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.

DEE KAMINSKI  –  One of Florida’s premier kayak fishing pros, Dee Kaminski heads up reelkayakfishing.com. She’s a specialist at guiding other kayak and skinny water anglers to impressive catches of trophy trout, redfish, snook and black drum along Florida’s Space and Treasure coasts, including the Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian and Banana River complexes. Residing in Melbourne, Florida, Dee is also a member of the touring national faculty for the Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series. Website - REEL KAYAK FISHING

MEGAN POVEROMO - A college student majoring in Television and Film Production, Megan’s passion lies within the full realm of script-writing, directing and editing short features as well as humor skits. Her goal is to one day write and produce movies and television episodes of her own. Although Megan doesn’t have an interest in the sport, every once in a while she'll take the time out of her busy schedule to go fishing with her dad.

CAPTAIN CHRIS HANSON - Few guides know the inshore sounds, estuaries and creeks of Key Largo proper as well as Chris Hanson.  With his Scales 2 Tales Fishing Charters (www.scales2tales.com), Chris is an expert at catching snook, tarpon, snapper, sea trout, jacks, grouper and sharks, all usually within a 20-minute cruise from his dock at Sundowners. However, he’s equally knowledgeable in fishing in and around Everglades National Park, for those looking for more of a long-range adventure.

BETH SYNOWIEC – A state of Virginia recognized Master Angler 2, six time state of Virginia Expert Angler winner, and recipient of numerous angling awards from various fishing clubs, Beth fishes at nearly every opportunity, from coastal Virginia’s inshore waters to the offshore canyons. Her specialties include catching trophy class sheepshead around Bay Bridge pilings and hand-crank deep-dropping for blueline and trophy class Golden tilefish out by the canyons; her largest Goldens to date: 41, 36.1, 32.10, 28.5, and 28 pounds. She fishes mostly with her husband Kevin, aboard their boat Classic Rockfish. Visit: www.ClassicRockfish.com  Contact: ClassicRockfish@iCloud.com

CAPTAIN BRAD NOWICKI – A top light tackle guide who operates from Key West with his Off The Rocks Charters (www.offtherockcharters.com), Brad’s areas of expertise include the waters surrounding Rebecca Shoal, and westward. From Key West to Rebecca, it’s about a 40 mile run. Out here, bottom- and wreck-fishing can be sensational. In addition to running these trips aboard his 30-foot center console, Brad is an excellent shallow water and flats guide, aboard his 22 footer. Whether it’s a long-range light tackle adventure, or keeping the rods bending close to Key West, he does it all in impressive fashion.

HARRY VERNON III – A native of Key Biscayne, Florida, Harry Vernon III grew up catching offshore game fish off Miami, as well as in the Bahamas. An authority on fishing with live baits for sailfish, tuna, kingfish, and bottom-fish, he’s equally skilled at trolling for wahoo, dolphin and marlin, and even night- and daytime swordfishing.  He’s even tough on the local Biscayne Bay snook and sea trout populations!  When he’s not out fishing or running the family tackle business, Vernon tours as a national faculty member with the Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series.  Harry can be reached at 305-374-4661.

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. Jimmy can be reached at 305-395-0915.

WILLARD FRANKLIN III – Head of the Four W’s Fishing Team, Willard is an accomplished recreational angler who is simply addicted to fishing and his boat – a beautiful, hi-gloss black Mako 234 powered by twin Mercury 150hp FourStroke outboards. When the big red drum arrive along Galveston, you’ll find this Houston resident just about living down here and catching them aboard his boat. Big red drum are his passion, but he’s equally skilled at catching sea trout and flounder inshore, and red snapper on the few days a year that fishery opens. Willard holds no secrets to his fishing success, and is only too happy to help teach other recreational anglers how to catch fish around Galveston.

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, 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.firstdowncharters.com.

CAPTAIN TOM DAFFIN - With over 30 years of experience in fishing the waters off New Jersey, Tom enjoys an enviable reputation for putting his clients on trophy fish, whether they’re striped bass, fluke, tog or near shore tunas and sharks. With his Fishing Fever Sportfishing (fishinfeversportfishing.com), his knowledge of catching tuna, dolphin and marlin also makes him a regular at the canyons. Tom is based in Cape May, but often runs out of Atlantic City during the winter when chasing bass.

CAPTAIN BEAU WOODS  –  The operator of Double 0 Charters, 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.

RICHARD STANCZYK  – Richard, of Bud n’ Mary’s fame, is a wealth of knowledge on the fishing within the waters surrounding Islamorada, in the Florida Keys - from the backcountry to the Gulf Stream!  Over his 60 years of fishing history, Richard has pioneered or perfected the art of catching several game fish within these waters. This list includes bonefish, of which few Islamorada anglers have caught them as large as Richard, and broadbill swordfish, a fishery in which he, his brother Scott and pal Vic Gaspeny had pioneered and refined off Islamorada. Richard stills enjoys the tranquility of running out back to catch Spanish mackerel.