The Key Largo Rotary Club celebrated a successful Take Stock in Children Backcountry Challenge from Sept. 25-27, marking the 26th year of the annual catch-and-release fishing tournament benefiting Take Stock and scholarships for local students.
This year, 50 anglers competed across kids, junior and adult divisions, targeting snook, redfish and trout throughout the Florida Keys backcountry.
Grady Temkin of Tavernier was crowned the 2026 Backcountry Champion with a combined 83.5 inches. Nash Andruski of Key Largo earned Junior Backcountry Champion with 77.75 inches, while Reed Tutor of Key Largo was named Top Guide and Kris Hanson of Key Largo earned Top Pro.
Other notable catches included a 38-inch snook caught by Hanson, a 32-inch redfish caught by Braylon Briggs Lindmar and a 23.5-inch trout caught by Temkin.
The weekend kicked off the evening of Sept. 25 with a captains meeting at Doc’s Diner before anglers hit the water Sept. 26-27. Festivities concluded Sunday evening at the Elks Lodge in Tavernier, where anglers, families, sponsors and Rotary members came together for the awards celebration, food and fellowship.
The Backcountry Challenge has continued thanks to the generosity of the community. The Key Largo Rotary Club thanked every sponsor, donor, angler, captain, volunteer and local business that contributed to this year’s event. The sponsorships, donations and registrations help the club continue investing in the education and future of local students.
Final scholarship fundraising totals are still being calculated. Follow @keylargorotary on social media for updates.
