Miscellaneous
For most anglers, fishing the Florida Keys is a Bucket List proposition. But when Hurricane Irma ravaged Florida in September of 2017, all of us saw the complete devastation caused by 180-mph (260 km/h) wind gusts and torrent after torrent of rain and immense waves. We connected with IGFA-certified captain/guide Steven Lamp of Dream Catcher Charters to give us the awful details...and the honest truth about what really happened in Key West, Marathon, Big Pine Key and other notable locations. Capt. Steven also shared the biggest problem he and his fellow guides faced in the aftermath - and you'll most likely be surprised to find out. Finally, he gave us a detailed report of how the fishery has responded in the wake of Irma's devastation...and if it's actually still Bucket List-worthy. We could have hooked up with any number of captains to give a report, but there's a whole lot more to Capt. Steven than that. He's got a great story, and he's a great storyteller to boot. From following in his father's footsteps in offshore diving, to becoming a master spear fisherman, to *almost* forming the Lower Keys Guides Association, he'll having you laughing, thinking, and getting a little mad, too. You'll definitely want to listen to the horrific tale that wound up getting him started in the charter business. It's a true story that's been a nightmare for many an offshore angler - you may wake up in a cold sweat to this one! After reading Capt. Steven's bio, Capt. Kevin was quick to mention that could have been twin brothers based on their experiences, including a couple of nasty run-ins with one nasty species of fish. During the conversation, Kevin referenced an incredibly frightening event that he managed to catch on camera. It went viral, tallying over 3,000,000 views on YouTube. Here it is: During his time with us, Capt. Steven talked also about his relationship with IGFA, and just how great an organization it is. He's got a great perspective, and it was perfect timing, since the International Game Fish Association just celebrated its 79th anniversary. It was an interesting birthday for them, by the way; forget the party - they were busy announcing five initiatives as they approach their 80th Anniversary! Check out their press release outlining those exciting initiatives HERE. One warning: there is "singing" in this episode courtesy of Capt. Scott Shank and Chris Wayne, our producer. You may want to be sure you're not operating a motor vehicle... Thanks so much for listening, and be sure to subscribe to the podcast and like us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you want to say hello, if you have a question, or if you're interested in becoming a sponsor of the program, email us! We'd love to hear from you.