What’s key to Bradenton’s most successful fishing tournament team? Here’s what they say
Captain TJ Stewart has been guiding on the west coast of Florida for more than 23 years.
Over the past few years, he’s noticed popular fishing grounds getting very busy, making tournament days a bit tougher.
“I think a lot of people get in the same routine and can get stuck doing things that don’t work,” the Southeast High graduate said. “Stuff might work to catch fish for a few weeks, but then on a weekend there are too many boats trying to do what they want to do. Sometimes when you see boats you need to go do something different.”
Stewart — who is the co-captain of Manatee County’s most successful fishing team, Richardson Stinton Roofing powered by Skeeter Boats — says his team’s success comes by having fun.
“Me, Joe, Vinny, Chris and Steve all grew up together but started out fishing against each other. About 10 years ago, we started fishing on the same team.
“Recently we’ve been saying we are done after each tournament, but it’s still so nice to just get out and fish so we haven’t stopped yet. There’s still the adrenaline rush when a big snook comes up and shakes its head or a tarpon goes airborne. That feeling doesn’t get old.”
This year, Stewart has had a new challenge by relying heavily on his teammates for more up-to-date fishery information. Since the second week of May, he’s been in Boca Grande running tarpon charters away from his home waters of Tampa Bay.
It didn’t slow the team down during the recent Crosthwait Memorial Fishing Tournament, as they took the second leg of the Triple Crown Fishing Series Presented by Manasota Flooring to follow up their win from round one.
“We got lucky. We got some good snook bites early and that took the pressure off. Then we went to do the redfish deal and got a couple decent ones. It was the trout that made the difference,” Stewart explained, turning in a total of 431 points with their 44- and 43-inch snook, pair of 34-inch redfish, and 29- and 24-inch trout. It was their fourth consecutive Crosthwait win.
With the 16th Annual Fire Charity Fishing Tournament based out of Palmetto this weekend, Stewart will venture north to join his teammates hoping to sweep the series at the third and final leg of the triple crown.
It brings together the best anglers who all know Richardson Stinton Roofing powered by Skeeter Boats is the team to beat.
“This could be our last year. We’re all getting older, and I don’t know if we’re going to be able to keep doing it,” said Stewart, whose son is now also competing in tournaments.
“I know we talk about it being the end, but we hear from people they want us to keep fishing because they want to beat us and it drives them too. We’re all buddies who just like to have fun and hang out. Of course we’re also competitive so we try to fish hard.”
The weekend of events for the 16th Annual Fire Charity tournament will culminate Sunday afternoon as offshore boats will head to the scales at Riverside Park in Palmetto.
For more information visit FireCharityFishing.com
