Craziest fish story?

When I was in 11th grade I was surf fishing down on the National Sea Shore near New Smyrna Beach. I had an extra rod and wanted to try to catch a shark, so I got a big hook and put a big piece of a catfish on it. I tossed it out there a whopping 15 yards and ended up hooking a big shark about an hour later. It jumped and rolled a couple times just before it took off and spooled me and broke my steel leader clasp. That was pretty crazy.

Who got you into fishing?

Though I think it was mostly to help fill the frying pan. My good friend’s dad got me into tournament bass fishing. He was the one that took me to my first all day and first weeknight event. I was 16 years-old and we weighed a 15-oz bass in our first event. I was hooked.

Where do you wish you were right now?

It’s crazy cold and snowy up here right now? 80 degrees, a beach, and a drink in my hand sounds amazing anywhere.

Dream job if you weren't fishing?

If I wasn’t chasing bass I would love to be playing professional golf. I am not great at it by any means but I really enjoy it. If I wasn’t fishing I would have a heck of a lot of time to be better around the greens! haha.

Least favorite part of your job?

The driving. We are part time fisherman and full-time truckers. The long hours and late-night driving can get pretty tiring. The destination, however, makes the drives worthwhile.

What makes a good fisherman?

Mental toughness and the ability to adapt and change with the fish and fishing conditions. We all find fish and know how to catch them. The difference is that the guys at the top of our sport are able to get to the right decision sooner than others. This results in less wasted time and more fishing the right baits and or the right places.

Something nobody knows about you?

I’m kind of a sales guy. I actually saved up money to buy my first aluminum boat by selling candy “Airheads” on the bus in 6th and 7th grade. I used to buy a 75-count box at Sam’s Club for $5 and then sell them for $.15 cents each or 2/$.25 on Friday. I turned that little margin into over $2,000 profit. My mom and dad matched what I had saved and I got my 15-foot Sea Nymph with a 25hp engine.