Meet George's A-Team

GEORGE’S “A-TEAM” - by George Poveromo

The captains and pros listed below are among the very best in the sport of saltwater fishing. Their attention to detail and ability to consistently locate and catch fish is unparalleled. Even the most seasoned veterans can learn something from them. Each one has played an instrumental part in the creation of my World of Saltwater Fishing television series and I’m proud to recognize their contributions.

LOUIS V. VOLPE III - When he’s not on duty as a U.S. federal agent, Louis V. Volpe can usually be found fishing off Fort Lauderdale or Bimini aboard his Mako 22, Dab A Doo. Although he does it all, Lou is a live-bait, reef-fishing authority who specializes in catching kingfish, grouper and snapper. One of his passions is night fishing for winter kingfish out of Port Everglades. His most impressive catches include a 22 ½-pound mutton snapper, a 58-pound grouper, a 77-pound cubera snapper, a 50-pound dolphin, and a 182-pound swordfish. Lou can be reached at 954-464-1698.

MEGAN POVEROMO – Megan Poveromo is an 11-year old student who enjoys ice skating, writing, drawing, hanging out with friends, and spending quality time with her dad. She especially enjoys North Biscayne Bay, where she and her dad fish for seatrout and cruise around looking for wildlife. Her biggest fish to date include a 3 1/2-pound seatrout, 8-pound snook, 12-pound dolphin, 13-pound barracuda, 2-pound yellowtail, and 3 1/2-pound largemouth bass. Another favorite hobby: feeding leftover bait to the pelicans at the boat ramp!

ALBERT CASTRO – A noted custom rod builder, Albert Castro is an accomplished offshore angler who fishes throughout the Caribbean as well as in his home waters off Miami. Although he specializes in live-baiting for sailfish, trolling for blue marlin, and drifting for swordfish, Albert also enjoys bottom fishing throughout the Bahamas. To reach Albert, call 305-513-3750.

CAPTAIN OZZIE FISCHER- Ozzie is a well-respected and highly-accomplished Southwest Florida fishing guide and tournament angler. Based out of Ft. Myers, Ozzie knows the snook and tarpon fishing in these waters like few others. In addition, he’s equally-skilled at fishing for kingfish and cobia and even the offshore waters for dolphin, wahoo and tuna. When he’s not guiding, he’s a realtor by profession. Contact Ozzie at: 239-481-4434, or 239-872-8515.

CAPTAIN GARY DUBIEL – Captain Gary Dubiel is regarded as one of the finest inshore guides in North Carolina. Living on the Neuse River in the village of Oriental, Gary specializes in light tackle and fly fishing for red drum, spotted seatrout, flounder and striped bass but you’ll also find him along the beaches of the Crystal Coast fishing for a wide variety of other game fish. An IGFA fly rod world record holder and life long fisherman, Gary traded in a carrier in medicine to spend his days on the water pursuing his passion. Gary has appeared at several of the Saltwater Sportsman National Seminar Series and he lectures and writes about the fishing in his area. When he’s not fishing or talking about fishing, you’ll probably find Gary in the kitchen cooking up the days catch. Gary can be reached at 252-249-1529, or through his website: www.specfever.com

CAPTAIN THIAGO FELZEN - Growing up fishing with his uncle between Illhabela, Sao Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro, Thiago often traveled 50 miles offshore in small boats to catch sailfish and dorado. Billfishing has always been a passion of his and he has been doing it professionally now for seven years. Thiago has won numerous billfish tournaments in Brazil, and he has fished off Central America, the Caribbean, and the USA. He currently serves as Captain for Artmarina Brazil, where he fishes the famous Royal Charlotte Bank for trophy class marlin, tuna, dorado and wahoo. To contact Thiago call 5573 32841262, or E-mail tpfelzen@hotmail.com .

HARRY VERNON III - Harry Vernon III is a nationally-recognized authority on bottom-fishing, live-baiting, offshore trolling and drifting for swordfish. When he’s not running the family business – Capt. Harry’s Fishing Supply in Miami, Harry can be found fishing in his home waters off Key Biscayne, and in the Bahamas aboard his 31-foot center console. Harry is a long-standing Touring National Faculty member of the Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series. Harry can be reached at 305-374-4661.

CAPTAIN TONY DELOSSANTOS - Known as the “Lyin’ Hawaiian”, Tony DelosSantos was born in Hawaii. A USCG licensed and insured guide, he has over 15 years experience in fishing the waters of the Florida Keys, Florida Bay, and Everglades National Park. He charters from the Marriott Key Largo Bay Beach Resort, located at Mile Marker 104, Bayside. If you’re looking for snook, tarpon, redfish, trout, snapper, bonefish, permit, or shark, give the “Lyin’ Hawaiian” a call at: 305-451-1097 (land), 305-522-4724 (cell), or visit his website: www.lyinhawaiian.com

CAPTAIN RICK MOLA – Rick Mola is the proprietor of Fisherman’s World tackle center in Norwalk, Connecticut. He and his father have pioneered most of the techniques in use today to catch fish off this section of Western Long Island Sound. Rick is a noted authority on catching trophy stripers in the Sound, as well as big fluke and blackfish. He is equally adept at catching tunas nearshore and in the canyons, and spends many summer and fall days perfecting his offshore tactics. Rick can be reached at: 203-866-1075.

DAN O’NEILL – 36-year old Dan O’Neill began fishing with his father and brother when he was ten years old, aboard the family’s 25-foot Mako. Throughout the years, he moved through various small and large boats, including a 41-foot Hatteras, a 48-foot Hatteras, several 26-foot Makos and their current 54-foot Hatteras and 34-foot Venture, which are kept in North Palm Beach. Dan and family often spend early spring and summer fishing throughout the Bahamas, with much of that effort centered in the Abacos. During the winter, Dan can be found live-baiting for sailfish out of Palm Beach. His most notable catch to date is a grander black marlin taken on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Dan runs the family business, Columbia Properties, Inc., in Atlanta, where he and his wife Martha also
reside.

CAPTAIN TROY PEREZ - Few people know the inshore waters of Florida’s Space Coast like Troy Perez. Troy has been fishing the local waters since his youth and has learned the migratory patterns and habits of the redfish, trout, tarpon and snook which thrive in the Indian and Banana Rivers and Mosquito Lagoon system. Troy is equally skilled at catching monster tripletail, cobia and king mackerel along the Port Canaveral buoy line and along the beaches. Troy can be reached at: 321-268-1194.