Troy Pruitt
Gene Doyle Memorial, Naples FL
Troy Pruitt was born and raised in Naples, Fl where he currently lives with his wife of 9 years, Kristin, and two daughters, Karlie (6) and Kendra (3). Troy has been in the pool service and repair business since 1991 owning and operating Anglers Pool Service, Inc. Troy’s business name remarkably reflects his true, deep passion for fishing which he has had since he was able to hold a fishing rod and reel. In fact, his parents said, “they knew Troy was obsessed when, at the age of 2, he was walking down the Naples beach with a rotten, stinky ladyfish which he had found attached to a piece of mono!” 
Troy doesn't have a favorite species to catch and is very content as long as he is fishing, whether it is inshore or offshore. He especially loves tournament fishing when everything he has learned on the water must be compiled into performance for 1-2 days when it really counts.
Troy’s list of tournament accomplishments is not only long, but very impressive as well. He was Grand Champion of both the Gene Doyle Backcountry Release Fishing Tournament and the Mercury S.L.A.M. Tournament for the past three consecutive years. Troy was Grand Champion of the Redbone Series in 2006, Redbone in 2005 and the Baybone in 2006 as well as runner up in 2009. He was Collier County Redsnook Grand Champion in 1998 and IFR Redfish Tour Open Division winner in Goodland 2003. Troy has placed high and won countless more division awards and titles in tournaments over the past decade. He will be an angler to contend with this July.
When he is not fishing, Troy enjoys spending time with his family and attends First Baptist Church of Naples regularly.
Nils Zackrisson
Pike Challenge Winner, Sweden
Nils Zackrisson is a passionate 28 year old angler born in a small country side village in
He also enjoys hunting, classic automobiles and his fishing team; El-Ge Sportfiske. Nils family includes his fiancé,
Betsy Bullard
Herman Lucerne Memorial Backcountry
Betsy was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia and started fishing with her Father in the Chesapeake Bay as soon as she could hold a fishing rod. She says “As I grew, so did my love for fishing. I would fish for anything that swam! My entire life has been about finding another fishing experience!”
She finally made it to the Keys in 2004 to live and fish. When asked what her favorite fish to go after? She still takes a while to answer: “I guess I have to say whatever fish is on the agenda for today! Betsy is very active in the International Woman’s Fishing Association.
Aledia Hunt Tush
Sarasota Sportfishing Angler's Club Tarpon Tournament, Sarasota, FL
Aledia was born and raised in Grundy, VA. She graduated from Morehead State Univ. in KY in 1975 where she met her husband, Lee. In the fall of 1976, they ventured to Sarasota, FL. to own and operate CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key. That is when Aledia found her fishing passion, tarpon is her favorite but she loves all saltwater fishing!
Mason, Aledia and Lee’s son, is now active in operating CB’s after graduating from University of Florida. Aledia is active in CCA, Sarasota Sportfishing Angler's Club Tarpon Tournament, Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, SCVB, First Christian Church and the International Women's Fishing Association. Aledia was 2009 Winner of Sarasota Sportfishing Angler's Club Tarpon Tournament, she also won the tournament in 1999.
Chip Stringer
Redbone Redtrout Savannah Celebrity Classic
Chip grew up in Savannah, GA hunting and fishing the coastal areas of Georgia, Northeast Florida, and South Carolina. He currently lives in Savannah with his wife,
Margie and their 4 year old son, William who is already an avid fisherman. Chip is a Colon and Rectal Surgeon by profession.
He enjoys chasing trout and reds in his home waters as well as bonefishing in the Bahamas. Chip was Grand Champion Angler for the Savannah Red-Trout Celebrity classic in 2009, Runner-up Grand Champion Angler in 2007 and part of the Team Grand Champions in 2007. He also fishes other local tournaments.
Molly Fleming
IWFA Islamorada Light Tackle Tournament, Islamorada, FL
Molly Fleming was born in Florida and grew up on Palm Beach Shores where she currently lives. She has been active in the International Women’s Fishing Association from the time she was 15 years old (1972) and has always loved to fish for pretty much anything. Molly loves tournament fishing because of the competition and she is also a long time member of The West Palm Beach Fishing Club. Whe has won several tournaments through IWFA and the WPBFC as well as other awards from different clubs. Molly says, “I love to fish in Islamorada and my other favorite place is Tropic Star Lodge in Panama, I have been fishing there for about 20 years. Fishing is such a good Brain Break and I am happiest when I am fishing!”
Joe Viar
Mercury Redbone, Islamorada, FL
Joe Viar grew up in
Graduating from
The Redbone Trilogy consisting of The SLAM, Baybone and Redbone are team events. He fishes them with his Fishing and Life partner, Bonnie Christ. They fish bait or use lures in these events because of the difficulty of sharing the bow with fly rods. Joe and Bonnie have won Team Grand Champion Angler in the 1998
Each Redbone Trilogy Tournament starts with The Superfly which is a one day, single angler, single fly pattern, fly fishing only event. In 1998 Joe was the only angler in the history of the Superfly to “sweep” all three events in a single year. Bonnie is the only woman to ever win the Redbone Grand Champion Angler as she did in 2003. She was Redbone Lady Grand Champion in 2006 and has twice fished the IGFA Inshore World Championship.
Jake Turek
Redghost Stalk, Islamorada, FL
Jake Turek grew up fishing the flats and offshore waters of the Florida Keys.
Barry Shevlin
Herman Lucerne Memorial Backcountry Tournament, Key Largo Florida
Barry Shevlin is an attorney practicing law in the Miami area for almost 25 years. He is affiliated with the IGFA and sits on their fund raising committee. 
Barry began fishing at age 3 when he fish caught a porkfish at the Miami Beach Coast Guard Base. He bought his first boat when he was 12 and always fished offshore believing flats were nothing more than navigational hazards. In 1999, he was invited to go sight fishing with a friend and I immediately became hooked on the flats. From that point forward, Barry spent a lot of time learning how to pursue the inshore species and develop my sight casting skills.
Barry won the One Jig Tournament, Backbone Inshore Tournament and been both MET Master Angler and MET Offshore Master Angler. He was Top Overall Angler in the Gene Doyle Fishing Tournament and has won various divisions of The Yamaha Billfish Tournament and The Bob Lewis Billfish Tournament. He comes to us as the winner of the Lucerne-Grossman Memorial Tournament with a long and solid tournament record.
He also enjoys scuba diving, spearfishing, golf and teaching his boys how to fish and dive.
