I remember catching my first fish at 4-years-old. It was a little bluegill in Illinois. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to fish all over the world. My catches include Nile perch in Africa, huge tarpon, goliath grouper, and even sharks. Basically, I fish everywhere I go, anywhere I can.
After fishing in freshwater for most of my life, I’ve been in saltwater since moving to Florida in 2022. At the beginning of 2024, I started working for a land-based shark fishing company called NSB Shark Hunters. I helped bait the hooks, handle the sharks, acquire and manage bookings, interact with clients, and film and edit the experience. Eventually I began running my own charters for the company. Highlights include helping the youngest customer (7-years-old) and oldest (80-years-old) reel in sharks, catching the only tarpon with a customer (6 feet, 2 inches, about 170 lbs), and tying with the record of company members for catching 11 sharks in one night. Safe to say, running charters has been a blast.
One of my favorite things about fishing is seeing all of the intricate details of each fish. I love learning about their strength and power, and different skill sets. Catching fish in tough conditions or during off season are challenges I embrace. Also, it’s a great feeling when you’re one of the few people able to catch a fish in a crowded area - a true test of the skill of an angler.
Some of the fish I have been blessed to catch are goliath grouper, tarpon, snook, redfish, bluefish, parrot fish, several species of sharks, flounder, wahoo, bonita, mackerel, black sea bass, yellow tail snapper, mangrove snapper, lane snapper, seatrout, weakfish sand trout, pufferfish, pompano, crevalle jack, sail catfish, hardhead catfish, lizardfish, mojarra, toadfish, mullet, barracuda, muskie, northern pike, Nile perch, true large scale tetra, walleye, king salmon, coho salmon, brown trout, steelhead trout, rainbow trout, tiger trout, brook trout, yellow perch, flathead catfish, channel catfish, walleye, longnose gar, shortnose gar, redhorse, warmouth, skipjack, largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, white bass, yellow bass, smallmouth bass, coosa bass, peacock bass, rock bass, meanmouth bass, spotted bass, bullhead catfish, crappie, common carp, grass carp, oscar, mayan cichlid, bluegill, white perch, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, redear sunfish, and freshwater drum.
