Fishing. It’s what I know, who I am – I’ve never made a steady penny any other way. This is what I believe I’m here on this earth to do. The calm seas and beautiful sunsets on summer afternoons, the screaming drag of the first run of a large fish, the camaraderie of a celebratory cold one after a successful day of fishing – can life get any better?

Born and raised in New Orleans, I’ve been fishing since I was big enough to hold a pole, and I began working for hire when I was seventeen. Ten years ago, I became a captain, and I’ve never looked back.

While I believe it’s incredibly important to catch fish, I put clients’ enjoyment as an even higher priority. My satisfaction comes from seeing the excitement, exhaustion, and smiles that come from defeating a big fish. Nothing compares to sinking the gaff into a large yellowfin tuna and seeing the beautiful contrast of streaming blood in cobalt blue water. Nothing beats catching large tuna, seeing the look on people’s faces as they wonder if the fish will ever stop and hearing, “I can’t believe a fish can pull that hard.”

My professional philosophy is to run and run, to cover water. The fish are out there, and it’s my job to find them. Personally, I live by three beliefs: strive to be the best, make the most of every day, and go big or go home.

As far as formal education, I started at Louisiana State University, studying wildlife and fisheries before transferring to the University of New Orleans, intending to pursue a naval architecture degree. Eventually, I switched to mechanical engineering, and eventually, I graduated .

As far as my fishing career, in my teens I did some guiding inshore for trout and redfish and became a deckhand offshore on a 36-foot Topaz. In 1998,  I bought my first boat, a 25-foot Mako, and today, I have a 33-foot custom Freeman Catamaran, “Wild Bill.”

One hell of a fishing machine, this boat was built for me, to my specs. Twin 250-HP Yamaha four-strokes, full complement of Furuno electronics, Sirius weather to keep us one step ahead of the weather, and Sirius satellite radio for clients’ listening pleasure are just a few of its amazing features.

My wife Stephanie and I have three children, Taylor, Grace, and Billy, who are twelve, nine, and four respectively. One of my goals for this year is to fish with my kids more often and to start chasing some junior angler records. As part of my commitment to the community, I donate a lot of trips to my kids’ school and to people in need. We once raised more than $27,000 to help pay for leukemia treatments for a two-year-old girl, who is now in remission. When I’m not fishing, I enjoy hunting for elk, deer, and ducks, and I also like to cook. I’m a member of the Louisiana Charter Boat Association.

In 2000, I won the Puerto Adventures sailfish tournament in Mexico. While fishing on the 50-foot “Viking Gringo,” I caught four sailfish, one white marlin, and one blue marlin. In 2005, at the Isle of Capri marlin tournament out of Biloxi, Mississippi, I placed fourth and had the pleasure of weighing a 403-pound blue marlin.

My favorite tale: The day before Thanksgiving in 1999, I took my two brothers fishing. Within five minutes of baits out, the flat line got crushed. Three and a half hours later, I sunk the gaff into the largest yellowfin tuna I’ve ever had the pleasure of sticking. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t fit into the fish box I had at the time. I had to cut off its head and tail and gut it so that I could ice it properly. Back at the dock, it weighed in at 175 pounds, which put it around 220, if it had been whole. To this day, it’s the largest tuna I’ve ever landed, and the only thing I’ve ever seen that could shut my brothers up!