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Weather Channel’s “Reel Rivals” to Focus on Keys Sportfishing Captains

reel rivals

reel rivals

“Reel Rivals,” a new Florida Keys-based reality television show set to air on The Weather Channel features, from left, Scott Stanczyk, captain of the Catch 22; George McElveen, skipper of the Reel McCoy; Augie Wampler, captain of Predator and Nick Stanczyk, skipper of the Bn’M. Episodes are to capture the adventure, excitement and competition among the professional sportifshing captains as they lead their clients to catches off Islamorada in the Florida Keys. The series is to premiere Tuesday, May 7, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. (Photo by Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau) Andy Newman

_ISLAMORADA, Florida Key_s – Florida Keys sportfishing is destined for primetime broadcast attention when a new television reality series debuts on The Weather Channel.

The first episode of “Reel Rivals,” is to air Tuesday, May 7, at 9 PM ET/PT and is to feature the daily competiveness of Keys sportfishing captains George McElveen, Nick Stanczyk, his uncle Scott Stanczyk and Augie Wampler.

The four skippers base their boats at Bud N’ Mary’s Fishing Marina, an almost 70-year-old Islamorada marina steeped in Keys sportfishing history.

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“‘Reel Rivals’ is about the competition between four sportfishing captains in the sportfishing capital of the world,” said Brad Hebert, the co-executive producer for Optomen Productions that is creating the show for The Weather Channel. “It centers on relationships, on and off their boats.

“They’re entertaining, comical and (episodes are) full of twists and turns,” he said about the 30-minute shows.

Hebert and his video production crew focused a slew of cameras on the four skippers for almost a month. They subsequently spent four months in post-production to create six shows that are to air with the hope the series will be extended on an annual basis.

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Hebert says viewers should be forewarned that “Reel Rivals” is not a typical nuts-and-bolts fishing show, although plenty of sportfishing action is included. He added that the natural attractions and climate of the Keys add to the show’s appeal.

“The location (Florida Keys) is beyond what is advertised in terms of beauty as well as the diversity of species,” Hebert said.

–– Source: Andy Newman

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