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 SHANNON ATTALES Operating his Warbird Fishing Charters (www.warbirdfishingcharters.com) from Bud ˜n Mary’s Marina, Captain Shannon Attales pursues just about everything that swims around Islamorada. A light tackle specialist, he excels at pitching live ballyhoo to showering sailfish, fishing the patch reefs, live-baiting the reefs and wrecks for both bottom fish and pelagics, and chasing dolphin well offshore. Shannon will serve as a faculty member of the 2017 Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series when it stops in Islamorada on January 28. He can be reached at: 305-522-5587.
CAPTAIN MIKE GOODWINE - Captain Mike Goodwine is among the Sunshine State’s hottest inshore saltwater guides with his Blackneck Adventures Charters (http://www.blackneckadventurescharters.com/capt-mike.html). Hailing from Plant City, Mike’s constant social media posting about his fishing exploits, interspersed with his sense of humor, has made him an internet fishing sensation. But it’s his enviable knowledge of the where tos and how tos of catching snook, redfish, sea trout and snapper along Florida’s West Central coast that has him in high demand. So much so, that he had to walk away from his full time job in 2015 to become a full time fishing guide! Mike can be reached at: 813-707-4733, and at: blackneckadventures@yahoo.com.
PRISCILA JAGER CLAWGES - Priscila Jager Clawges has fished the Florida Keys most of her life; it’s where her family vacations were spent and it’s been her passion since she was a young girl. Her focus in recent years centers around Big Pine and the Lower Florida Keys areas. She is an avid reef angler, specializing in flag yellowtail, mutton snapper and grouper, however, she’s equally proficient chasing dolphin, wahoo, tuna and sailfish in the offshore waters. When Priscila is not fishing, she works as a transportation planner for a world-wide consulting firm specializing in local South Florida engineering/planning projects. She is proudly to be a full time mom to daughter Julia, the next generation ’Fishing Chick’! You can follow Priscila on Instagram: thefishingchick and/or on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/people/Priscila-Jager-clawges/100003170368082.
CAPTAIN MARK JENKINS Captain Mark Jenkins is a fourth generation fisherman who commercially harvests lobsters aboard his 45 foot, Four Ports Marin boat ’Top Notch’. When the commercial lobster season closes, Jenkins conducts lobster tours, where he takes groups of tourists out on a scenic boat ride and educates them on what’s involved in catching lobsters. Yet, when the giant bluefin tuna migrate into Prince Edward Island waters, Mark and his brother Cody stay busy taking devoted sports anglers catch-and-release fishing with their Top Notch Tuna Charters business. Mark, a 20 year veteran at this game, charters out of North Lake, Prince Edward Island, the Tuna Capital of the World. Here, on many days, giant tuna are chunked up to the boat and literally baited. Mark can be reached at: 902-626-8423; 902-569-2914; email: topnotchtunacharters@gmail.com; website: http://peigiantbluefintunacharters.com/.
CAPTAIN RON BRACK Guiding professionally for nearly 35 years, Captain Ron Brack has done it all, from offshore to reef to back country. Now specializing in fishing the back country waters behind Islamorada in the Florida Keys with his Pirate for Hire Charters (http://www.pirateforhirecharters.com/), he’s not only an ace when it comes to catching a wide variety of fish throughout these skinny waters, but a pure pleasure to be around. Ron operates out of the World Wide Sportsman marina and makes every trip entertaining and gives it his all to put clients on fish. He has also served as a regional faculty member for the Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series at Islamorada in 2015 and will again serve in 2017. Contact Ron at: 305-393-7448; 305-393-7449; 305-852-4843; and at: pirateforhirecharters@gmail.com.
CARL GRASSI A resident of Coral Springs, Florida, Carl Grassi is an accomplished angler who lives to fish. When he’s not managing his business Carl’s Sunoco on West Sample Road in Coral Springs he can usually be found fishing out of Pompano Beach’s Hillsboro Inlet. He enjoys live-baiting for kingfish and sailfish, trolling for wahoo and dolphin, running and gunning for dolphin, and day dropping for swordfish. He’s a fan of the Bahamas, where he enjoys bottom fishing and offshore trolling. Carl also owns a skiff and spends some of his time chasing snook, redfish and sea trout along Florida’s Southwest coast. Carl can be reached at 954-755-8799, or at: goracingwithcg@aol.com.
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CAPTAIN ANDREW TIPLER - Operating Last Cast Charters (http://www.lastcastcharters.net) from the lower Florida Keys, Captain Andrew Tipler is a highly-accomplished light tackle and fly guide specializing in flats- and backcountry fishing for bonefish, permit, tarpon and sharks. He’s equally adept at reef fishing for groupers, yellowtail, mutton and mangrove snappers, as well as offshore fishing for sailfish, kingfish, dolphin, tuna and wahoo. And if that’s not enough, he spends a lot of time fishing the Gulf wrecks behind Cudjoe Key. Andrew can be reached at 305-744-9796, Email: Scarpa1@bellsouth.net
KARI PALLOTTO Kari is a Deputy with the Broward Sheriff’s Office, now serving as their Weston district’s crime prevention expert. In this capacity, she designs programs around crime prevention and deterrence, as well as conducts public safety presentations and various other clinics and seminars on how to keep safe. In 2016, she won the Florida Crime Prevention Officer of the Year award. A native of Pennsylvania, she joined Broward Sheriff’s Office in 2003. In addition to her involvement in numerous community groups the likes of the Florida Special Olympics, Kari is an avid saltwater angler. When the opportunity presents itself, she’ll be fishing off the Fort Lauderdale coast or in Bimini.
CAPTAIN JASON LONG - A native of Marathon in the Florida Keys, Captain Jason Long grew up fishing the local waters. He and his wife purchased Best Bet Sportfishing (http://bestbetsportfishing.com/) in 2005. With three boats in their charter fleet a 38 foot Bertram, 30 foot Island Hopper and 24 foot Pathfinder - and a team of highly experienced captains, Best Bet Sportfishing does it all - from inshore to offshore. Jason will also participate as a faculty member in the 2017 Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series Islamorada presentation on January 28. Jason can be reached at: 305-395-1376, and at: bestbetsportfishing@hotmail.com
ALBERT CASTRO - Albert Castro is noted rod builder and 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. He is especially skilled at trolling for wahoo. To reach Albert, call 305-513-3750, or email: leewardrodco@aol.com
CAPTAIN KEVIN JEFFRIES 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 or at www.firspowncharters.com.
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CAPTAIN MARK SCHMIDT Captain Mark Schmidt is a veteran light tackle guide who operates his Sun Dancer Fishing Charters (https://captmarkschmidt.com/) from Murray Marine on Stock Island. He has been guiding in the lower Florida Keys and Key West since 1980. A noted reef-, wreck- and live-bait fishing specialist, he’s been guiding clients to impressive catches aboard his 27-foot center console. He’s also an expert at fishing the flats for tarpon, permit, bonefish and sharks aboard his 17-foot skiff. Mark can be reached at 305-797-4032, and by emailing: sundancercharters@comcast.net.
