By-Catch: Southern Gulf Coast Crime

By-Catch: Southern Gulf Coast Crime follows Shamus Pickford during Charlotte Harbor's annual redfish tournament, where egos run high and fish mysteriously shrink at weigh-in time. Shamus has largely avoided the tournament, but while working a catering job with his old friend Cliff Fleming, he overhears something suspicious from a couple of would-be champions. His curiosity gets the better of him, and he convinces Cliff to launch their own informal investigation. What begins as spying and speculating from behind a cooler of sandwiches uncovers something far worse than expected. By day's end, both men are shaken and questioning everything they thought they knew about tournament sportsmanship. The story explores themes of friendship, betrayal, loyalty, and trust as competition intensifies and secrets surface. Set on the Florida Gulf Coast, the novel blends fishing tournament crime elements with mystery and suspense, touching on PTSD and the consequences of overthinking when danger strikes.