A few pics... some comments... so when you go on a tour with me, Captain Garry, you'll know a bit more about me.
I grew up pond fishing. This is a local culture thing... you catch fish, you eat them. Been doing it for years. Any time I could get my dad or my cousin Donnie Coates to take me fishing I was rigged and ready to go before they were. Later my dad bought a boat and we started fishing out of Putnam's Marina at Lake Murray when I was a pre-teen. We caught a LOT of fish, bream, crappie, bass and catfish without any electronics... just "that looks like a good spot." I still do that... and it still works! THANKS DAD! I never forgot it. All through college I fresh water fished and had LOTS of fun boating in SC waters.
68ft Hatteras in Mexico
In 1981 I was extended an invitation to join a friend and crew as mate on a yacht that spent a year in Mexico... Cabo San Lucas which was just a little fishing village at the end of the Baja. Mostly I helped keep the boat maintained during that year but I gained some skills running the boat as well. This eventually helped me get a Captain's license and help other people with similar sized vessels move them around from place to place. It was great working with my friend Dave Lerbs on "Malia" - another adventure I'd never have the chance to do again. Carpé Diem!
Over the next few years I started fishing salt water. Inspired by my cousin Donnie Coates I used a skiff for inshore and offshore trips catching flounder, spottail bass, sea trout and the big palegics like Mahi Mahi pictured here with my friends Lawrence Haynes and Troy "Cooder" Burgess. In 2008 I had two fortunate opportunities happen... I got a job offer in Charleston SC and bought a cheap property there to stay near Folly Beach during the week. I rigged up a Jon Boat and fished the inshore until I had mastered the Slam getting flounder, reds and trout on most every trip out. My self-training was for the most part complete! I knew how to catch fish and show others how to do it!
