Gridion Greats Tackled the Open Seas in Sports Fishing Competition’s The Catch

The third edition of Sports Fishing Competition’s The Catch, powered by Verizon, returned to Fort Lauderdale’s scenic marina this past April, bringing current and former professional football players together to compete in an offshore fishing pro-am against 16 professional SFC angling clubs and competitors. Hosted at Pier Sixty-Six, this year’s competition was one for the books, setting the stage for an even more competitive event in 2026. Many NFL players hit the waters, including Jeffery Simmons, defensive lineman for the Tennessee Titans; Raheem Mostert, running back for the Las Vegas Raiders; Starling Thomas, center back for the Arizona Cardinals; and Vernon Davis, former tight end for the San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders. Ahead of the competition, we caught up with these players to uncover their favorite travels, bucket-list destinations and more.

RAHEEM MOSTERT
RUNNING BACK, LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

Raheem Mostert © Sport Fishing Championship

If you could travel or fish anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and why?
Costa Rica. I heard it’s just beautiful. In the United States, I’d like to visit the Gulf — I’ve never fished in the Gulf. Or Maine would
be a good spot, too.

What person or experience helped influence your career?
My family would definitely be my biggest influence … just because they have my back and support me.

Do you have a favorite travel experience?
I was flying with my family and the airplane just dropped, and my oldest son spilled orange juice all over me. They didn’t cry, but my wife and I were both freaking out.

What’s the first vacation you remember taking?
Jamaica with my wife. We celebrated our anniversary and honeymoon in Jamaica. We went to Montego Bay.

Do you have a travel pet peeve?
Not having a toothbrush, but that’s for me. For other people, it’s when they continue talking when I’m just trying to rest or have my headphones in and just want to embrace the travel.

JEFFERY SIMMONS
DEFENSIVE TACKLE, TENNESSEE TITANS

Jeffrey Simmons © Sport Fishing Championship

If you could travel or fish anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and why?
My dream trip is Dubai. I want to go to Dubai before the season and get back to training. I think that’s going to end up being my birthday trip. When it comes down to fishing, I don’t really know where I want to go to fish; there are so many great places. I hate that I didn’t get the chance to fish in Costa Rica when I visited, but my plan is to go back and make sure I get a fishing trip.

What person or experience helped influence your career?
One person who influenced me and still influences me to this day, whether it’s in the walk of life or in football, is my uncle, Jason Hatcher. He played 10 years in the NFL and is a guy I look up to, for sure.

Do you have a favorite travel experience?
My first trip I ever took out of the country was to Brazil. I went to Rio and enjoyed it. It was also my first time taking a long flight, and that was an experience. You never forget your first trip out of the country, and I actually want to go back to Brazil to get that experience again.

Do you have a travel pet peeve?
My pet peeve is people talking loudly on the plane, especially when you’re in first class … you don’t expect that. Or you can hear them talking through your headphones; I wear headphones all the time on the plane, and people are still loud. When I’m on a plane, I try to sleep, so not much bothers me except the loud talking.

You’re from Mississippi. Do you have any places you recommend people visit in the state?
I wouldn’t say travel to Oxford — you’ve got Ole Miss up there! But in all honesty, I tell everybody to go down to Starkville, especially during football season. It’s a great place also during baseball season, as everyone’s walking around and it really shows the hospitality Mississippi has. Every year teams and fans come, and they always talk about the warm hospitality they’re shown.

VERNON DAVIS

FORMER TIGHT END, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS, DENVER BRONCOS, WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

Vernon Davis © Sport Fishing Championship

If you could travel or fish anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and why?
I would go to Spain and the Mediterranean. I can imagine being out there in the beautiful ambience and scenery.

What person or experience helped influence your career?
I can always go to my grandmother. My grandmother has always been everything I’ve ever needed; from advice to wisdom, she’s always holding it down. She’s amazing.

Do you have a favorite travel experience?
We went to Sitges, Spain, and we were a part of a film festival. It was so cool. When I was getting out of the car, all of these people and fans came up with my headshot for something other than football; I’ve never had that happen to me. I was thinking, “Wow, this is amazing. This is pretty cool.”

What’s the first vacation you remember taking?
I think the first vacation I went on was Puerto Rico, Old San Juan area.

Do you have a travel pet peeve/something you must do when traveling?
I always have to get shot glasses and magnets. I also have to get a cap or hat. For pet peeves, I don’t really have any. I do find it difficult, though, when I go to a country where they don’t speak English, and I find someone who does speak English, but they don’t speak it to me, so it’s harder for me to understand. It’s happened a couple of times. Maybe they can’t be bothered with Americans!

STARLING THOMAS
CORNERBACK, ARIZONA CARDINALS

Starling Thomas © Sport Fishing Championship

If you could travel or fish anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and why?
I’d probably want to go and fish in Hawai‘i; that would be somewhere with really good fishing and nice scenery.

What person or experience helped influence your career?
My mom, brothers and sister. Growing up with them has shaped me into who I am today.

Do you have a favorite travel experience?
This past year was my first time taking a real vacation. I went to O‘ahu in Hawai‘i, and we traveled all around the island. It was one of the best experiences. I was ready to go back as soon as we left.

What’s the first vacation you remember taking?
We used to go to Spring Valley Beach in Alabama around the Fourth of July. We also used to go to Gulf Shores, which was the first beach I ever went to.

What is your travel pet peeve?
I do not like sitting in a window seat on the plane. I hate having to wake somebody up so I can use the bathroom. I always pick the aisle seat, and there’s that little extra legroom, too.