STW Outdoors

10/25/2026

🎣 Leg 4 of the NRFOM Inshore Trail

With the wind blowing, we checked out the Neuse before tucking tail and spending the day in the Trent.

Our third stop finally put us on the board. Lee’s favorite bait—the Rapala SSW-11—produced a solid 6.07-pound striper to get us started. After a couple fish spit the hooks and a few barely legal fish made the weigh-in bag, we were sitting at 8.11 pounds and decided to move again.

A couple casts into the next stop, I got slammed and broke off. Lee followed it up with another 3-plus-pound fish for the bag. I retied, we worked down the bank, and just as we were preparing to move, Lee fired a cast tight to a dock.

Bang—fish on!

After a few minutes, we got it in the net and realized Lee had caught a 10-pound striper, adding roughly four more pounds to our tournament bag!

We spent the rest of the day searching for a trout and redfish, but all we found were stumps and more stripers. Lee put together an incredible day with more than 30 pounds of stripers caught. Our tournament bag finished just over 15 pounds, leaving us barely outside the top six.

It was an absolute slugfest—more than 20 pounds was needed to crack the top four—but we…well, Lee…brought home Big Fish! 🏆

It felt like a normal charter day for me: checking the weather, tying leaders, and netting fish. 😂 But it was awesome watching my best bud put together such a great day!

STWOutdoors NetMan

10/17/2026

🏆📸 Guess I’m Not Just a One Hit Wonder! 😂

After last year’s multi-show-winning landscape photograph “Black Creek”, I decided to challenge myself a little more this year and make the jump into the Professional Division!

Well, I’m excited to say I brought home TWO ribbons! 🙌

🏆 Landscape Photography: “Chasin’ Gold on the Neuse”

🏆 Portrait Photography: “Casting Tradition”

Didn’t place Nautical: “Reel Quick: Eyes on the prize”

Photography has become so much more than just taking pictures for me. It’s about capturing moments, telling stories, and sharing the beauty of God’s creation through my lens.

Making the jump into the professional division was a challenge I wanted to take on, and having both photographs recognized makes it that much more rewarding!

I’m still learning, still growing, and still pushing myself to become a better photographer. There’s always another angle to find, another story to tell, and another moment worth capturing.

Thank you to everyone who continues to encourage and support me and Faith in Focus by STW!

Guided by Faith, Driven by the Outdoors. 🎣📸

CastingTradition ENCPhotography LandscapePhotography PortraitPhotography STWOutdoors

10/05/2026

43.75 inches.

It wasn’t the biggest fish of the tournament, but it did something pretty important...

It beat his brother’s fish by 1/4 of an inch! 😂🏆

More importantly, Dustin had his citation, which meant every participant in the tournament had earned an NC Red Drum Citation for the second year in a row. But what I’ll remember most isn’t that measurement.

Listening to the Sholar family tell stories about hunting together, hearing about Dustin’s deer, watching Mom and Dad experience that fish alongside their son, and seeing two brothers get to share this entire adventure together reminded me why this event means so much to me.

These aren’t just fishing trips. They’re family memories. They’re stories they’ll get to tell for years.

I’m incredibly thankful that, for a little while, I got to be part of theirs.

I don’t know where life will take me or how long I’ll continue charter fishing, but I know one thing for certain:

I’ll always find a way to be part of this event.

Being trusted with these participants and their families has been one of the greatest honors and privileges I’ve had on the water.

The fish are incredible.

The people are better. 🇺🇸🎣❤️

RedDrum FishingForACause FishOfALifetime EasternNC

10/03/2026

Well, my Super Dad run has officially come to an end! 😂

I didn’t make the cut to move on to the next round, but I want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to vote, share, and support me throughout the competition.

At the end of the day, I don’t need a contest to tell me what being a dad means. Getting to be Kaylie’s dad is already one of the greatest titles I’ll ever have. ❤️

Between school, her 3d adventures, watching her grow, and seeing the young lady she’s becoming, I’m just thankful God chose me for the job.

So no crown, no big Super Dad title... but I’m pretty sure I still have to take out the trash, embarrass my daughter in public, and provide unlimited dad jokes. 😂

Seriously, though, thank y’all for showing up for me. Every vote and share meant a lot!

Now back to our regularly scheduled fishing content. 🎣🤣

10/02/2026

10/02/2026

That’s a wrap on the 7th Annual DOUSA NC Old Drum Tournament! 🎣🇺🇸

WHAT. A WEEK.

Our last participants and volunteers are rolling out, the boats are getting cleaned up, and another incredible year is officially in the books.

The fishing was outstanding:

🎣 30 NC Red Drum Citations
🔥 8 over-slot fish
🐟 A few blues, some rays, and even a beautiful 21” flounder!

But the number we’re most proud of:

EVERY SINGLE PARTICIPANT went home with an NC Red Drum Citation for the SECOND YEAR IN A ROW! 🙌🇺🇸

🏆 2026 TOP 3

🥇 1st – Jon
48.5” Red Drum
Taking home the Big Mac Big Fish Award!

🥈 2nd – Glenn
47.5” Red Drum
Kicker: 46.5”

🥉 3rd – Collin
47.5” Red Drum
Kicker: 45”

10/01/2026

FINAL FISH NIGHT!!! 🎣🔥🇺🇸

Going into tonight, every participant had caught a red drum, but we had ONE participant left without a NC Red Drum Citation.

So there was only one thing to do… PUT HIM ON MY BOAT. 😂

Casey, Robert, and I got everything ready and set our sights on finding that BIG red. Then I got informed that Lucky, our cameraman, was joining us too.

No pressure, right? 📸😂

We ran across the river, got set up and went to work. We missed the first bite, but then the next rod got absolutely SMOKED and the fight was ON! 🎣💨

We finally got her boatside and onto the measuring board. We knew we needed a citation, but there was also another number floating around…

43.5 inches.

That was his brother’s fish.

We stretched her out…

43.75”!!!! 🤯🔥🔥🔥

Citation secured.
Brother beaten by ¼ inch. 😂
Monkey officially OFF our backs.

But the best part…

EVERY. SINGLE. PARTICIPANT. CAUGHT A NORTH CAROLINA RED DRUM CITATION!!!

For the SECOND YEAR IN A ROW!!! 🙌🇺🇸🎣

You couldn’t script a better ending.

That’s what this week is about. Captains, volunteers, sponsors, families and participants all coming together to create moments that will be talked about long after the boats are back on the trailers.

BACK-TO-BACK YEARS. 100% CITATIONS.

What. A. Night.

NCRedDrum CitationFish PamlicoSound NeuseRiver FishingForACause FishOfALifetime