Adrian Avena
Vineland, New Jersey
New Jersey pro Adrian Avena has 20 tour-level Top 10s to his credit, and more than $1 million in career winnings. He finished in the Top 10 in Angler of the Year standings two of his four years fishing the FLW Tour. Under the newly implemented five-bass format in 2023, Avena scored his first major win during Stage Five of the Bass Pro Tour at Cayuga Lake, a $100,000 win that pushed his career earnings past $1 million.
FUN FACTS
Avena is a commercial conch fisherman and runs a saltwater charter business (Jersey Boy Charters) out of Cape May, New Jersey, and captained his crew to first place in the 2020 White Marlin Open. He also runs the first pontoon pedal boat in South Jersey. Avena enjoys bowhunting in his off time. Avena also played tennis in college and will probably embarrass you badly at ping-pong.
| Career Wins | 3 |
| Top 10s | 22 |
| Top 20s | 41 |
| REDCREST Appearances | 5 |
| Career Winnings | $1,186,345 |
Dustin Connell
Clanton, Alabama
Alabama angler Dustin Connell is an unstoppable force on the big stage as a three-time REDCREST champion. Connell claimed his first REDCREST title in 2021 at Lake Eufaula, and he made MLF history in 2024 as the first two-time REDCREST champion, winning on his home turf at Lay Lake. He extended his reign in 2025 by winning REDCREST on Lake Guntersville. Connell was hot out of the gate in his pro career, claiming Elite Series Rookie of the Year honors in 2017. Winning Stage Three of the 2022 Bass Pro Tour pushed him to nearly $1 million in career earnings. He followed it up with a win at Stage Six of the 2022 Bass Pro Tour. This win made Connell one of the winningest anglers in Bass Pro Tour history, as only Jacob Wheeler and Ott DeFoe had won three or more events on the Bass Pro Tour. He capped off the 2022 season with his fourth Bass Pro Tour win at Stage Seven at Mille Lacs Lake. Connell added his fifth Bass Pro Tour win to start the 2024 season at Stage One on Toledo Bend.
FUN FACT
Dustin is an avid bow hunter. He also enjoys playing golf and going turkey hunting.
| Career Wins | 7 |
| Top 10s | 29 |
| Top 20s | 40 |
| REDCREST Appearances | 6 |
| Career Winnings | $2,144,105 |
