PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – In October of 2006 the well-known redfish team of Blair Wiggins of Cocoa, Fla., and Tadd Vandemark of Key Largo, Fla., won the Redfish Series Championship in Pensacola, Fla.
With that win, the team served notice to the redfishing world that they had arrived as one of professional redfishing’s super-power teams and it looked like the duo would be unstoppable in the coming years.
However, their team tournament partnership never lasted past October – not because of any sinister split – but simply because Wiggins had to bow out of tournaments for a year to dedicate more time to his family and his popular Addictive Fishing television show.
Vandemark, however, had tasted victory and he wanted more. He wasted no time in tracking down one of the best redfish sticks in the west: Kevin Shaw of Corpus Christi, Texas
Vandemark figured his knowledge of eastern redfish waters combined with Shaw’s knowledge of western redfish waters would be a lethal mix for the Redfish Series – and he was right.
In 2007, Vandemark and Shaw hit the Redfish Series with a vengeance, collecting four top 10’s in a row in the Western Division, including a win in Port Aransas and 2007 Team of the Year honors.
Wiggins could only watch from the bank as his former team partner moved on to find tremendous success on the Redfish Series with Shaw.
So when Wiggins looked to get back into redfish tournament competition in 2008, he knew it pointless to try and get Vandemark back as a partner.
Instead Wiggins sought out his very first redfish partner from his early IFA days: Travis Tanner of Titusville. And it has not taken the Wiggins’ reunion with Tanner very long to click in professional redfishing – this Panama City event marks the team’s third top 5 in row for 2008.
This morning as Vandemark and Wiggins arrived at the Bay Point Marina in Panama City Beach, they stepped into two different boats with their new partners. But it was obvious that the two former Championship winners still have a great deal of respect and admiration for each other.
“Tadd taught me a lot when we fished together,” Wiggins said. “Most of all he taught me that the secret of this sport is hard work. When we fished together, he would tirelessly practice at a venue for two weeks. His tenaciousness has been an inspiration to me this year. I come to tournaments two weeks ahead of time to start scouting.”
Wiggins also noted that his hiatus from tournament fishing allowed him to get refocused on competing.
“When you come out here to compete against these guys, you’ve got to have your ducks in row,” Wiggins explained. “You can’t just jump in a boat and hope for the best. It takes days of scouting and ground work. When I fished tournaments before (with Vandemark) I had too many irons in the fire and I couldn’t give tournaments the dedication they require. After taking a year off and getting my priorities in line for tournament fishing, I’m like a caged eagle, I can’t wait to get out here and compete.”
Equally, Vandemark shares the same respect for Wiggins.
“If Blair could have dedicated the time he dedicates to tournament fishing these days back when we fished, there’s no telling what could have happened,” Vandemark said. “But we’ve both moved on and we’re both finding success out here. He and Travis are fishing their third top 5 of the season, Kevin and I are fishing our second top 5 – so it’s good for all of us. And best of all, we’re all still good friends. In fact, Blair just told me that if Kevin and I get in trouble today, we’re welcome to come in and fish the big school he’s fishing – that’s what kind of guys he is.”
Wiggins and Tanner currently lead the Redfish Series event with 31 pounds, 7 ounces.
Vandemark and Shaw are in third, 4 pounds back, with 27 pounds, 7 ounces.
The final weigh-in of the FLW Redfish Series in Panama City Beach will start at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Wal-Mart located at 10270 Front Beach Road in Panama City Beach.
Saturday’s conditions
Sunrise: 5:58 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 68 degrees
Expected high temperature: 78 degrees
Water temperature: 70 degrees
Wind: S 10 to 20
Day’s outlook: 60% chance of thunderstorms
