SPONSOR REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
Fall 2024 Headline Sponsor: Redfin Fishing
Jacen and crew will be taking care of the first place prize money, $1,000, a custom beach cart to go with it, and gear for all three winners in the kids division. These events would not be as cool without companies like Redfin. Let us all thank Jacen and team for this generous donation.
WEIGH-IN IS ON SUNDAY NOVEMEBER 10th, 2:00 PM CST, at Warrior Beer Company.
October 5, 2024.
We’ve got some exciting prizes and divisions for our upcoming tournament—make sure you register tomorrow, October 6th.
Main Event: Pompano Showdown – Entry Fee: $40
1st Place: $1,000 + Custom Beach Cart provided by Jacen Geier and the crew at REDFIN FISHING.
2nd Place: $800 + Prizes and tournament bucket of goods from sponsors
3rd Place: $500 + Prizes and tournament bucket of goods from sponsors
4th Place: $300 + Prizes and tournament bucket of goods from sponsors
5th Place: $200 + Prizes and bucket of goods from sponsors
Cameraman Ron Whiting Division – Entry Fee: $15
1st Place for the Biggest Whiting (by weight): $300 cash + Lunar Rover Kit from Nathan Benjamin with BENJAMINS BEACH WHEELS. (Axles, 4 Tires Mounting Haedware)– Total prize value: $1,000 in cash and prizes!
Kids Division Under 16 years of age – Entry Fee: $15
1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will receive awesome prizes provided by Redfin Fishing!
- New to the tournament? Please review the rules and expectations carefully.
- Weigh-in Video: You must submit video evidence of your catch at weigh-in. Check the “Featured” tab at the top of the tournament Facebook page for a video tutorial. Need help? Just reach out! https://youtu.be/67ZrcZSCJQ8
- Registration: Once you register, you’ll receive a confirmation from GoDaddy. You are now in the tournamet.
- Angler numbers will be assigned the night before the tournament and posted on our Facebook page and the Panhandle Salt website. Look for your name—your number will be next to it!
New Sponsor on the Scene: Benjamin’s Beach Wheels!
October 3, 2024.
We’re excited to welcome Benjamin’s Beach Wheels, a veteran-owned company, into the Pompano Showdown as a Tier 2 sponsor. Nathan Benjamin, the owner and operator, has been making waves in the industry, and after keeping an eye on his company for about a year, I finally had the chance to sit down with him around four months ago. What he shared about the future of his brand really grabbed my attention, so we invited him to be a part of the tournament—and he came in strong! Benjamin’s Beach Wheels operates out of Palm Bay, Florida, with a standout reputation for lightning-fast shipping. Florida residents often receive their orders the next day, which is a game-changer for guides like me. If a tire blows out, you’re down for just a day—not two weeks. Their newest product, the XL wheels, are available with either hub or needle roller bearings. The water-tight bearings have been described as having a smooth, gliding effect, and the heavy-duty XL tires are built to last. These wheels are designed for tough conditions and long-term performance. One of the things I found interesting is that Benjamin’s Beach Wheels doesn’t keep traditional business hours. Nathan is known to respond to customer inquiries—even late at night—offering personalized service whenever it’s needed. That kind of dedication sets them apart. We’re thrilled to have Nathan and his team join us for the tournament. They’ve put up some serious cash for the winners and will also be dropping a Lunar Rover Package—which includes 4 16” tires and axle kits—on the prize table, valued at $460.
Make sure to visit their booth at the weigh-in, chat about future projects, and check out their website below. Let’s show some love to Benjamin’s Beach Wheels before and during the event!
Sponsor Spotlight: Sunburn Trading Co
October 1, 2024.
I’m excited to announce that one of my favorite new sponsors, Sunburn Trading Co., has come in strong for their first event! They snagged a Tier 3 sponsorship and are generously donating a solid chunk of cash for our winner payouts. Sunburn Trading Co is a local company based out of Navarre, FL, specializing in custom apparel and gear, with a focus on beach life. They also have their own branded merch, and everything is done in-house. Whether I contacted them first or they reached out to me, we’ve been chatting for months, and I’m pumped to have them onboard. At Panhandle Salt, we’re on a mission to partner with the best small businesses in the area and beyond. We want to offer unique products you can’t find elsewhere—even if it doesn’t always bring in the biggest profit. Sunburn Trading Co fits that vision perfectly! We’ve already ordered some custom hats for the shop, and they turned out awesome. The more we can support local, the better! Sponsors – Get ready to chat with Ricky Clinton and his crew at the weigh-in. They can produce custom apparel, laser engraving, stickers, and pretty much anything you want to slap your logo on. Tournament Anglers – Thinking about creating your own brand? The weigh-in could be the day you make it happen! Swing by the Sunburn Trading Co tent for details on how to kickstart your idea into reality. Big thanks again to Sunburn Trading Co for supporting this event, and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone soon!
See you at the weigh-in, buddy!
Headline, Tiers 2 and 3 have been filled.
September 30, 2024.
We have Tier 4 and product sponsorships left.
All opportunities close Friday, November 4th.
Sponsor Registration is Open
September 29, 2024
Larry Grossman with his "Youtuber" face. He used a particular content creators name during this demonstration. Any guesses?
I need to get this thing moving. We are 40 days out. Sponsorship opportunities close Friday, October 4th.
If we have spoken about you sponsoring, please fill out the info in the website and make the cash donation. This will give a total number to calculate for payouts. If you need time to make the payment, just reach out to me and we can figure it out.
Sponsor Spotlight: Redfin Fishing
September 30, 2024
Redfin Fishing has consistently shown up strong for our tournaments, and this year is no exception! They've been a part of four tournaments now, and each time, they go above and beyond. We set guidelines for each sponsorship tier, but Redfin always exceeds the requirements! I recently caught up with Jacen Geier, the owner of Redfin, and he shared how his business has evolved. Initially, Redfin wasn’t known as a surf fishing brand, but with Jacen’s innovative surf tackle, they've made a big splash in the beach fishing scene. From Drone Shark Leaders to Castable Shark Leaders, Bluefish Rigs, and their signature Pompano tackle, Redfin is making waves across many U.S. beaches. And, as a big fan of Sputnik weights, Redfin has some of the best in the game. We're beyond honored to have Redfin Fishing back as a sponsor this year. Not only have they returned, but they’ve committed to sponsoring our Headliner slot, contributing nearly $3,000 in cash and prizes to elevate the experience for our participants.
Here’s the breakdown: 
1st Place: $1,000 cash + a brand-new custom beach cart, all courtesy of Redfin Fishing.
Kids Division: Prizes for the top three young anglers, thanks to Redfin’s generosity! We can’t wait to see what the Redfin crew brings to the weigh-in this time! It’s going to be an exciting event, and we’re grateful for their ongoing support.
Exciting Tournament Season Ahead: New Sponsors, Special Categories, and More!
September 14, 2024.
Tournament Updates & Exciting News!
Hey fishing community!We’ve got some exciting developments for the upcoming tournament season, and I’m thrilled to share them with you!First up, check out the new line of tournament towels we’ve been working on for November. Mari Tirado has put in some serious effort, and this one definitely made the cut! 
Now, I’m just waiting for a shirt with Derf on it to complete the set!Tournament Updates:We’re thrilled to announce our incredible lineup of sponsors for the Pompano Showdown:
- Frisky
- Fish Gum
- Green Get'M.
- Bird of Prey
- SurfPro Tackle
- SORD
- Larry Grossman
A special shoutout to Tony Faggioni who not only registered first but also made a generous donation to boost the winner payouts. Your support means the world to us, Tony!Registration Details:
- Adults: $40
- Kids: $15
We’re also introducing a special category in honor of Ron Middleton, aka "Cameraman Ron." The Ron Middleton Whiting Category will be an add-on with a $15 entry fee. All proceeds from this category will go directly to Sara Middleton and her family. Last November, we lost Ron to health complications, a devastating loss for his friends and family. Tony Faggioni’s idea to honor Ron in this way was a heartfelt yes from our end.What’s Next? Once all our sponsors are confirmed, we’ll be announcing payouts and final registration dates. Stay tuned for more updates!Thank you all for your continued support and participation. Let’s make this tournament season one to remember! Tight lines
#TournamentUpdate #PompanoShowdown #FishingCommunity #HonoringRon #SponsorShoutout
Big News Brewing: A New Headline Sponsor on the Horizon!
Catch Great Deals with Tournament Angler and Sponsor Lonnie Tattooer!
Big News Brewing: A New Headline Sponsor on the Horizon!
September 26, 2024.
We got one hinting around at Headlining.
New brand to the tournament, up and coming in the surf fishing world. We have all seen the products, and over the last 6- months there has been major expansion including a warehouse.
Last conversation “we are 75% sure we will be taking the headline if it’s still available”. With family to consider, travel arrangements need to be made.
Any guesses?
Cameraman Ron Whiting category is in the works.
Catch Great Deals with Tournament Angler and Sponsor Lonnie Tattooer!
Big News Brewing: A New Headline Sponsor on the Horizon!
September 5, 2024.
This will be separate from the main event, and proceeds will go to Sara Middleton and organization of choice picked by Warrior Beer Company
To keep Rons spirit alive, we will keep this category light and fun. There has been talk of major raffle prizes also to go along with this division.
Stay tuned for announcements regarding this.
Catch Great Deals with Tournament Angler and Sponsor Lonnie Tattooer!
Catch Great Deals with Tournament Angler and Sponsor Lonnie Tattooer!
Catch Great Deals with Tournament Angler and Sponsor Lonnie Tattooer!
July 24, 2024.
Tournament angler and sponsor Lonnie Tattooer always has some great deals going on. Local, or coming into town for the next event, book some time with Lonnie. He and his crew are dishing out some great work.
Announcing the Ron Memorial Charity Tournament: A Special Tribute Event
May 8, 2024.
We've kept this initiative under wraps until we were certain that all parties involved were fully on board and approved. Many of you may have noticed Sara Middleton at the weigh-in in April, and that wasn't by chance. We invited her to witness firsthand what we're all about—the positivity in the crowd and the overwhelming support we receive from sponsors.
Tony Faggioni approached me back in December with an idea following the tragic passing of Ron: to hold a charity tournament in his name. While the Spring season was already underway, I promised to revisit the idea once the madness of the tournament had settled. Well, I kept my word, and now we have an event planned.
During our Fall tournament, we'll host a side division to financially support Ron's family. This division will run alongside the Pompano competition but will require a separate buy-in. We'll keep the entry fees low to ensure that everyone participating in the Showdown can also join. Sara will be rallying support from her personal sponsors for raffle prizes and will set up a tent in honor of Ron. I'm sure there will be merchandise available as well. FishGum and Panhandle Salt will combine resources to create a first-place prize that will be talked about for years to come. While we'll refrain from offering cash prizes, the prize package(s) will be valued at hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.
Entry fees for the Ron division will go directly to his family, hopefully providing some comfort as the one-year anniversary of Ron's passing approaches on November 28th.
At the moment, I don't have specific details regarding the number of winners, but we'll be targeting the species many of you have been asking for: whiting.
As always, Gary Hefner will select the charitable donation recipient for the main event.
While I didn't know Ron well, I've always respected him for giving me two hours of his time when I was just starting out with content creation. I reached out to dozens of content creators in the area for guidance, and Ron, along with Arinton Mercado, were the only two who answered my call. Later in my journey, I was able to secure sit-downs with others, but those initial meetings were the most important, especially when I wasn't even sure what a thumbnail was.
We're hoping for a huge turnout for this event, folks. Let's make it one to remember
