8-Hour Guided Charter – Snook, Redfish & More in the 10,000 Islands

I grew up in South Florida, which gave me incredibly diverse avenues to pursue fishing and hunting. I don’t remember exactly how old I was when I started fishing, but I know I was fresh out of diapers. Bass fishing was my gateway into the saltwater world. After my first trip to the Keys, I became completely absorbed in learning everything I could about flats fishing. I devoured books and charts, and picked the brains of respected Keys guides. I put in the work—and eventually got pretty good at finding fish.

Everything changed when I was introduced to Everglades National Park, specifically Chokoloskee. The dark waters, tangled creeks, and mangrove tunnels flipped a switch in me. I became obsessed, pouring all my time and energy into learning that place. This was before GPS and Google Maps—when getting lost meant really getting lost—so the learning curve was steep. Now, more than 30 years later, I’m still obsessed with the Glades and still learning every time I go out.

After high school, I earned my captain’s license and began guiding. Not long after, I started a career as a firefighter, which I stuck with for 28 years. I continued to guide on the side during that time, and now that I’m recently retired, I’m shifting back into guiding full-time—or at least as full-time as retirement allows.

I fish almost exclusively with artificial lures, though I’ll throw a live crab now and then when I’m in the Keys. I love showing people just how special our waters are here in Florida, and when I’m not on the water, I’m often writing about the places and moments that keep pulling me back out there.