Capt. Gregg McKee
Capt. Gregg McKee
Capt. Gregg McKee
Capt. Gregg McKee is a full time fishing guide and owner of Wildfly Charters, providing full service flats trips in both Southwest Florida and Puerto Rico. Born in central PA, (Go Steelers!) Capt. Gregg started his fishing career after moving to Key West in 1992.
He guided the Keys until 2005 when he and his wife Amanda moved to the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. Gregg started fishing the waters surrounding Pine Island in 2001 when his parents retired to beautiful Matlacha, FL. He immediately fell in love with the area and now spends most of the year chasing tarpon, redfish, and snook from Boca Grande to Sanibel. Capt. Gregg runs an 18 foot Beavertail skiff and welcomes both experienced anglers and
total beginners.
(239) 565-2960
Robin Griffiths
Capt. Gregg McKee
Capt. Gregg McKee
Robin’s adventure began in Parson’s, Kansas and Springfield, Missouri, but her love for the tropics eventually landed her in Southwest Florida. The word “adventure” has always had a strong presence in her life. From running marathons, or an 80 mile hike on the Appalachian Trail, to successfully climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Robin has never be afraid of pushing the limits of human endurance, whether on an adventure or in the office.
Robin Anne Griffiths is a published author of three books, certified master development coach, personal trainer and behavior change specialist. She works with groups and individuals on life transitions to create personal balance - both physically and mentally.
Robin is currently a writer and personal health consultant, and she hosts multiple fitness classes.
(239) 699-7394
Capt. Joe Greco
Capt. Gregg McKee
Capt. Bill Russell
Capt. Joe Greco has been been a USCG licensed captain since 1991 and currently operates a charter fishing business in upstate, New York and in southwest Florida. He operates "Justy-Joe Charters" on the pristine waters of Lake George -in New York's Adirondack region- during the summer months, targeting salmon, native lake trout and bass.
From December through May, Capt. Joe operates "Fort Myers Fishing Adventures" out of Salty Sam's Marina, in Fort Myers Beach.
Capt. Joe conducts fishing seminars on a regular basis and has been an avid outdoor writer for nearly two decades. He is a pro-staff for several companies, including Shimano Reels and Cannon Downriggers. Family-oriented, back-bay/ near shore fishing excursions are his specialty.
(877) 249-7472
Capt. Bill Russell
Capt. Bill Russell
Capt. Bill Russell
As a native Bill Russell has spent his entire life living on Pine Island and fishing the surrounding waters for over forty years and as a professional fishing guide for over 20 years.
The waters surrounding Pine Island are a true fishing mecca that provides a wide choice of angling thrills. He specializes in light tackle fishing for Snook, Tarpon, Redfish, Sea Trout, Sharks and a variety of other inshore species. Bill customizes each trip to ensure everyone on board has a great time and will return again.
From the small child to the novice to the most experienced angler Capt. Russell will make your trip a memorable one. If it’s your first fish or the fish of a lifetime Bill will work hard to make it happen while having fun! “Catch the Action” at www.fishpineisland.com
(239) 283-7960
Barb Hansen
Capt. Bill Russell
Sophie Mckee
Barb Hansen manages Southwest Florida Yachts, the yacht-chartering and yacht-school enterprise in N. Fort Myers. Since she and husband Vic started the firm in 1984 Barb has been welcoming people from all over the world and helping them experience their most wonderful on-the-water vacations ever. Many return year after year to cruise and sail the beautiful and placid waters of SW Florida.
"I love my job. I subscribe to the philosophy that if you have a job that you love, you’ll never have to work another day in your life," said Hansen. She has been writing "View from the Marina" for multiple publications since 2001.
(239) 656-1339
Sophie Mckee
Capt. Bill Russell
Sophie Mckee
9 year old Sophie McKee attends Ms. Vanderheyden’s 4th grade class at Oasis Elementary School in Cape Coral and will be writing about various reptiles living in Florida. She loves all animals, especially reptiles, but she’s am crazy about snakes! Sophie even has a pet ball python named Bella who is 3 feet long. She learned to love snakes from watching shows about them on TV and her two favorite people are Bindi Irwin from Australia Zoo and Emily Roberts who has a YouTube channel called “Snake Discovery,” which inspired her to start writing articles to teach people about the reptiles you may encounter here in Florida.
Dave Sully
Kathy & Katherine Thousand
Kathy & Katherine Thousand
Dave Sully has been a boat owner much of his adult life. Growing up on the shores of Eastern Lake Erie, south of Buffalo, he cruised on Lake Erie, plus the nearby Niagara River, and area inland lakes, the most notable being Chautauqua Lake, home of the world famous Chautauqua Institution.
He was an avid water skier and scuba diver for many years, having explored the ocean depths in the Bahamas, Barbados, Hawaii, and Nova Scotia along the way.
When he began wintering in Lee County in 2009, he joined the Lee County Sheriff's Voice Unit and subsequently began serving with the Lee County Sheriff's Marine Division, from where he has been able to witness the operation first hand and relate his and the unit's experiences to you.
Kathy & Katherine Thousand
Kathy & Katherine Thousand
Kathy & Katherine Thousand
Kathy Thousand is originally from Syracuse, New York, where she graduated from Onondaga Community College with a business degree. Her first job was working for an insurance carrier underwriting business owner policies. Katherine moved to Cape Coral in 1994 with her family, where she became a licensed insurance agent in 1997 offering health/life & Medicare.
Kathy is an avid butterfly gardener and recently installed a FL Friendly front yard garden! She works with her daughter Katherine Thousand, who is a graduate of Florida Southern College in Lakeland with a Bachelors’ degree in Science/Citrus.
Katherine received her insurance license in 2012, when she became the youngest licensed Medicare agent with United Healthcare!
(239) 201-4560
Tom Perrin
Kathy & Katherine Thousand
Capt. Dave Wright
Tom Perrin's monthly contribution to the Florida Coaster comes from years of nautical experience and is about boating in general and safety on the water.
Tom Perrin has been a boater since the age of 12, learned to fish on the St. Lawrence River, he ran a power boat in the Adirondacks and sailed very small craft on the protected waters of the Hamptons on Long Island, NY.
He took his first boater safety class while in his early teens and has continued to update his experience and education ever since. He is a lifelong environmentalist, a Florida Master Naturalist and a member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Tom's first book was published in 1992 and he's currently working on two others.
Capt. Dave Wright
Capt. Dave Wright
Capt. Dave Wright
Capt. Dave Wright is a USCG Licensed Captain operating out of Osprey, Florida. Having retired from the world of business he now enjoys the full time fishing/sightseeing tours.
Dave has fished from Stump Pass to Little Sarasota Bay for over 20 years and is one of "the guys to ask" about fishing these waters. Dave charters inshore and nearshore for everything from Sheepshead to Mackerel, Snook and Tarpon. He's also on the prowl for big King Mackerel and Cobia when they're close to shore.
Capt. Dave runs a 22ft center console bay-boat allowing him to comfortably fish up to 4 clients. Fishing often begins 5 minutes from the boat ramp!
He also does casual Sunset Cruises and sightseeing tours. Up to 6 people and tours can be from 2 -8 hours as the customers wish. Combination fishing and sightseeing tours can also be custom designed to fit the customers requests.
517-736-4212
Bob Moro
Capt. Dave Wright
Tim Gleason
Bob Moro is the past Commander of the Fort Myers Power Squadron-America's Boating Club, and remains an active member of their Bridge. His lifelong love of writing brought him to The Nautical Mile in 2014, and he has been writing a monthly column-appropriately named "Bob's World"- ever since.
Bob had a 40-year career in Massachusetts as a social worker and an investigator for the Massachusetts Juvenile Court. During his career he served as President of the Union representing the state's social workers, and later served as President of the Northbridge (MA) Teachers Association. Never short of an opinion, Bob likes to focus on boating education, boater safety, and our marine environment, but he loves to tell a good boating story wherever he finds them. He and his wife live on a canal off Whiskey Creek in South Fort Myers.
Tim Gleason
Capt. Dave Wright
Tim Gleason
Tim Gleason who was raised in New Jersey and who moved to Southern California as soon as he possibly could is a semiretired commercial photographer with 25 years of experience in product advertising imaging. He specialized in small product, tabletop photography. Most of his current clients are in the fishing and sunglasses industry. Tim’s advertising photography has appeared in publications ranging from Architectural Digest to Time Magazine and Sports Illustrated to name a few. After spending years chasing waves / surfing around the world, Tim became an avid fisherman who now lives on Pine Island with his wife of 30 years, Diane. More of Tim Gleason’s commercial photography and artwork can be seen at:
Tonya Wiley
Beth "Annie" Stockdale
Beth "Annie" Stockdale
Following a stint in the US Navy, Tonya Wiley received a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Fisheries from Texas A&M University at Galveston. She completed an internship with the White Shark Research Institute in South Africa, and then a temporary research project on endangered suckers with US Geological Survey in Oregon. Tonya has worked for the Coastal Fisheries Division of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as a Marine Finfish Hatchery Technician, Ecosystem Management Technician, and Fisheries Outreach Specialist; and for Mote Marine Laboratory’s Center for Shark Research on the Sawfish Research Project leading field surveys for endangered smalltooth sawfish from Tampa Bay to the Florida Keys. Tonya is now the President of Havenworth Coastal Conservation, founded to promote the sustainable use and conservation of marine resources through research, outreach, and education.
She is an appointed member of the National Marine Fisheries Service’s Smalltooth Sawfish Recovery Implementation Team, a multi-institutional panel of experts working to protect the remaining sawfish population in the US and prevent the species from going extinct.
With her monthly “Sawfish News” article Tonya brings interesting facts about sawfish, updates on current research projects, explanations of management tools such as the Endangered Species Act, descriptions of ways you can be involved in the recovery of sawfish, and other information about this fascinating fish.
(941) 201-2685
Beth "Annie" Stockdale
Beth "Annie" Stockdale
Beth "Annie" Stockdale
Beth “Annie” Stockdale believes everyone deserves to live the happiest, most joyous life possible! You do not have to “settle” for the health you presently have, or have to accept those aches and pains as a normal part of “aging”. Now is the time to increase your endurance, get stronger, and enjoy all the activities this life has to offer!
After spending over 10 years as a Federal and State Prosecutor, Annie changed her focus to health and wellness education. At her “Your Total Body Wellness Center” in Venice, she offers a Salt Room for respiratory health, infrared therapies to reduce inflammation, and even an iLipo Body Fat reduction system. As a Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist, she can help you increase your energy and strength in her fitness studio.
Annie is also a nationally-recognized Brain Health Coach and Consultant with the Amen Clinics, and a Speaker on important health topics. She can educate you on the signs of ADD, anxiety, depression, or cognitive issues such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or Dementia, and customize treatment protocols for you. You are not alone. With the use of sound nutrition, neurotransmitter supplementation, hormone therapies, and proper mental and physical exercises, you can feel like the best version of “You”.
Her monthly column contains information about improving memory and cognition, boosting your immune system, the importance of balancing your hormones, reducing inflammation and pain, and other health topics which matter the most.
(941) 468-7091
Jim Kalvin
Beth "Annie" Stockdale
Capt. Chick Melfi
Jim Kalvin is a Florida Native having been born at NAS Jax as a Navy Brat. The family moved to Naples in 1965, and Jim never left!
He was bound to be a career Mariner from the age of 6 – when he took his first solo sailing trip from Naples Sailing Center on Naples Bay.
Jim is a licensed USCG 100 Ton Master, and has delivered private yachts from Corpus Cristi, Texas to Nantucket, and everywhere in between. He holds a coveted Florida Guide License, and runs private trips with clients as well as an occasional commercial boat trip out of the City Dock.
He is also a licensed Marine Contractor working primarily in Naples and Marco Island. Kalvin & Calvin Marine Construction, Inc. specializes in custom residential docks, seawalls, rip-rap, and boatlift installation and repair.
Jim has been extremely active in the legislative and legal aspect of our water-front life-style, and is a Founding member, and current BOD member, of the Marine Industries Association of Collier County. He also founded the Boater’s Rights group “Standing Watch” which continues to monitor legislation and regulatory initiatives that affect Florida’s waterways.
Kcmcfl.com
239-280-6054
Capt. Chick Melfi
Capt. Chick Melfi
Capt. Chick Melfi
Captain Chick Melfi has been a USCG licensed captain for almost forty years. He also captained SKA tournament teams for several years, qualifying for the national championships every year. Chick ran “In Hot Pursuit” fishing charters out of Ft. Myers fishing both offshore and inshore trips. He’s also written fishing columns for the Ft. Myers Beach Sandpaper, Nautical Mile Magizine, and SKA Angler.
Chick also presented at many seminars, boat shows and Bass Pro Shops. He has been a member of Operation Open Arms, which offers free fishing charters to armed service men and women home from overseas duty.
He’s originally from upstate New York and fished the Seaway Thousand Island areas. Fishing and being on the water has been a passion for Captain Chick for over seventy years, and he’s looking forward to contributing to the Florida Coaster Magazine.
Tyler Henderson
Capt. Chick Melfi
Capt. Alex Moran
Tyler is a nationally registered EMT, licensed in two states, and a certified American Heart Association BLS instructor. His areas of focus are in mental health first aid and cardiac related medical issues. He is a native to the South, growing up on the banks of muddy rivers in Mississippi, the green deltas of Alabama, and the white sand shores of Florida.
Tyler contributes on issues of Public Health, he is committed to his oath to serve however he can to make people's lives healthier, longer, and happier. He lives in Ft. Myers with his partner, Emma, and his goofy black lab, Colin.
Capt. Alex Moran
Capt. Chick Melfi
Capt. Alex Moran
Capt. Alex Moran lives in Cape Coral and is a full time fishing guide specializing in both fly fishing and artificial lures for the most sought after inshore species in Southwest Florida. Alex grew up in St. Louis and began fly fishing in Soutwest Missouri for trout just over a decade ago and quickly developed a taste for the salt. After reading countless blogs about the fishing around Pine Island and Charlotte Harbor he came down to see for himself. A year later almost to the day he moved to the area and bought his Beavertail Strike and began guiding clients to Snook, Tarpon, and Redfish from Gasparilla down to St. James City. Whether you want to stalk spooky fish through the back bays or just take a boat ride to Cabbage Key and go walk the beaches of Cayo Costa everybody is welcome on the boat, and your custom tailored trip will be an experience you won't soon forget.
Mark Rackay
Mark Rackay
Mark Rackay
Mark Rackay is a world-class angler who was co-owner in the offshore charter boat Tag ‘em, and the backcountry boat Black Death for over 20 years before returning to his home state of Colorado. He is also an avid hunter, traveling the world over in search of adventure and fair chase hunting. Mark writes an outdoor column for a dozen newspapers and several magazines. He is a firearms expert, earning the NRA’s prestigious Triple Distinguished Expert award. He is considered a leading authority on outdoor survival and teaches classes to mountain venturing people. He and his wife Carol and their Jack Russels divide their time between the mountains of Western Colorado and Everglades City, Florida.