Early Beginnings: Capt. JC Cleare’s Journey from Enthusiast to Professional

(2023)Capt. JC Cleare is a well-known name on the South Florida tournament circuit, a competitor who often finds his way into the winner’s circle. Like many of this year’s winners, he started fishing young, encouraged by his father. “I started fishing very young with my dad and family,” Cleare said. “From my dad renting boats in Islamorada when I was 10, working our way up to a 25-foot Contender when I was 18, the passion just kept growing. I started fishing more competitively with friends, then was hired to run a couple of private boats, and finally ended with my wife Sarah Melia and I purchasing our 44-foot Contender to operate our charter business and tournament team.”

Building a Championship Crew: The Key Players Behind the Success

A common theme in the Captain of the Year (COTY) winners is crew: you simply can’t win without first assembling a great team. “My crew is made up of my wife Sarah, Jorge Corzo, Ryan Alexander, Doug Mientkiewicz, Rick Arnold, and Chris Dillon (Tackle Box),” Cleare said. “I’ve fished with the majority of my crew for around 15 years, competing in more tournaments than I can remember, which I believe has led to a lot of our success. I would say I’ve fished with Doug the longest, for about 30 years.”

The Ultimate Fishing Machine: Inside the 44-foot Contender

Having a great platform to fish from helps too. “In 2023, we had a brand new 44-foot Contender rigged more than perfect for these tournaments,” Cleare explained. “The size, speed, live bait capability, and ride makes fishing any condition thrown at us not a problem at all. Hands down, the best tournament boat I’ve been on. We had a couple of times this past season where my team had hooked five, six, and seven fish at once! As hectic as those moments can be, what set us apart was the ability to have a crew that can handle a situation like that and a boat that responds. Those moments don’t happen often, but it’s nice to know when it does, the team will execute.”

Strategy and Preparation: The Blueprint for Tournament Success

But even a great crew and a great boat don’t guarantee success if you don’t have an equally great game plan. “I think our main strategy, which has been successful for a lot of years, is preparation,” Cleare said. “We make sure our bait is some of the best there is. We catch, pen and feed thousands of baits. Probably excessive, but we’re going to make sure that nobody is going to beat us because they have better baits. Pre-fishing and scouting the areas a few days before each tournament is also a great way to feel more confident about game-day decision making. Once we have the perfect bait, perfect boat, and an amazing crew, we just need a little luck on our side, and we’ll finish the job if we get the opportunity.”

Family Ties: The Role of Support in Capt. Cleare’s Career

Hardcore tournament fishing is hard work, impossible to do well without the support of family. “I think being able to start the business and fish with my wife Sarah, has been a huge support to my passion for fishing,” Cleare adds. “Sharing that passion with her has just made the desire to compete and win that much stronger. She’s my support, my crew, my top angler, and my partner in everything. It’s amazing getting to share all of these moments with her.”

Looking Ahead: The Future for Capt. JC Cleare and Team Remix

Congratulations to JC, Sarah, and the rest of the Remix crew for an awesome year! Looking ahead in 2024 Team Remix will be back on the Florida tournament circuit looking to build on its recent success.