The tight-knit fishing community of Florida is reeling this week after the sudden loss of two well-known watermen, Capt. Jason Stock of Anna Maria Island and Eric Whitted of Pinellas County. Both men, remembered for their skill, humor, and generosity, died following a tragic accident that has left family, friends, and fellow anglers grieving.
Stock, a charter captain widely respected from Bradenton to Key West, built a reputation as both an expert fisherman and a mentor. Friends describe him as a man who could turn any day on the water into a memory worth keeping. “Jason wasn’t just a captain, he was family to everyone he took fishing,” said longtime friend Tyler Levesque, who recalled countless adventures with Stock. “I’d give anything for one more call with him.”
Whitted, known across Pinellas County for his love of the outdoors and easygoing nature, shared the same passion for the water. Friends say his bond with the Gulf Coast fishing scene was as much about camaraderie as it was about casting lines. “He was the kind of guy who made you feel like you belonged,” one fishing partner shared.The Old Salt Fishing Foundation, a major voice in Florida’s angling community, issued condolences, calling both men “exceptionally talented on the water and loved by all.” Their passing, the group noted, is a reminder of how deeply interconnected the region’s boating and fishing families are.
Family tributes have begun to pour in. Jason’s cousin, Justin Stock, expressed heartbreak while reflecting on their years of intermittent but meaningful contact. “I’m still trying to process this,” he wrote. “Fair winds and following seas, Cousin. You were loved by so many.”
While details of the accident remain limited, the outpouring of grief underscores the imprint both men left on coastal Florida. In a region where fishing is not just a pastime but a way of life, their absence will be felt from Anna Maria Island to Tampa Bay.
As the community rallies around their families, friends say the best way to honor their memory is simple: keep fishing, share the stories, and carry forward the spirit they embodied on the water.