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.
Captain Jimmy Gagliardini When it comes to catching dolphin and blackfin tuna offshore, sailfish, kingfish, snappers and groupers on the reefs, and tarpon and permit in the channels and along the bridges of Marathon in the Florida Keys, Jimmy is one of the best. A veteran captain who has plied his trade at some of the world’s best billfish destinations, he operates High Caliber Charters in Marathon. He also frequently serves as a faculty member for the Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series when the tour lands in Islamorada, and will be part of the event again in 2016. Jimmy can be reached at 305-395-0915.
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Captain George Clark, Jr. - With his Rodeo Charters, rodeocharters.com/about-us.htm, based out of Key Largo in the upper Florida Keys, George Clark is one of those rare guides who is equally at home pursuing bottom fish and pelagics around the local reefs and wrecks, or fishing for snook, redfish, tarpon and trout in the back country behind Key Largo. A large part of his strong knowledge on bottom fishing comes from his father, also a noted Key Largo captain. If you’re looking for some exciting fishing around Key Largo, give George a call: 305-852-3829; cell: 305-522-2638.
Captain Kevin Jeffries - A very personable and knowledgeable pro, Captain Kevin Jeffries operates his First Down Charters out of Sundowners in Key Largo. He specializes in live-baiting for sailfish, blackfin tuna, wahoo and kingfish, as well as trolling for dolphin and billfish. He’s also a bottom fishing specialist, dialed in on the patch reefs and also the deeper reefs and wrecks off the upper Florida Keys. And, of course, he’s one of the few who targets Cubera snapper at night, when they move in for their summer spawn. To contact Kevin: 305-409-4789; www.firspowncharters.com.
Captain Steve Purul Specializing in fishing the waters from Barnegat Bay to Great Bay and including the ocean off Long Beach Island, New Jersey’s Captain Steve Purul does it all. He has an enviable reputation for catching trophy class striped bass on light tackle, as well as big fluke in the bays, inlets and on the wrecks, along with blackfish, sea bass and porgies. Steve frequently serves as a regional faculty member for the Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series when the tour visits the Garden State. To reach Steve, call 609-290-1217, or visit www.reelfantaseafishing.com.
Captain Beau Woods The operator of Double 0 Charters in Cudjoe Key, Beau Woods is an innovative captain whose expertise ranges from yellowtailing on the reefs to day-dropping for swordfish and everything in between! One of his specialties is hand cranking up tilefish and other bottom denizens from depths between 500 and 800-feet of water; yet he’s equally at home fishing on one of the numerous shallower wrecks he knows of. His promotes laid back, no pressure, family fishing, where everyone aboard can take in and enjoy the total boating and fishing experience. Beau can be reached at: 305-294-3882; www.fishdoubleocharters.com.
Captain Nick Stanczk Hailing from a ’fishing’ family that includes his uncle Captain Scott Stanczyk skipper of the fabled Catch 22 charter boat out of Bud N’ Mary’s Marina in Islamorada, and his father Richard Stanczyk of Bud N’ Mary’s fame, www.budnmarys.com, Captain Nick Stanczyk knows these waters like few others. Aboard his charter boat B n’ M, Nick specializes in reef- and offshore fishing. However, he’s best known for his day time swordfishing, which his father, Uncle Scott, Vic Gaspeny and he pioneered in the Florida Keys. Nick can be reached at 305-481-0366, or through www.floridakeysswordfishing.com.
Captain Carl Christoph - When it comes to catching trophy red snapper and king mackerel off the Texas coast, Captain Carl Christoph is in an elite league. Over his decades of fishing out here, he has amassed numerous tournament wins and countless red snapper over 20 pounds. He has been featured in several national and local fishing publications and is part of the Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series when it comes through Texas. Though he still runs offshore trips, Carl now spends a lot of time putting his clients on tarpon and sharks, as well as redfish and sea trout. For more information, call Carl at 713-816-5004, e-mail him at carlchristoph2002@yahoo.com, or visit his web page www.txtarponfishing.com.
Captain Brice Barr Owner of the Key West-based charter boat Double Down, Captain Brice Barr is a noted offshore fishing pro who specializes in live bait fishing for sailfish, kingfish, wahoo and blackfin tuna. He’s also an accomplished offshore troller with an impressive number of big dolphin and marlin to his credit. In addition, he targets swordfish, and also various bottom fish on the local reefs and wrecks. He docks at the Historic Charter Boat Row in the heart of Key West. Brice can be reached at: 305-304-2314; 305-294-2179; fishdoubledown@aol.com; www.doubledownsportfishing.com.
Captain David Albritton - Making his name on the king mackerel tournament circle with a penchant for catching money-winning fish, Captain David Albritton is also highly regarded as one of the leading bottom fishing pros out of Fort Pierce; and, rightly so, as he spent plenty of time learning the tricks of the trade from the legendary David King, arguably the best bottom fishing captain to come out of this region. In addition to catching king mackerel and bottom fishing for trophy class red snapper and gag grouper, Albritton is an accomplished cobia angler. He served as a local faculty member for the 2015 Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series, when it came to Port St. Lucie. David can be reached at: 772-528-5146; G8rfan46@comcast.net.
Diego Toiran - Host of the only Hispanic/bilingual fishing show on television Pescando en los Cayos (Fishing in the Keys), Diego Toiran moved to Key West in 1988 to become a firefighter at Boca Chica Naval Base. He went on to get his captain’s license and learn to commercially fish for yellowtails and groupers. He also ran charters for 15 years. Today, most of his time is devoted to producing his television show and working at the fire department. Even on his days off, he’ll be somewhere on saltwater with a fishing rod in hand. Contact Diego at: reelsmoker@aol.com; www.pescandoenloscayos.com.
