion.

The inaugural Redfish World Series – “Where Champions are Born and Legends Begin” – will take place in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana September 26-29, 2019. Only 48 of the top redfish teams in the country, including several Legacy Teams from the past, will make the cut for this unique event. Never in the history of competitive redfish angling has a field of this magnitude been assembled and the team that comes out on top will truly be the Redfish World Champions.

Our field of sponsors continues to grow as well.

This week we welcome Engel Coolers. Visit their site - www.engelcoolers.com - thank 'em for helping to make the Redfish World Series a truly awesome event, and see what the buzz is all about with their product lines!

Forty of the 48 teams have now been announced!

The excitement to see which teams are joining this select group is growing daily. Fans, family, and sponsors across the country are holding their breath hoping that their favorite team will be chosen.

The following four teams join the first 36 in their pursuit of the title of Redfish World Champion:  

  1. Bobby Weir/Matt Schoen
  2. Rennie Clark/Ashley Lowder
  3. Ron Hueston/Chris Hueston
  4. Jeremy Heimes/Mickey Gibbs

Congratulations to these teams and best of luck as we move forward with additional announcements coming weekly.

Don’t see your favorite team yet?

​Check back daily so you don’t miss the excitement of the upcoming announcements.
1 Comment

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