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 specific game fish is unparalleled; even the most seasoned veterans can learn something from them. Each one has played an integral part in the continuing success of my World of Saltwater Fishing television series and I gratefully acknowledge their friendships and contributions.
CAPTAIN BEN SHARPE - With major successes at fishing in wahoo and billfish tournaments throughout the Bahamas and sailfish competitions off South Florida, Ben Sharpe is a bank of knowledge. He is now a full-time Key West, Florida Keys, guide. His specialties include light tackle wreck- and reef- fishing, shrimp boats and offshore live-baiting and trolling. He operates a 28-foot center console out of Key West's City Marina. Ben can be reached at 786-366-7883, or at www.seamajorcharters.com
DAN QUINN - Born with a passion for fishing, Dan has been a part of the industry for nearly 30 years. From working at In-fisherman as a summer job to managing the biggest names in fishing, Dan lives and breathes fishing. Today he works as the Director of Field Promotions and R&D (Research and Development) for Rapala and all of the respective brands. May it be stripers on the East Coast, walleyes in MN, sailfish in Miami or salmon in Alaska, Dan has his hands in it all and loves every minute of it. Instagram: @dqrapala
HARRY VERNON III - A native of Key Biscayne, Florida, Harry Vernon III grew up pursuing game fish off Miami and in the Bahamas. An authority on live-baiting for sailfish, tuna and kingfish, he’s equally adept at trolling for wahoo, dolphin and marlin. On the inshore scene, he's tough on the local Biscayne Bay snook, tarpon and sea trout populations. When he’s not fishing or running the family tackle business, Harry tours as a national faculty member for the Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series. He can be reached at 305-374-4661.
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 Automotive on West Sample Road in Coral Springs, Carl enjoys live-baiting for sailfish, blackfin tuna and kingfish, running and gunning for dolphin, trolling for wahoo and marlin, and day dropping for swordfish. He’s a big fan of the Florida Keys and the Bahamas. Carlgrassi7801@gmail.com; 954-647-7500.
CAPTAIN ABIE RAYMOND - Growing up fishing the waters of Miami’s Biscayne Bay for snook, tarpon, sea trout and jacks, Abie’s enthusiasm soon shifted to the offshore reefs, wrecks and Gulf Stream for bottom fish and pelagics. The 32-year old guide is extremely passionate about fishing and putting both beginners and seasoned anglers on quality fish. He worked for the legendary Captain Bouncer Smith for 13 years, prior to setting forth on his own. Based out of the Haulover Marina, Abie fishes the entire Miami coast. He even specializes in freshwater charters. www.gohardfishing.com; Instagram:@abie_raymond ; Facebook: Abie Raymond; 305-775-5197.
CAPTAIN DEBBIE HANSON - An award-winning outdoor writer and women’s sport fishing advocate, Debbie specializes in fishing the waters of Estero Bay for redfish, snook and sea trout on light tackle. She also spends a considerable amount of time in freshwater, guiding clients to success on Southwest Florida’s lakes and canal systems. She lends angling support and encouragement to women of all ages through speaking engagements and via her web site at shefishes2.com. She can be reached at 239-233-4930.
CAPTAIN DIEGO TOIRAN - Host of the Hispanic/bilingual fishing television series Pescando en los Cayos (Fishing in the Keys), Diego moved to Key West in 1988 and become a firefighter at Boca Chica Naval Base. He retired as a Key West firefighter in 2020, acquired his captain's license and began commercial fishing for groupers, yellowtail and mutton snappers. He then became a full-time charter guide for 15 years. Today, most of his time is devoted to producing his television show. www.pescandoenloscayos.com; reelsmoker@aol.com; Instagram: @pescandoenloscayos.tv; Facebook: Diego Toiran; 305-747-0114.
CAPTAIN CHRIS HANSON - Few guides know the inshore sounds, estuaries, creeks and patch reefs of Key Largo proper like Chris Hanson. With his Scales 2 Tales Fishing Charters, 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 Sundowner's. He's equally knowledgeable in fishing the ocean side reefs as well as throughout Everglades National Park. Chris can be reached at 305-522-3772.
SAMANTHA DOMINIS - Born and raised in Bradenton, Florida, Samantha grew up fishing in Tampa Bay waters. She enjoys targeting snook, redfish, grouper and hogfish. Fishing and boating have always been a part of Samantha’s life. She and her husband are now raising the next generation of fishermen with their two sons aboard their 24’ Sheaffer. Instagram: @samanthadominis.
CAPTAIN ZACHERY HOFFMAN - A USCG certified 100 Ton Master, Zack grew up fishing the Chesapeake Bay. At age 20, he had rebuilt a 24’ Privateer and started his own charter business, Salt Treated Fishing, which is based in Seaford, Virginia. Since 2013, he has found the winner's circle in many major tournaments on the Bay, and in 2014 became one of the youngest anglers to appear on George Poveromo’s ’World of Saltwater Fishing’ television series. Zack's first-class charter operation accommodates anglers of all skill levels and he'll personally make sure the trip will be an unforgettable one, whether it's in the Bay or offshore. Instagram: @salttreatedfishing; 757-817-1388.
COACH JIMMY JOHNSON - As a head coach on football's college level from 1979 to 1988, Jimmy led the University of Miami to a National Championship in 1987 (his tenure there was from 1984 to 1988). In 1989, he was hired to coach the Dallas Cowboys; he guided the team to two Super Bowl championships out of the five years he was with them. Today, his love is fishing the offshore waters of the Florida Keys, primarily trolling for mahi. Jimmy is as passionate an angler as they come and spends most of his free time aboard one of his offshore center consoles. He's a resident of Islamorada.
HOWARD LIVINGSTON - A native of the mountains of eastern Kentucky, and moving to Indiana at age 13, Howard learned the guitar in his youth and played in a band as a teenager. After high school, he moved to Chicago, studied engineering, and launched a business manufacturing parts for diesel engines. Twenty years later, he traveled to the Florida Keys and developed a severe case of ’Keys Fever’. It was here where his musical calling took over. He eventually moved to Summerland Key, 24 miles from Key West, and teamed up with a group of talented musicians now known as The Mile Marker 24 Band! The extremely successful musician also cherishes his time on the water, be it simply mussing about or fishing. www.howardlivingston.com; FaceBook: Howard Livingston and The Mile Marker 24 Band.
CAPTAIN GARY DUBIEL - Based out of Oriental, North Carolina, Gary spends in excess of 200 days a year chasing trophy red drum in his home waters, albacore and other game fish off the coast, and striped bass, redfish and sea trout within the Neuse and Trent River systems by New Bern. He is an IGFA Fly Rod World Record Holder and was instrumental in changing the Pamlico Sound trophy redfishery from a nighttime bait game to a daytime artificial lure fishery. Gary is the inventor of the Pop-N-Fly (a fly-fishing tool technique that has changed trophy redfishing in NC). He can be reached through www.specfever.com, or at 252-514-3484.
AMANDA HOLLY - Amanda Holly is a broadcast meteorologist for Tampa, Florida's WFLA News Channel 8 (www.wfla.com). She also serves as her parent company's NASA Correspondent reporting on launches and other significant events happening in space. She has a deep passion for weather that goes beyond the clouds and rain coupled with a unique ability to tell a weather story with accuracy, excitement, and a little splash of science. During hurricane season, Amanda is featured as a "Tracking the Tropics" franchise meteorologist. Oh, and yes, she loves to fish! www.theamandaholly.com.
CAPTAIN JIM WILLCOX - A specialist at pitching lures for shallow water game fish around Islamorada as well as those deep within the Everglades, Jim’s reputation for producing quality catches keeps him in very high demand. Be it snook, redfish, tarpon, sea trout, cobia, tripletail, bonefish, permit or sharks, Jim has them dialed in. And when it comes to on board entertainment, he’s in a class of his own! www.ultimatekeysfishing.com; Instagram @captainjimwillcox; Facebook: James M Willcox; Email: captjimw@ultimatekeysfishing.com ; 305-393-1128.
