Javier Balderas

 Known as Jav or HTM "High Tech Mexican"

Born 02-Feb-79 in Edinburg Texas

Boat: Lake & Bay Boca Grande

Motor: 250 Mercury Opti Max

 As a child, I was brought up fishing at night for red fish with cut bait in Arroyo City Texas. To this day, I still love fishing the flats at night for reds, but fishing murky water and pitching for reds with lures is my true passion. I have been fishing tournaments since the age of 13 with numerous 1^{st place wins and top then 10 finishes in the STX API Redfish Series, Texas Redfish Series and Red Fish Cup Nation events. Currently my home waters are in the Houston Area, but I have fished all along the Gulf of Mexico. My top three choices of bait are 4 inch Berkley Gulp Shrimp, 3 inch Berkley Peeler Crab and the ¾ oz Johnson Spoon. My choice of water is benthic systems with 3/16 oz jig head and peel crab chasing tailing reds. If you ever make it to Texas and hear Mariachi Music pass you up, don’t worry- it’s just me heading home from a day of fishing.}  

Tips: Spend as much time on the water as you possibly can, it will pay off.  Pay attention to the details; learn the habits and the waters you will fish. When you do find the water you want to fish SLOW Down, don’t fish but hunt your fish!

Capt. Gray Drummond

Name; Gray Drummond

Age:35

DOB: 7/1/73

Home: Chiefland, FL

Boat: Lake and Bay Boca Grande

Motor: Mercury 250 Pro XS

Home Waters: Florida's Big Bend

Sponsors: FishBenthic, Rudy Project, Quantum, Rainbow Plastics, and Hogan Bros. Props.

TV Appearances: One More Cast (with Shaw Grigsby); Muzzy Outdoors (Bad to the Bone

Bucks)

Capt. Gray Drummond is a 5th Generation Floridian who grew up on the Suwannee River where

he developed his passion for fishing and other outdoor activities. As his skills progressed he

took his experiences from fishing fresh water to the salt water flats and found his true love.

Capt. Gray soon began entering redfish tournaments and has not looked back. This year alone he will be competing in three different circuits, the Redfish Extreme, Big Bend Redfish Circuit, and the IFA. When Gray is not fishing or spending time with his wife and daughter chances are you

will find him in the woods with a bow, participating in his second love, bowhunting. This is

Gray's first year with FishBenthic and he is looking forward to many more.

Matt

Rob Schumske

Rob developed his great love for inshore fishing while exploring the Texas marshes of Galveston Bay and Freeport. He also enjoys developing knowledge on back lakes, ponds, and flats throughout the Texas coast. Rob is an active tournament fisherman, and spends approximately 100 days on the water each year.  Whether Rob is building fishing rods or chasing red fish, you can definitely feel his passion for the water.

Ed Schumske

Name: Ed Schumske
Location: League City, Texas
DOB: March 27, 1973 Seoul, South Korea
Marital Status: Married to Anahi Schumske
Children: Kayla (7), Avery (6)
Boat: Lake and Bay Boca Grande
Motor: Mercury 300 Pro XS
Home waters: Galveston Bay complex and Freeport
Targeted Species: Redfish

Ed Schumske grew up fishing for Bass on the lakes and ponds in Central Texas   as well as fighting Blue Fish on the jetties in Mobile, Al and Pensacola,   Fl.  Now living in Southeast Texas, he has found the love for fishing the saltwater benthics. He is in search of the perfect slot Redfish that must   measure between twenty and twenty-eight inches.  He has been tournament fishing for the last three years with the Galveston Redfish Series and last two years with the Texas Redfish Series with numerous top five finishes.  He has only just begun, he has his polarized eyes set on the Redfish Cup.  It is awesome to be fishing in the tournament arena with his brother and fishing partner, The Schumske Bros.

While he wishes he could fish everyday, he tries to enjoy the water by taking his daughters fishing or taking his family on a relaxing boat ride. When he's not on the water he enjoys spending time with his family, playing with his kids, golfing, bowling poker runs and Texas Hold'em. 

Capt. Brad Groom

Brad has been fishing in the flats and bays of the Gulf Coast for over 20 years from Panama City to Cedar Key. Brad has been fishing tournaments for the past 10 years competing in both the IFA and the Xtreme Redfish Series among others. He also guides a limited number of clients each year. Brad is sponsored by: FishBenthic, Rudy Project, Rainbow Plastics, Hogan Brothers Props & Quantum Rods & Reels

Jason Purdue

Mark

Name:  Capt. Mark Brady
Age:  46yrs old
DOB:  6-11-63
Home:  High Springs, Fl
Boat:  2008 19' G3 Tunnel Hull
Motor:  4 stroke 90 Yamaha
Home Waters:  Big Bend of Florida
Sponsors:  FishBenthic, Seatow/Horseshoe Beach - P&J Marine, Deep South Rods
Favorite Lure:  Skitterwalk
Targeted Species:  Redfish

Mark started fishing bass tournaments in South Central Florida in his late teens.  He fished primarily freshwater until the the last 7 years when he made the switch to saltwater.  Mark not only fishes the IFA, BBRC and Xtreme Redfish tournament circuits,  he is director for 2 of the 8 Xtreme Redfish divisions in the state of Florida. Though his first love is inshore fishing, he works a portion of the one man Xtreme bass series when he is available.  He gives his time and advice to numerous charity tournaments every year in the BigBend area.   When Mark is not fishing tournaments, you can still find him on the water taking his wife fishing and/or anyone else that enjoys time on the water.    Mark enjoys the challenge and prefers to catch his redfish on artificial lures.   He is an advocate in wildlife conservation and prefers catch and release whenever possible.

You may contact Mark by e-mail at slotreds@gmail.com