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What does it take to win a Gulf fishing tournament? 5 tales of triumph

Stories by Bradenton Herald contributor, with AI summarization

What does it take to win a Gulf fishing tournament?

This collection of stories details how Manatee County anglers combine skill, planning, teamwork and a bit of luck to reel in prize-winning fish.

Take a look at these five tales of local fishing triumphs.

Team Seaveeche poses with their catch from the Crosthwait Memorial Tournament. By Provided photo

NO. 1: HOW MANATEE ANGLERS PUT TOGETHER A RECORD WIN IN POPULAR FISHING TOURNAMENT

“For the first time in 20 years, we motored home early,” one winner said. | Published May 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Chapman

A member of Team Hurricane Fishing poses with one of the four snook they caught to take home the first-place prize in the Big Art Memorial Snook fishing tournament. By Provided photo

NO. 2: HOW A TEAM OF YOUNG FISHERMEN WON FIRST-PLACE PRIZE IN MANATEE COUNTY SNOOK TOURNAMENT

“We’re on a good streak,” the team captain said. | Published July 28, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jon Chapman

Tampa Bay charter captain TJ Stewart poses with a snook. By Provided photo

NO. 3: BRADENTON-AREA ANGLERS SECURE FISHING TOURNAMENT VICTORY WITH ‘PERFECT’ CATCH

The difference came down to catching one last trout. | Published June 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Chapman

Crystal Davenport poses with a 28-pound red snapper that weighed in as the largest of its kind in the 2025 Suncoast Snapper Slapper tournament. By Provided photo

NO. 4: GULF FISHING TEAM WINS LOCAL TOURNAMENT WITH A PAIR OF GIANT RED SNAPPER

This 28-pound red snapper tipped the scales at weigh-in. | Published June 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Chapman

A member of Team Shrimpin Ain’t Easy poses with one of their tournament-winning snook. The team turned in four snook totaling 161 inches to win first place. By Provided photo

NO. 5: YOUNG BRADENTON-AREA ANGLERS WIN MANATEE TOURNAMENT WITH 4 GIANT SNOOK

“Arguably one of, if not the hardest, tournament to win in Manatee County,” one angler said. | Published July 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jon Chapman

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists or contributing writers.