00;00;00;00 - 00;00;14;29UnknownWhere are your hosts, Aaron Backus and Jason Kindler? We like to sit down with our guests to hear their journey, their challenges, and how they impact the local community. So grab a seat. Tune in and let's get inspired by Jacksonville's everyday workforce. Welcome to Hometown Jacks.00;00;14;29 - 00;00;33;19UnknownCaptain. Leon. Dana. I am so happy to have you here filing. Good. The traffic. This is amazing. I mean, I am so excited about this because I was going through the questions, and I know I'm not going to even need any questions with you because it's just going to be a fun 45 minutes to an hour.00;00;33;21 - 00;00;55;18UnknownThis really is wanting to know every man or woman's dream out there is to learn how to fish like you did. It's amazing. You know it. You can be great at a lot of things and not great at some other things. But when you come onto my boat, you don't have to be good or bad or fantastic. Yes, everyone's on par.00;00;55;19 - 00;01;08;05UnknownWe're all going to have a great time no matter what. We're all going to catch fish. There's going to be high fives. There's going to be laughs. You're going to be smiles and memories made. No doubt you you are an expert at that. And you're a really damn good fisherman. I mean that's just call it out00;01;08;05 - 00;01;14;03Unknownbecause I can remember times being on your boat where we cast it over to this spot and you're like, no, no, no, no, no, no.00;01;14;05 - 00;01;31;20UnknownIt's got to be like two, five feet over. Yeah, it's two feet over. And I'm like, how does that even make a difference? And then you cast it over that spot and then bam we get a, we get a bite right off the bat. Look honestly. And it comes down to repetition and becoming I'm not exaggerating when I say this.00;01;31;22 - 00;01;48;25UnknownYou're thinking like a fish. I swear I'm not kidding you here. And I mean, every day I wake up fish, I put them to sleep. I know where they live. I know their habitual habits. I've. I've learned watching fish over 15 years. Learn me? Yes. Oh, I know they're smarter than when I first met them. Right, right. Oh, absolutely.00;01;48;26 - 00;01;57;20UnknownSo when I see a client that I'll throw a bait out there and I go, not going to happen. What do you mean, it's nice? Yeah, it was a nice cast, but you still five feet outside of the strike zone.00;01;57;20 - 00;02;02;05UnknownThat fish is not going to leave that structure to come out and get that piece of bait. Are you sure?00;02;02;10 - 00;02;24;04UnknownReel it in. Throw it back over there. Good cast, and I'll wait and watch. Right there it goes. Right, right. Well, I want to get into your history a little bit, all right? Because, So Captain Leon works out of Palm Valley. Palm Valley outdoors underneath the bridge. That's where you go out of every time. You're probably the the preeminent expert of the valley.00;02;24;11 - 00;02;53;03UnknownTell us what? Like the the area of the valley encompasses. Good question. So Palm Valley, which, the boat ramp underneath the, 210 bridge is, three, seven seven South Roscoe Boulevard. Yes. I consider anything north of, that bridge all the way up to, I would say, JTB Bridge and South. Honestly, in my opinion, personally, it's down to marker 38, which is down by the Spanish.00;02;53;03 - 00;03;08;26UnknownWell, iguana. Okay. And that's just one stretch of water that I work religiously day in and day. But you don't go north much, though, do you know? Well, there are times that I will go to the north. If I had a good fisherman, a good bass fisherman, a good artificial fisherman that I know that wants to fish docks.00;03;08;26 - 00;03;27;22UnknownOkay, I'll do that. Or if I want to go for some of my favorite fish, which are Chinook, here in Northeast Florida, I will take the right person. Not anybody but the right person up to do that. Because in honesty, we catch 1 or 2 of those in a charter. We've had a great day. Well, I remember it's funny you bring up snow because we had a recent freeze.00;03;27;22 - 00;03;48;07UnknownWe had seen a lot of dead ones and marinas. But you said I mean, I just snow. I feel like kind of hard to catch around here. But you know the spots for those, right? Yes. They are a creature of habit. They hide in only particular areas that I know of. And, you know, I still find them every once in a while out of those normal areas where it's a nice little bonus fish.00;03;48;10 - 00;03;49;28UnknownBut00;03;49;28 - 00;04;09;05Unknownour fish are local. They're not migratory. Migratory fish like you see from south southward. No, no, these fish were born here, raised here and grown up here. So they're pretty darn, used to the cold. Yeah. We. Yes, we did lose a couple fish in this freeze. Hell, we lost a lot of different kind of fish during this freeze, right?00;04;09;07 - 00;04;20;21UnknownSome sea trout even died. Okay, right. But we did not have a massive kill. Okay? So I still don't feel very good about the populace, about my population, especially my large numbers. Right? Right.00;04;20;21 - 00;04;29;04UnknownSo where did you develop your love for fishing at that start as a kid? You know, it did. I was probably six years old.00;04;29;06 - 00;04;50;19UnknownI, as a child, my father here, born and raised here in Jacksonville, he used to, own a dump truck, and he would drive around, dropping off loads of asphalt and dirt and work, work and construction sites. Right. Well, my dad would take me in the truck and I would see all these ponds, and I'm like, dad, I can probably fish these ponds.00;04;50;21 - 00;05;06;27UnknownWell, during the summer, he dropped me off on the side of a highway on the side of I-95, just low enough just for me to jump out with a fishing rod tackle box, and they wouldn't pick me up until the end of the day. Oh, wow. And he'd be like, did you catch any fish today, son? I go, you bet I did, dad.00;05;06;27 - 00;05;24;12UnknownYeah, yeah. I mean, so was data fishermen. No, he was it. How did that like, how did you get it then? That's crazy. So my my best friend, I'm 53 years old, but we 54. My best friend of 52 years lives across the street from me. He got me into fishing. His name is Charles Hall. Okay.00;05;24;15 - 00;05;44;26UnknownAnd his father, Rudy Hall. Okay. And they would take me fishing everywhere. Wow. Yeah. We were like, I don't know, mutton Jeff, right? Yeah. Right. And we'd fish everywhere together. Yeah. The bug caught me. Yeah. And caught you early at six. Oh, that's when you need to catch kids. Yeah. For sure. Yes. More tackle boxes, less Xboxes.00;05;44;26 - 00;05;58;29UnknownYes. And I promise you, I love you. You'll never worry again where your kid is. If you know he's got a fishing rod as a man. How well said is that? Oh. It's true. So you didn't start off being a guy? No. Gosh, no. Weren't you in the military? Yeah, I did, I did a stint in the Marine Corps.00;05;58;29 - 00;06;21;23UnknownOkay. From, 91 to 95. Okay. And so high school to Marine Corps, two weeks out of high school, really? Right into high. So let me. Well made you do that. So of us know right out of the gate. We're not college material. Okay. You're saying you know, oh I hell my teachers knew not I mean, all my teacher like, yeah, college, college, college, Legion.00;06;21;26 - 00;06;46;23UnknownYeah. He's a marine. He's a he's a marine. Yeah. So was it ever just Army? Marine? Navy? You knew you were going to be a marine right off the bat. I personally, even at that age, knew that I needed guidance in my life, right? I needed structure, right? I needed I needed my butt kicked. Yeah. Even at that age, I realized I could do better, right?00;06;46;26 - 00;07;07;04UnknownAnd I wanted to do something hard. Yeah. And I joined the Marine Corps, and I loved it. Yeah, I loved it, loved it, loved it. Awesome, awesome. Did you go some cool places? Oh, yeah. Been all over Africa and Asia. Yeah, right. Oh, yeah. No children. No children. No. Okay. But all over Asia. But, no, I didn't get to see any wars.00;07;07;04 - 00;07;27;25UnknownFine with me. Just fine by me, bro. Were you fishing when you were in the military? Very little, but I did do once. A hand grenade in a pond. Oh, really? Yes, it does make fish float. Oh, man. That's hilarious. So you got out of the military, come back to Jacksonville? Yep. Came back. Family built, family business.00;07;27;25 - 00;07;50;12UnknownYeah. Tell us a little bit about that family business. Dana's limousine service law around for a long time. Still is. Your dad did that after the dump trucks? Yes. Well, my father started the company in 1977 here in Jackson. Wow. We were the first limousine company in Jacksonville. Interesting. Yeah. And we built the fleet from 77 till 2003, I think it was.00;07;50;15 - 00;08;16;12UnknownWow. We were, a family business. My mother, my father, my dad's sister, my sister, myself, my dad's sister's sister. Okay. It was just one big family, right? And it worked great. Right? Up to 42 vehicles in our fleet. Wow. And, I was the fleet manager. Wow. Yeah. So parties, weddings, big groups, just about anything. Yes, you name it, we did it.00;08;16;12 - 00;08;33;05UnknownI mean, from dignitaries to rock stars. Yes. We did it all. I've met a lot of people in my life, but I'll say to you, like I've said it to everybody, everyone puts their pants on the same thing they do, don't they? Do they do. Hi. Nice to meet you. Yeah, I don't care, I don't care. Nice to meet you.00;08;33;05 - 00;08;51;22UnknownIf you're a nice person, I'm a nice person. So did you stop doing that? Did the business end or did you decide to go another direction or what happened after that? No. Honestly, being a fleet manager put me on call 24 seven, right? I mean, if something went wrong, I was there to put the fire out, right? Right.00;08;51;24 - 00;09;14;09UnknownThat really cuts into your fishing time. Yes, it really does. And when you're getting phone calls and pictures from friends, you know, or word of mouth that the cobia are running or the red fish are on fire, or God, you should have been down there at the jetties to flounder. We were just stroking the flounder. And in 2003, which was I believe was a year my family sold the company.00;09;14;09 - 00;09;38;11UnknownOkay, I just said to myself, Aaron, I want to do something that makes me happy, right? And it's going to involve fishing, right? I have missed entirely too much fishing in my life and I'm ready to get back in it. Well, you also did some stuff where you would take snakes out of people's yards. Oh. Oh yeah. You were like the the resident, like Nocatee wildlife manager.00;09;38;12 - 00;10;02;04UnknownExactly, exactly. Tell us a little bit about that. Oh, well, snakes a lot. Pigs are rattlesnakes, pigs, raccoons, possums, armadillos, you name it. Now, folks, mind you, this is early 2009, okay? Back when you're still driving, limousines and whatnot. And I come home and there would be a list of neighbors with text messages or pictures. Go. There's a picture.00;10;02;04 - 00;10;23;18UnknownA snake is just friendly. Hey, I got this drill digging a hole underneath my AC unit, okay? Or. Yeah. Hey, this thing rattles and hisses at me. Should I leave it alone? And and on the order scale? Not dangerous to I need to remove that snake immediately, right from the old lady's backyard. I would I would work down the list.00;10;23;18 - 00;10;43;12UnknownYeah. And it was kind of funny. I lived in Kelly Point, which was on the north side. Yeah. And let's put it. You like this? For three years, there was only 21 houses built in that neighborhood. So everyone knew everyone. Well, the same word got started going in, and it just stopped, right. You know, slowed down. Right?00;10;43;15 - 00;11;01;23UnknownYeah. You would know that all people. Absolutely. And, word got around. Yes. All the other neighbors. Hey, we got some nutcase that doesn't mind grabbing snakes, bats, you know, give him a couple alligators. Yeah. Pulled a couple of those out of garages. Yeah, yeah, out of garages. Oh, yeah. Oh, wow. Well, you keep the garage door open.00;11;01;24 - 00;11;16;00UnknownAlligators. They just walk around like they would, that dirt. Wait a minute. I'm inside with cars, and the doors just closed. Well, I'm just going to sit underneath this car, hiss at people. Oh, yeah. Been there, done that. Oh my God. So,00;11;16;00 - 00;11;20;28Unknownfamily business ends. You made the choice. I'm going all in on guiding you.00;11;20;28 - 00;11;43;01UnknownIs that right? Absolutely. So. But before then, had you been work in the Valley? Did you become an expert at that while you were driving limos? Good question. So I have always been born and raised in Jacksonville. I've always been a person of location. Growing up in Arlington, CA, I used to fish Arlington, right? Okay. Bought a house in Arlington, right.00;11;43;03 - 00;12;07;11UnknownFished all the Matthews Bridge, Pittsburgh Creek area. Right. Moved out to the beaches, started fishing. Sisters Creek, bought a house down in, nocatee. Pine Island, right. Palm Valley, right. And I'm a person that believes in being good. I'm not going to overextend myself. I'm going to be good at one thing or one area. Right. And I'm the first one.00;12;07;11 - 00;12;19;00UnknownThey'll all say, Aaron, you want to fish somewhere else, I'll find you that guy. Right? But I am not going to go out of my way and say, hey, look, I can do this when I know that I'm not going to be in my zone, right00;12;19;00 - 00;12;22;24Unknownwhere I know I am very good at right day in, day out.00;12;22;24 - 00;12;49;25UnknownAnd you develop that why you were driving? That's correct. So you had the confidence of saying, hey, I'm going to do this full time. I know what I'm doing at this point. You know, Aaron is funny. You mention that and this. I'm not exaggerating one bit when I say this. I went from a family business from 1996 to 2009, and just a little bit longer than that full time.00;12;49;27 - 00;13;07;17UnknownAnd in one month of me letting the word out, hey, I'm going to be a fishing guide. I quit my job just because you were getting that many that much work immediately out of the gate that many people, but had it just, well, just because you were born and raised here, people knew you're fishing, that sort of thing.00;13;07;17 - 00;13;23;01UnknownI mean, how did they how did that popularity swell so much? Well, everyone wants to fish. And before it it seems like. But the thing was me, my previous business, transportation. You met word of mouth. Met a lot of people. Talked about shot, I shot, I shook a lot of babies and kissed a lot of hands. Right, right.00;13;23;03 - 00;13;38;25UnknownAnd, I would I mean, these people, I'd be passing up my business because, hey, I'm going to be a fishing guy. I'm going to be a fishing guy now, like we will call you. You're. That brings up a good point. So you were you had in your mind you were working it. So six months before ish, you're saying I'm going to God, I'm going to God.00;13;38;25 - 00;14;02;00UnknownYou ready? That sort of thing. And you set the stage? Yes, absolutely. Yeah. You got to remember the area that I chartered for Palm Valley. Yes. Nocatee Marsh landing. Yeah. Sawgrass. The plantation. I mean, all these areas, these people only do it. These people have expendable cash. Okay. Right. Ideal to a clientele. I don't deal that out of towners.00;14;02;01 - 00;14;21;13UnknownRight. All locals. I have my usuals. I have my habitual offenders, and I have my usual suspects. Yeah, and I cut it monthly. Weekly, every other week. I mean, so that that brings up a good point because. So you have regulars. Oh my. Oh you have, you have people that say I need, I want twice a month or once a year.00;14;21;13 - 00;14;39;27UnknownYes, sir. How does that work? I have, I have them, I sit down with them, I go through the calendars, I go through the tides and I book people. 12 charters, ten charters, 20 charters. Wow. Oh, absolutely. That's, corporate trips. Yeah, absolutely. Do corporate for a lot of business. You seen a lot of business deals go down over a nice redfish, for sure.00;14;40;01 - 00;14;58;29UnknownAbsolutely. It's a great place for clients to be taken out. I mean, everyone plays golf, pickleball. They do something else. Tennis or sporting clays. Yeah. You get them out on the water. It's just you and him. Yeah, it's much more personal. It's much more quiet. You can be fishing and you can be talking great business. Oh, absolutely. Great things happen.00;14;58;29 - 00;15;18;10UnknownAnd how many people you fit on the boat? I can take a maximum of four. Right. Well, two including you. Yes. Okay. So I'll take five to be five people total. Okay. But a sweet spot is 2 or 3 people. Okay. Right. Exactly. And then you add me. Okay. Yes, yes. Do you feel a pressure to catch fish every time you go, or has that been gone for a while?00;15;18;10 - 00;15;46;00UnknownBecause you know you're going to find it inside. There is always a small bit of pressure in the back of my brain. Yeah, that says I need to produce. I need to produce, I need to produce. Doing this for over, I think I'm at 12, 13 years now. I'm still teaching myself to understand Leon is not about catching fish and recast.00;15;46;00 - 00;16;06;22UnknownIt's about seeing smiles on their face, seeing them laugh, seeing them taking pictures of each other, them talking about their family and who they wish was here. Right? Throw in a couple of fish with that and you've made not just a day, but you've made a memory, a huge memory. Great. Especially when you've got children. Yes. And well, you're great with children.00;16;06;22 - 00;16;20;15UnknownYou just it's so funny. And I have no children. That's the funniest part. That's the best person with children. They don't know. They don't have children. I think you might think is great about it is that I can be fantastic with kids for four hours. Yes. And then I can get back and I'm like a great grandparent. Yes.00;16;20;20 - 00;16;51;19UnknownOh, how spoiled I can be. I guarantee. So we talked about the pressure catching fish show. Can you remember a time you didn't catch fish recently? Recently? Probably not. Look, seriously, it doesn't happen a lot, but something really usually, weather wise is what's going to cause it to shut down. And I would say, for instance, a few weeks ago, yes, we had those cold weather come through and I saw you post video, you were out.00;16;51;27 - 00;17;13;11UnknownI was out every day. You were every other guy was at home snuggling up. Nice, I get it, but what did you see me catching? Fish every day? Yeah. It took one day for those fish to acclimate. Okay. Water temperature got all the way down to 4647 degrees. And that fish were still on fire. Why? They didn't want to eat, but they had to eat.00;17;13;11 - 00;17;33;16UnknownYeah, you just had to change the presentation. Yes. And your bait style and the way you fished. Okay. So being flexible, biggest perk? Fishing every day like I do, waking up, putting fish back to sleep. I know what they're doing. They're creatures of habit. If you don't beat them up too much, beat them too hard. They're going to stay in that area.00;17;33;16 - 00;17;49;21UnknownYeah, that's why I move around a lot. I don't want to pound a spot too hard. Right. We'll come back to him in two days. Yeah. Back when they're done. That black I start with that little lip of they're starting to heal. Then I'll throw another shrimp back to them. Do you you probably know that stretch of area like the back of your hand, right?00;17;49;21 - 00;18;08;27UnknownI mean, literally, is there ever a little spot like, hey, I didn't I didn't know that was here? Absolutely. Really? Oh my god, yes. I'm not the landscape change. No, it's not the landscape that changes. It's just look, I mean, I've been fishing the area over 15 years and I still find new spots. Like, I can see how you would find a new spot.00;18;08;27 - 00;18;27;17UnknownYou're back. All right, all right, all right. Now we're getting personal because you, Because you get really skinny in the boat. So that's why I get to be with you this way. So what's the what's the draw on your bed? All right. Ten inches, ten inches, not nine. Right. But you'll be in water. Ten inches deep, right?00;18;27;20 - 00;18;47;24UnknownYes, I will, yes, I have I pushed the envelope every day, right. To get into spots that a 23ft boat has no business being in. Right, right. I mean, I see kayakers that are like, you're in here and I go, yeah, I'm in here. And you're like, wait, no, no, I can fit it. Here I go. Yeah, now move out of the way.00;18;47;24 - 00;19;04;22UnknownI'm going past you. I'm going even shallower. So tell me how you find those spots. Like, look, you're far back in the creek in, like, my gosh, no, no, no, you don't look at it, okay? This is how you do it. Okay? You go home. First series, take this little tidbit down. Okay. Get out your big screen TV.00;19;04;22 - 00;19;26;15UnknownYeah, go to Google Earth. Yes. Look at the area that you want to fish or the area that you want to understand more. Understand the creeks. Right. Zoom in, go out of traffic. Go to, your topography, and you start zooming in on your creeks and you start zooming in. Okay. This is how I get into this creek.00;19;26;17 - 00;19;42;09UnknownIt goes down 300 yards. It splits to a Y in the middle of why there's an oyster. Okay, which way do I want to go from here? All right. I'm going to explore via Google Earth right to the left. Right. Oh look there's two oyster beds down there. And oh, look, there's a dark spot next to those oyster beds.00;19;42;16 - 00;19;45;16UnknownThat tells me there's a hole right there. Right? Or00;19;45;16 - 00;20;01;18UnknownI see dark mud. And then all of a sudden I see sand right? All right, that tells me that I've got, a shallow area coming up. Right, right. And I will sit there and I will map out in my brain fishing spots that I've never fish before. And then I'll come back in on an incoming tide.00;20;01;18 - 00;20;17;26UnknownI'll go to that area and I will explore it inside now. Right. And then I'll learn it. Right. That's. What are you, awesome? So you don't. And the fish get caught in there, right? Oh I do, oh, absolutely. Yeah. Because I don't think most people would understand that that's they don't understand how tidal this area is. It's huge swings.00;20;17;26 - 00;20;41;12UnknownWe get six foot swings right. We apps. We have five and six puts to the layman out there. That means low tide. It could be no water and high tide be six feet of water. It's that dramatic. It is that dramatic. And you also have your plus tides and your negative tides, which that means the water depending on the wind and where the moon is, you're going to have water even higher than what they were calling for.00;20;41;15 - 00;21;05;14UnknownBecause, I mean, you can have a particular tide that's calling for a 0.0. Okay. But you have a northwest or northeast wind blowing the water into the creek, right? It's going to raise it even higher. Right. Or if you get a moon phase with, a super strong moon like we've had this past couple of weeks, I got a -0.7, -0.8 tide.00;21;05;14 - 00;21;25;17UnknownSo it's eight inches lower than it should be. Wow. Which is where I get myself in trouble. So you said you like. You think like the fish? Yeah. So are they. Are they like families? I mean literally are like, is that the same group of fish in this same little creek, or do they venture out in the middle or like, how do you tell me, like how a fish thinks.00;21;25;18 - 00;21;43;19UnknownOkay. Good fish. That's crazy. Good question though. All right. Fish are creatures I habit. Fish are just like humans when it comes to hanging out. Yes. You got your little kindergartners. You don't see us. You don't see a ten year old hanging out with kindergartners. No you don't. You don't see a high school student hanging out with a ten year old, right?00;21;43;23 - 00;22;05;19UnknownYou don't see college graduates hanging out with a ten year old. Yeah. No. These fish hang out together by size, okay? And they will hang out in areas. And they only pushed around by the different sizes of fish. You will not what? I catch 2 or 3 small rat reds, folks. Rat reds are 17in and under. Your slot limit is 18 to 27in.00;22;05;21 - 00;22;23;21UnknownI start getting into mid slot fish, which is where I like to be 2320 four inch fish. I know that the majority of these fish in that area are going to be of that same size, right? Fish. Where do they go when they start getting bigger? They venture out into the intercoastal. They need more space or. That is very true.00;22;23;22 - 00;22;46;16UnknownYeah. You're backwaters are your estuaries. That's where your small fish you're going to grow up. All right. Your larger fish are going to be in that area also in their title. They will move in and out of those creeks. But depending on how far they started back in that creek for the day, depending on how low the water gets, they may sit up in one of the holes, one of the bins, one of the drop offs.00;22;46;27 - 00;23;03;20UnknownBefore you get to the mouth, they don't always want to go out to the mouth. Why? Because the apex predators live out there. Who are those? Those are sharks, right? Those are dolphins. Those are lions. Right. Okay, so those are three things that they never want to see and not necessarily that order. So I'm glad you brought that up.00;23;03;25 - 00;23;21;18UnknownTell me the type of fish that you catch. In the valley. And what's your preferred type that you like to catch? Honestly, people ask me all the time, what's your favorite fish to catch? I go the one on the line right now. Okay, trust me, I'm just happy seeing that line bend. Except for a catfish. We catch two catfish in a row.00;23;21;20 - 00;23;41;23UnknownWe're moving out to that one, too. I'm out two catfish and we're out. Okay, technically on my boat, folks, if you catch your catfish, you go one fish backwards on your list. So if you can't, five. Now you got four. You got to remake that fish back up, I guess. Yes. Catfish don't count. Non fishermen listening to this catfish is not a good omen.00;23;41;23 - 00;24;04;04UnknownIt's not. It's something you make fun of people for catching. Right. It's you know it might not be their fault. It's not their fault, but it's a no good fish. So catfish tell me the other species. Well, generally in the valley targeting redfish obviously. Yeah. Trout, flounder, black drum, sheephead, snook. Tarpon. Tarpon in the valley. Oh, absolutely.00;24;04;06 - 00;24;29;01UnknownLots of them. Seasonal. Seasonal. Because I know you go down to Saint Augustine, the inlet. Sometimes I do tarpon a run it I do. But for instance, this year the inlet, the bait left the inlet and the tarpon came up to palm Valley because it was loaded full of mullet. So I was doing tarpon charters in the valley versus the inlet like big tarpon.00;24;29;04 - 00;24;49;01UnknownNow, fun size 50 to 100 pound. Okay, that's what I think they let. What do you think that the bait left at Saint Augustine. Water temperature change again okay. Because generally in that time of year that we're hunting tarpon July, August September, October. Okay. We're on the beach. Yes. And the bait was not on the beach, but there was a lot of mullet in the valley.00;24;49;01 - 00;25;06;27UnknownAnd the tarpon were there, right? Yeah. Interesting. Well, that had to be pretty fun hunting for, tarpon in the valley. Oh, you don't have to go very far. No, no, not at all. You know, simple techniques, because, I mean, we can pound the banks, catch a couple redfish, couple trout, black drum, and then I'll go. All right, we got to limit the fish.00;25;07;04 - 00;25;27;18UnknownWe want to catch something big. They're like, oh okay. Yeah. And I'm like, let's do this thing. Yes. It's easy, you know, you get out your 10,000 size rods. The large tackle folks. Yes. And you're drifting live bait back right in the middle of the canal. Well it depends are usually on the drop downs of the channels. Okay, so you could just pull your boat up, spot, lock the trolling motor down.00;25;27;19 - 00;25;43;14UnknownYeah. Just look around for a few minutes. You'll start to see them rolling. Yes. They're rolling. Oh, yeah. You're in the right area. Drift back two three large bait. Let it sit there for 15 minutes. If you don't get a if you don't get a strike at that point move a hundred yards. Yeah. That's how it works. Tarpon.00;25;43;16 - 00;26;01;11UnknownYou don't eat tarpon. No. No. This is so so so bony or what is there just considered sport fish. It's never been eaten. Florida has always considered it. I think it's like the state knife. Maybe there's a sort of the suggested sailfish. Okay. But, it's it's a game fish in the state of Florida. Extremely bony. Yes.00;26;02;05 - 00;26;22;05UnknownI do know that in the islands down south, they eat them. Right. More power to them, right? Right. So, I mean, but no, we don't keep them. Yeah, we hook them, fight them, get big smiles, high fives and let them go. Oh, absolutely. And so the redfish are great eating spectacular flounder. Great. Yes. And trout great eating pretty good.00;26;22;05 - 00;26;46;01UnknownPretty good. But listen to dance. Snook. Yes. Bites okay, now we're getting on an interesting subject here. And how do you cook? Because I know you know all well, I guess you can't eat snook. Okay. I do not really keep snook because I just want to keep reproducing my babies. Look, I just had it. I just had a frost kill, okay?00;26;46;03 - 00;27;04;29UnknownSo I'm not keeping nothing right now. I would possibly keep a 31 inch snook if it was right in the right client. Right. And I know that look. He earned it. He's fished this client is fished with me for ten years. Right? Right. Okay. And this is a trophy fish. Yeah. So I know two things you're going to have.00;27;04;29 - 00;27;23;14UnknownFirst of all, he's going to get him out of it, which nowadays all you got to do is call it great taxidermy. You just take a picture. Right. Oh that's fish. And number two. Then I tell you, if you want to, you know, when you want to cook this fish, let me tell you how to cook it. And, snook, it's just got the most absolute amazing white meat and it's unbelievable.00;27;23;14 - 00;27;41;00UnknownWhat do you blackened it. How do you do it? You can blackened it. But I like a little lemon pepper. Yeah. On a cast iron skillet. Yes. Oh yes please. With it. Yes. Oh yes. Some jasmine rice. Some hairs cut. So good. I might have to go to PBS tonight. Something I know now I have snuck on the menu, but no, they will not.00;27;41;02 - 00;28;04;17UnknownSo redfish. We know flounder and redfish are really good eating. That I was this brings up a good point, though, because I've always wanted this about a captain. Is everybody keeping their fish? No. Okay. So would you say the majority don't keep fish? No, I'd say 60%. Do 40%. No. Okay. And the ones that do, are they conscious of like, hey, I don't need my limit every time.00;28;04;20 - 00;28;24;08UnknownThat's correct. I only want one fish to take home like I'm not myself. I'm not a huge fish eater, but I like one. We'll put it on the grill. I don't need three. Like keep it. Absolutely. Right. Okay. Absolutely. And you're conscious? Stewart. Yes, absolutely. I mean, I push okay. If we're going to keep fish, we're going to keep one fish at this beach.00;28;24;08 - 00;28;41;18UnknownNow, look, you can go find another guy. I don't have a problem. That was whoever that will let you keep higher limits. Right. But I am protecting my stocks year in, year out. Yeah. You got to remember, I catch a lot of darn fish, man. Right. So I'm in one area. I got to take care of that area.00;28;41;18 - 00;28;56;24UnknownYeah. For sure. And my clients have no problem with that whatsoever. They completely get it. Yeah. Every day in and day out, they're like, no problem, cap, we get it. We're just here in rock, baby. Do you recognize, since you know the fish, do you ever recognize him like, oh, that's that's Bobby and that's okay. So it's funny you mention that.00;28;56;26 - 00;29;14;26UnknownI at one point did a tagging system on my redfish. Just like snapper tail is. Exactly. Yeah, I had a hole puncher. Okay. And by the way, it takes a brand new hole, but you can use one of them ones. It's been in the house for 20 years. All good. No, no. You just take their with it and you punch a hole.00;29;14;26 - 00;29;37;12UnknownClip it. Yeah. It makes a perfect cookie cutter hole entertainer. Yeah, yeah, I did over 200 fish. I caught like three. Caught three again. Yeah. That's it. I mean there's that. Just amazing to think. Yes. Because did in the old days they used to dragnet for these for redfish. Sure that. Yes that is correct. Well that's great news to know that the population is doing really well.00;29;37;12 - 00;30;03;04UnknownI feel very confident in our habitat and our estuaries that are doing very well producing fish. Right. And what do you think keeps that habitat? Good. Just stewards like you or do we have regulations, regulations and stewards? Absolutely. I know all my guys. We keep the bare minimum. Right. You know, if we get someone that says, hey, we're here to fill the cooler, we'll go, let me introduce you to this guy, right?00;30;03;07 - 00;30;19;25UnknownOr another guy, you know, that may help you. Well, and, you know, sometimes I feel like people just want to do that, and they have no intention to eat the fish. And it makes no sense. Are you taking home fish a lot? People like, I don't want it or never. No, never. I mean, you you can get as much as you want.00;30;20;01 - 00;30;36;08UnknownI, but when is this? Bring it back. When you. When you catch the fish and you put it in your liver. Yeah. Can you put it back and trade it for another fish or don't you touch it. Well, kind of technically there's some stipulations in there myself, and I hope I don't get myself in trouble with this.00;30;36;11 - 00;30;51;01UnknownI keep live fish. Yes. Keep my wife all the way to the end. Okay. If we catch, a 21 inch redfish, I say, hey, he's going in the livewell. He's good to go. And then the next catch, they catch a 26 inch redfish, I really hope. Guess what? We just played the upgrade game because I know that fishing.00;30;51;01 - 00;31;06;16UnknownWell, I was doing just fine. Right? Swap out. Right. Okay. I'm doing it. Okay. I will not deny that I've done that before. Right? Because I know the fish are just fine. They are hunky dory, right? I mean, when I take these fish in, at the end of the day, they're alive all the way to the boat ramp.00;31;06;16 - 00;31;25;20UnknownYeah. And then I quickly dispatch them and I clean them. So from being alive to totally clean is within five minutes. That's just a whole new way, a fresh fish. Yeah, absolutely. And and PBO cooks your fish for you, right? They do. Yeah. That's awesome. That is a nice, win win for both. Oh absolutely. And I just remember fishing down in the keys.00;31;25;23 - 00;31;45;05UnknownThe redfish are like really? They're sensitive to the redfish. Like the guides down there. They don't want you even touching it down there. They do their thing with the the whole thing. They're very sensitive to that. Okay, so I know where you're going with this, Aaron. As the same way we are with snuck up here. Right. Well they're the same way down there with redfish.00;31;45;05 - 00;32;00;21UnknownIt's not a they're staple fish up there some you see them there. Grab them by the lips. Brother Chris got nice for passing it back like it's no big deal. And hey, we do the same thing. We got a big 40 inch redwood belly holding on. Yeah. Big red, toss it back. You know, it's just about the location really.00;32;00;21 - 00;32;23;27UnknownAnd probably the quantity, the population. Absolutely. So where do you get these monster redfish that are kind of on black drum but kind of the same thing. Or how does is that up in Mayport where they mate like I've done that one time where the the spawning season up there. I don't like an saying huge fish. Well, there's a couple areas that are well known in Northeast Florida.00;32;23;27 - 00;32;44;27UnknownYeah. For catching bull red. So call red now for red I would say is anywhere I would say between 35in and 50 plus inches. Yeah. Okay. Mayport River. Fantastic. To fish all the way from the, Mayport Inlet. All the way. I've seen people fish from bull reds all the way to the, orange Park Ridge.00;32;44;27 - 00;33;08;01UnknownOh, wow. Oh, yeah. They got they can get that far in. Oh. That's awesome. Saint Augustine Inlet, yeah, is another great area. I personally don't think the redfish are as big. Yeah, as they are, but you need to get those right there down low or. No, let me go over this. So with as many years as I've been doing this I have located fish seasonally.00;33;08;06 - 00;33;31;08UnknownAll reds. Right. All of them giants. Yes. In 15ft or less. Interesting. Yes. It's very interesting. Yes. I don't understand it. Yes, but I have found them for years in a row in the same spot. Wow. And it allows me to have a lot of fun. Yeah, because that is a totally different fighting fish versus the same size fish in 40, 50ft of water.00;33;31;08 - 00;33;51;05UnknownOh, yeah. Yeah. Well, I just remember going with you a few times. I think that's what's really cool about the valley and redfish. Like, you can catch a pretty good redfish and very shallow. Oh, yeah. Like it's it's crazy. Like, I remember you pull into some of those little off inlets and you can just see the school and you're trying to hit right in front of them.00;33;51;07 - 00;34;15;02UnknownYou got to remember, Aaron, there are no gates. There are no bridges, right? These fish can go wherever they want. And you never know what you're going to hook right in that next creek, right? I mean, I have seen eight and nine inch redfish caught, and then the next cast of 40 inch red caught in two foot of water and I'm like, oh my God, we're going to be here a while.00;34;15;05 - 00;34;34;08UnknownWhich is the absolute excitement of fishing. Oh yeah. You just don't know. Every time you can be pretty calculated. You can have a lot of experience, but you just don't know for sure. So that's what makes it so exciting, right? Getting I get up every day at 4 a.m. or I'm awake by 4:00 am. Yeah. And I'm excited.00;34;34;08 - 00;34;52;29UnknownYeah, I'm ready to get dressed, get my coffee in me and get going, man, because I've got a new day. Yeah. And every day is different. Well that's let's talk about that. So obviously you still have an extreme excitement to do this. I mean, do you ever wake up in the morning like, like it? You don't strike me in somebody like that.00;34;52;29 - 00;35;15;01UnknownLike I'm ready to go. 99% of the time I am fired out of a cannon. Okay. The only time you will see me. Not in a hurry. And I just have that look in my face like, oh, man, here we go. That's when I've had a bad, bad day the day before. Yes. And my. I have a game plan every day.00;35;15;01 - 00;35;34;12UnknownAnd I stick to my game plan. You know, if I have a really bad day and my game plan fell on its face hard, you're doubting your game plan? My next day's game plan. I'm really thinking about what the hell am I going to do? Because yesterday's game plan didn't work. Yeah, that tells me I need to rethink my game plan.00;35;34;12 - 00;35;56;27UnknownRight? Right. So the stress is on. The pressure is on at that point. Well, your definition of not working probably is not noticeable to most people that are on your boat. I mean, they're just happy to catch whatever. Oh yeah. And I'm sitting there and folks, you don't understand. I honestly, I don't get the fish much anymore, but I literally fish every day.00;35;56;29 - 00;36;15;11UnknownAnd by that I'm saying I fish through my clients. Every cast they make, I'm talking to them. I'm watching. You're making casts for them. I do. Well, yeah. There's times that. Hey, listen, we're on a four hour commitment, and if the person cannot cast, I'll tell them straight up. Listen, you and I was work together. I know where the fish are.00;36;15;16 - 00;36;34;20UnknownI'm going to do everything for you in helping you. But real that fishing. Right? Right. But I'm going to put your bait exactly where it belongs. And before it hits the water, that rod's back in your hand. And I'm going to tell you what to do, right? Right. So they get a sense of accomplishment. Yes. They just I'm not going to waste three on three out of four hours with bad casting, and then you don't want them to mess up the pole.00;36;34;20 - 00;36;55;21UnknownGet it tangled. It's just not worth it. It's like, let me put you right where you need to be. Yeah. Yes. And you're very sensitive about your poles. I remember that eye candy. Shimano is a great product. They treat me extremely well. I use extensively Shimano equipment. Rods and reels and fishing line. Yeah. And, Yeah. Well, tell me about the bait you use.00;36;55;21 - 00;37;15;09UnknownTell me what? The standard bait. What? You just go through the list. What's what's what they do. Yes. All right, standard baits. I'm usually a live bait guy. Okay. Live shrimp live live mullet. Okay. Live mud minnows, live blue crab. And are you getting those yourself or is there a place to get them? Good question. Yeah. All right.00;37;15;10 - 00;37;32;28UnknownMajority of your bait and tackle shops are going to have live shrimp. They're going to have a live mullet. Yes. And they may have like blue crabs for you. Okay. You're good bait and tackle shops here in Jacksonville, northeast Florida. Right out of the gate. My favorite Palm Valley outdoors. They always have shrimp mud minnows right now.00;37;32;28 - 00;37;50;24UnknownYou even got live sand fleas for your surf fisherman. Yeah, that's nice to have. Yeah. You have, beaches, bait and tackle. Yep. They got live shrimp. Yeah, they have, mud minnows. They have samples, they have mud minnows. They have blue crab. Right. Arlington bait and tackle. Yeah. Same as well. They have all the bait and tackle you need, right.00;37;50;24 - 00;38;09;22UnknownThere also isn't blue crab kind of the luxury though. Like you have crab on there. You're you're you're going to get a good bite. Well kind of like the, the top of the bait list you are when you're fishing for, for blue crab. And for those of you you don't know, blue crab is a primary foraging, prey for redfish and black drum.00;38;09;22 - 00;38;27;15UnknownRight. Okay. I have particular ways that I use blue crab when I'm fishing high water extensively. And let's be honest, nothing little is going to grab a quarter piece of rock, right? No, because I love how you cut it. I remember those like you split it apart, you cut everything down and it's a nice little quarter. Me.00;38;27;17 - 00;38;49;28UnknownPlus it sticks on the hook, right? But a special rig. But you got to talk about the rigging that we're using too, right? You know, I mean, I have a special, fishing hook, right? Weight combo that I use just for blue crab, and it's called the no brainer, right? Hey, it's a seven ounce circle hook with a molded to the shank, half ounce lead weight.00;38;49;28 - 00;39;04;29UnknownOkay. All right. You can only get them at strike zone fishing, right? All right. It's designed for a quarter piece of blue crab. Now, that circle hook allows you, when you properly rig it to fish it damn near wheelies. You can throw it in grass, you can throw it in rocks. You can throw it in oysters. It's going to pull out.00;39;05;06 - 00;39;23;07UnknownI can't tell you how many times I've watched redfish swim into an oyster bed, stand on their head, pick up the blue crab and swim off with it. Oh yeah, it happens is fantastic. Well, you know, for those that aren't super experienced fishermen, I mean, being able to throw your hook in all those places without getting caught, that's a big deal.00;39;23;09 - 00;39;45;21UnknownSo. Oh my God, you know, that's a big deal. So, Awesome. We talked about what kind of, fish you catch and, What? Tell me about the length of your trips. You mentioned four hours. Okay, so you don't have to trips or four hours. Yeah, right. And that's usually how it goes. Now, there's occasionally certain times of the year that I'll.00;39;45;22 - 00;40;03;15UnknownI'll prorate a trip. I. Look, guys, we were only available after work. Yeah, we can fish till 8:00. You get off at five, we're going to do three hours. Right? Right. And you got to just. I'll do those trips. Yeah, but those are very rare. Very, very, very rare. Right. So you're typically going first thing in the morning.00;40;03;17 - 00;40;28;25UnknownNo. Oh no. Every trip is different. Okay. By one hour. Okay. Every year. Okay. Every day. Because the tide's different about the minutes. Right. Right, right. So your trips are dictated by the tide? Yes, absolutely. Tide is absolutely everything right. Generally I will fish either the last two hours of the dropping tide, the first two of the incoming tide, or depending on how the bite was going the day before.00;40;28;25 - 00;40;48;23UnknownYeah. Three hours. Okay. Because first of all, I don't want to waste my client's time. I want to get right into that fight right out of the gate. You know, that's the most productive time. Yes, absolutely. Yeah. When you're fishing high water. So hard to fish here in Northeast Florida because there's 50% more water for these fish to go right, 50% more places for the bait to go.00;40;48;23 - 00;41;07;29UnknownRight. You're on a chasing game just as soon as that tide turns. Okay. Yeah. So why don't you work to your strong side and force all the bait and all the prey to you? Right? Right. That makes sense. Now, you talked about four hour charts. Yes. They are. Okay. I have a saying it's a four hour charter. I never said I was coming in and four hours.00;41;08;01 - 00;41;26;26UnknownSo whatever plans you have after this charter, don't make plans immediately for an hour or two. Because if the fish are biting, we're staying, right? If the fish are not biting and they start biting in the last hour, we're staying, right? Right. By God, I'm going to catch my fish. I got to get. This is my fix. This is my drug.00;41;26;26 - 00;41;46;06UnknownDay in and day out. Putting smiles on faces, high fives and watching rods get bent. So if you think right in the middle of a fish bite, I'm going to go, oh, sorry, we got to go. It's time's up. No no no no no time. Just started. My partner Misty, she understands. Well, he's two hours late. I'll send him a text.00;41;46;06 - 00;42;03;15UnknownHow's the bite? And I give you a thumbs up emoji. Yeah, she knows to pack a dinner, put it in the fridge. Absolutely. Do you have a busier season than others? No. Like, because that's one of the blessings of being here too, right? It can be very. It's consistent all year. You're out. I fish 20, I fish a lot.00;42;03;16 - 00;42;22;23UnknownYeah I fish a lot. Yes. There's not a flu season for me. Yes I do. Well, yeah. One of the greatest things is, is my clientele. They live here. Yes. They're not out of town. And and the only time we do out of towners or when my locals have somebody come in from out of town and they go, Leon, can you please take our family out now?00;42;22;26 - 00;42;42;14UnknownAnd they already understand. Right out of the gate. We understand you're already booked. We'll get a sub tide. But please take the family out. We just want them out of the house, okay? Yeah. Seriously? And you fish pretty much seven days a week, right? I fish seven days a week. Okay? Okay. And on days that I'm not working, I'm still out there or I'm working on the boat.00;42;42;16 - 00;43;01;07UnknownRight, right. I got to keep up with the fish. Talk about what your boat is. Tell me about your boat. Currently, I am in a 2017 Skeeter. 230 as x baby, because I feel like you got. Well, this is probably been a few years. How it has been a few years. How old is that boat that you've had it?00;43;02;08 - 00;43;25;18UnknownA few years now. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Because it was bigger than the last boat, right? Oh, yeah. I've upgrade. I started off in a 17ft, skiff. Yeah. Then I went to an 18ft Maverick, which is, by the way, folks, is an absolutely phenomenal boat to run in the valley. Right. And I did. You're probably debating on, like, man, I want a little bit more room, but I still need to be able to get in in the skinny spot.00;43;25;18 - 00;43;45;29UnknownRight. You got to find a sweet spot right? Right. You're absolutely right. And I think a 23ft boat is the answer. Yes. Shallow drafting. Enough that I can get into my creeks. The only thing that limits me getting into creeks is turning around. Okay, if I go into a why do you think I'm on Google Earth? Because I'm looking in there going, all right, I can get in there, but where do I turn around?00;43;46;02 - 00;44;01;25UnknownYeah, yeah, that's important because you can get yourself in trouble. Oh yeah. Staring at 23ft boat in reverse does not work. Well. Yeah. It's, it's a general onrush right in on the boat when you're when you're flying around in ten inches of water, for sure. Oh, you tell me some of the other animals you see back there in the valley.00;44;02;21 - 00;44;29;27UnknownOh, all the time. Any gator I look, you know? Yes. Okay. So seeing deer every day. Yeah. Eagles. Ospreys. Right. You know, rosy roseate spoonbills, ibises. Yes. You know, skimmers, birds, wild hogs, bobcats. Right. Alligators. Oh yes. For those that think, oh no, there's no alligators in saltwater. Oh, you are so wrong. Right. Listen, they're they're always there.00;44;29;27 - 00;44;45;09UnknownRight? They are there. Didn't you tell me a story about one that ran over the top of your boat, the turkey? No, I was that maybe is another somebody. If I felt like you were there. Oh yeah. The the gator that jumped over the nose of my mouth. Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah, he went to the side. He didn't realize he was there.00;44;45;11 - 00;45;04;13UnknownOh. Holy cow. Yeah. Thanks for bringing that like PTSD flashback to me. So yeah, we were in a creek and this is when I was in a 17, 17ft technical skiff, and it was a negative tide. We were really low. And, I mean, we are so low in the water that the banks were like shoulder height with us.00;45;04;15 - 00;45;23;02UnknownAnd I was pulling around a corner to I said, look guys, we're going up one guy. And so we're going to pull around this corner and there's going to be an oyster bed on the right with a bend. Yes. And as I was pulling around and I was approaching, unbeknownst to me, there was a big old, I'd say eight nine foot mama gator.00;45;23;02 - 00;45;48;15UnknownYeah. Resting herself up on this bank, up in the grass. And you can't see anything in this grass? No. And I came around this corner and my client was sitting right in front of me, and I'm on the pulling platform, and that gator came off of that bank and launched itself across the nose of my boat, cleared the nose of my boat, I touched cotton, I'm telling you, I touched cotton.00;45;48;18 - 00;46;04;27UnknownMy client touched cotton. I mean, there was some come to Jesus moments as that giant lizard flew across the front of our boat. I mean, because now you're thinking, I'm glad he didn't take a right turn, right into my into the boat. And then. Oh, my. I had to give him the boat. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Sure, buddy.00;46;05;04 - 00;46;23;05UnknownNo problem. I'm out of here. No problem. Yeah. Tell me. Well, you were talking about a turkey. Tell me. One time I was going down the Intracoastal Waterway at daybreak. Anyone that knows about turkeys, they roost in trees, not on the ground. And I was heading down the river, and I was talking to my clients, having a good time.00;46;23;05 - 00;46;47;05UnknownAnd all of a sudden, I looked to my left and I see something flying, and I go, look. And a wild turkey flies across the ICW right in front of us. And we were like, man, that was cool. And then all of a sudden, the turkey that we didn't see flew right over the center console. I'm telling you, had my client stuck the landing net in the air, he would have netted that bird.00;46;47;13 - 00;47;09;11UnknownIt was that close to that impact. I mean, we're talking I could smell what that turkey had for breakfast. It was so close. Yeah. And then, like, a couple of weeks ago, I think of turkeys flying manta. Oh, there's like me. It's spectacular fliers. Interesting, interesting. Then a few weeks ago, we're heading down the ditch. First day break with my clients.00;47;09;11 - 00;47;25;05UnknownAnd I was like, what the hell am I looking at in front of this? And I see something big and black crossing the river in front of me. And as I'm getting closer, I see it gets bigger and bigger and bigger. And I go, oh my God, that's a big Ole wild boar. I spun the boat around and pulled up next to me.00;47;25;05 - 00;47;43;29UnknownI grabbed it by the head and by the tail boat side. About 150 pound wild boar just swimming across, just swimming across the pond. Yeah. And I was like, come on guys, let's get a picture out here. I said, does anybody want some fresh bacon? Because, I mean, I was willing to dispatch it right there. And they were like, nah, we don't want that in the boat with us.00;47;43;29 - 00;48;02;27UnknownAnd I go, no, man, I'll take care of it right here. And Joey Broussard, who is a great client of mine and friend of mine who is like the last person on earth that you need as a voice of reason. And he goes, listen, this is not a good idea. And I go, you know what? If you tell me this, I'm going to let it go.00;48;03;03 - 00;48;20;00UnknownAnd I let it go and it swam off. You don't see a boar swimming very much. That's pretty unique. Oh, I see manatees, I see dolphin. What kind of sharp do you see in a in intercoastal? A lot of spinner sharks. I see a lot of spinner sharks. Very big. Yeah. They get decent size, you know. They're good.00;48;20;00 - 00;48;40;10Unknown100 pounds. Yeah. Five, six feet moving. Okay, you'll get your, harmless little, bonnet head sculpin sharks, which will get four feet and 20 pounds, tastes great, by the way. Yeah, yeah they do. Yes. There are bull sharks. Yeah. In the valley. Oh, absolutely. There's bull sharks. No, not big ones. Never see one over four foot.00;48;40;13 - 00;48;55;21UnknownBut I know they exist. There's not. Not deep enough maybe I don't know. Oh no no no no no no fences, no gates. Okay. I promise you it has nothing to do with death. I think it has everything to do with food. And it's not enough. I found a dead manatee once that I had a huge bite mark taken out of it.00;48;55;28 - 00;49;16;11UnknownAnd I mean, the kind of bite mark that makes you shish a shark. One of those kind of moments. And I'm like, that thing's in here somewhere. I mean, we're talking about a bite mark over a foot. Why? I mean, something that I'm like, I was like, I. That's a giant bull. That's a giant bull. That's wild. That that killed that manatee.00;49;16;15 - 00;49;37;20UnknownWhat? What what's the biggest fish you've caught in the valley? Can you think of it off the top of your head? Well, excluding tarpon, yes. Excluding tarpon. I got a 51 inch redfish. Wow. 51in. Cameron Smith was fishing with me that day. Yes. And, by the way, folks, Cameron Smith is gold. You've said that that means he's just a great guy.00;49;37;21 - 00;49;59;08UnknownHe's it. He is a Cameron Smith, Australian national. What's Wister. Right. Where he's just he's perfect. He's he's a treasure. Yeah, he's a treasure. And don't you haven't you taken his boat out with that? Yeah. Oh, you don't fishing, my buddy. Oh, I just show up at his house, man. Hey, man, we're ready to go. He goes, I get what you need.00;49;59;08 - 00;50;16;17UnknownI go to his back garage, and I get all of his stellas and all of his gear, and I pack that refreshed the fridge full of beer for him and his friends. We go on his boat. We don't go on my junky boat. I mean, you were talking about, before you came. You get your boat raft with all your sponsors, you talk about your sponsors.00;50;16;18 - 00;50;44;14UnknownI think that's super interesting. What do they do for you? And who are they? Look, in my career, most guys career, we work businesses, work out relationships, both with fishing tackle, outboards, boats, engines. Tournaments, etc., etc. for instance, my sponsorships range anywhere from Shimano fishing tackle who also own and they provide you the tackle.00;50;44;15 - 00;51;03;24UnknownThey provide me rides and for the year they provide me fishing line. Yes. Advanced marine. Yes. Is my, mechanic of choice to do all of my engine work? Yeah. Suzuki outboards. Okay. And how often do you have to service your engine? Every 100 hours, every day, religiously. Okay, if you work the way we do.00;51;03;24 - 00;51;23;03UnknownYeah. Listen, you drive it like you stole it, right? Okay? You're working hard, man. Every day, that motor, when it gets, gets put down, she's put up wet. I mean, she's run hard and put up wet, man. She's man. It's hard day. Yeah. You flush her out and you go see tomorrow. You know she's like thank you. Listen trolling motor needs okay.00;51;23;20 - 00;51;42;13UnknownElectrical needs. Yeah. Trolling motor services, trolling motor services. Plus I mean all your knees. Yeah. These people understand guidelines. Yes. We break down, we call up. We're coming in hot. Yeah. Why? Because we're working the next day. Right? We're not going fishing in three weeks. Right. So they prioritize you. They do shit. That's really nice. Relying on batteries.00;51;42;14 - 00;52;05;10UnknownYeah. I use nothing but lithium batteries. Not not lead led AGM batteries. Like, you see, 95% of the the rest of the force use. Right. Jail audio speakers. Yeah. No, Aqua traction for my decking. Yes. Stuff like that. I mean, all these things help you. You build a relationship with them? Yeah. And when clients get on to a boat first, the great thing for the sponsor is you just,00;52;05;12 - 00;52;21;10UnknownIf I'm somebody that doesn't know, like. Oh, wow. You just told me about this, I'm going to go there right? Well, I can't tell you how many times I'll be like, hey, where'd you get this? This fishing tackle is nice. Yeah, that's a that's a Shimano van for 20 fishing reel on a Shimano glass fishing rod. You can buy them at strike zone fishing.00;52;21;12 - 00;52;41;03UnknownGo in and see tuna. Dalton. Archie. Are are are Brian. Yeah. You know and I have so many clients are walking off. Hey I fish with Captain Dana and they go say no more walk with me and they hook him up. Well what a great that's that's a great synergy there for sure. Oh he is a great hand shaking business.00;52;41;03 - 00;52;59;12UnknownWe we all work together so well. Yeah. And I know when we've been out before you have a really good relationship with most of the guys. All right. Everybody in the Valley I like to think I know personally. Yeah I get along great with everyone. There's no sense in being rude or me. Hey, you're in my fishing spot.00;52;59;19 - 00;53;14;15UnknownAre you kidding me? Any guy worth a salt is going to not have one spot. He's going to have 20 other spots you can go to at that exact wind and tie. Yes. So I can't tell you how many times I'll see another boat that I know or a kayak that I know. I go, I come here, yeah.00;53;14;16 - 00;53;30;01UnknownLine up. We're here beside me. We got our land that we're about to leave the right over there. Oh that's awesome. Oh. Absolute collaboration. That's, But you know, Aaron, let me tell you how that pays off. Dividends. I'm having a tough day. I pull into a creek, there's a kayak right through. Hey, captain data there, right here.00;53;30;03 - 00;53;49;27UnknownAnd he's like, I'm smoking. I'm captain. I'll pull out of your way. Oh, it works all the time. It's one he washes and the other just. It's not hard to be nice. It's not hard to be nice. It's not. It's not. Tell me about some of the radio shows and and media that you do. Okay. So the outdoor show, do you are you on that?00;53;49;27 - 00;54;12;14UnknownQuite a bit. I'm on enough. Yeah. We call me the blister. Go. Okay. When either Jeff Lager man. Kurt Walter Kevin Favre. Yeah. Are on, outdoor, adventure adventures. I if we're going hunting. Yes. Or fishing. Yes. I'll get a phone call. Hey, they didn't want to come in and sit down for three hours, which, of course, if I'm free, call you about the fishing report.00;54;12;15 - 00;54;29;11UnknownOh, no no no no no no. Yes. Absolutely. If I'm not in there for the three hours, then I'll call in and give a 15 minute, spiel and a fishing report. And then on Thursday evenings, I do the, outdoor fishing show. Oh, nice. And, that's insider fishing report. Yeah, that's with Rick. No, that's with Kim favor.00;54;29;12 - 00;54;47;18UnknownYeah. Okay. Okay. And, Ricky Copper or we're doing it, or you'll have, the amazing, Corey Sparks, Ray and myself and captain Chip Wingo will call in from 6 to 7 p.m.. Chips. Hilarious. I gotta let you gotta love chip. Is, Do they ever call on you? What's that? Florida show? No, that. You know what I'm talking.00;54;47;18 - 00;55;06;16UnknownI know the Florida sportsman show. Tommy, they know Tommy down a lot. No, that's that's that's his gig. Okay. Stay in his lane. Yeah. He's good. Yeah. Tommy's the man. He is great. Tommy is the man. He dude, he's. He reminds me just like you. Literally. I've been with him and, like, right there, right there. And there'll be boats everywhere.00;55;06;16 - 00;55;19;11UnknownNo one's catching. That's right. And then we'll pull up and put it right there. Right. We'll catch you just like Tommy used to, man. And those are the kind of people that I'm going to tell you day in and day out. If you don't have fish to Valley, that's fine. I'll find you the person that you want to fish in that area.00;55;19;11 - 00;55;37;20UnknownRight. I am not going to extend myself and make myself, first of all, make you look bad, right? Make myself look bad, right? I know what, Lane. I'm good in. Yeah, yeah, I will find you. That guy. Yeah, I know that guy. Right. So I'm glad to help. The network is tight and I know you're big on social I love I get there.00;55;37;21 - 00;55;52;11UnknownWell, you. I feel like you've gone through a little bit of a journey before you were doing it a lot, and I feel like you've ramped it back up again. I did a video. Do you have something attached to your head where you're videoing or what are you doing? I'm running GoPro. You get funny. Very funny. Now where do drones.00;55;52;14 - 00;56;15;15UnknownOh God, there's even funnier story. Okay, so folks, I was on social media for a while. Made a bad joke. Apparently some sort of bot wasn't even a person picked me out and I got deleted and I'm like, wow. And it wasn't even a political joke, you know what I mean? Of course I will not touch sex, politics or religion, okay?00;56;15;15 - 00;56;37;27UnknownJust don't even go near this thing. Exactly. But, I recently, in the last six months, got back on Instagram and Facebook. Yes. And I'm going to be honest. Me, I'm not here forever. I only got three more years in this business, right? I want to go out on top. I want to go out. And I want to think to myself that when I leave one year after I'm gone, they're going to go.00;56;37;28 - 00;57;05;00UnknownYou remember Leon? Yeah. He would do it here. But he and I really enjoy collaborating and making fishing videos or getting fishing advice via my Instagram account or my Facebook account and letting people watch my videos. A different thing that I have found different. You're touching on the drone part with my GoPros. I shoot multiple videos on my boat throughout the entire trip.00;57;05;00 - 00;57;21;19UnknownYeah, and at the end of the trip. Have a nice day. Shake your hand. I'll send you a video later. And what I'm going to do is I'm going to go home and for an hour or two, I'm going to compile all the videos together to make a 3 or 4 minute music. This video of your fishing trip.00;57;21;25 - 00;57;43;03UnknownI always say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well a video, yeah, you'll show a thousand people. And those people are going to ask, all right, who did you fish with? And you're going to tell, what's your Instagram handle? Captain Leon. Dana, captain Leon is my Instagram. And, Leon Facebook is, Palm Valley, Charter Valley Charter and Leon Danner.00;57;43;03 - 00;58;06;29UnknownYes. Awesome. Better. Correct. Well, wrapping it up here, couple things. What advice would you have for somebody who's coming up that wants to be a full time guy? Oh, boy. First of all, be good with people. Understand people. So that's a really and I'm sorry to cut you, but that's a really important point for fishermen because typically fishermen captains are very crotchety or quiet.00;58;07;02 - 00;58;27;24UnknownRight. And you that's a great point. You know, you have to have a type A personality that when you meet a complete stranger within 60s, you just became old friends. Okay. Usually I do that through making sarcastic remarks. Yes, yes. But yes, as you've known that for years. But, and folks, I an extremely sarcastic. I'll fill you out real quick.00;58;27;24 - 00;58;47;10UnknownYes, yes. No. You, a fishing guy can be a good guy, good fisherman, but a great people person. And you're going to make money and you're going to be good at it. If you are crotchety, you're a jerk and you're not helpful. You're a one and done for the fish. Would you? One time they go, yeah, we caught fish.00;58;47;10 - 00;59;06;29UnknownWon't fish with him again. And a level of patience too. Yes, absolutely. With kids and yes, you've got to have a level of that and that can be tough. Oh my God. Canada. I had a four and six year old yesterday fishing with me, fishing with me. I had a six year old Wilder. This young man is fish with me for I think 2 or 3 years now.00;59;06;29 - 00;59;27;25UnknownOkay. Kid is self-contained. Yes I can, I can hang the six year old a fishing rod. I'll be disciplined and I'll tell him what to throw. He'll cast it, he'll work it. He'll fight that. That he landed a beautiful tournament, quality 27 inch red with an A 25.5in would be yesterday all by himself. Wow. Now his little six year I mean four year old sister.00;59;27;27 - 00;59;43;07UnknownHer not working. I'm holding the rod in my. Okay, turn the heat up a little bit. Yeah, you're doing good. But you got to be you got to have the personality to talk to a four year old or an 84 year old. Yeah, yeah. You know, that's that's interesting. Yeah. That's important. Well, my last question, I always thought it was really cool.00;59;43;07 - 01;00;08;13UnknownI was just wondering, do you still call your mom every day? Are you kidding? 10:00. 10:00 on the nose. Let me create this, because this is absolutely cool. He's done this every time I've been out. Every 10:00, every day. Every day. Call your mom. Absolutely. Every day. My alarm on my phone goes off DVD. DVD. And I'm telling you, 98% of my clients will literally stop, turn around and look at me and go, you need to call your mom.01;00;08;15 - 01;00;24;23UnknownThey all know I'm going to stop mom. Sure, absolutely she does. And if she doesn't, she'll call back, usually within two minutes because she didn't have the phone near her. She has it on her watch. She sees that I call, she's using the the cane, not the crane, the cane to get through the house to find the phone.01;00;24;27 - 01;00;52;13UnknownI'll call and know. And how long you've been doing that since you've been fishing, man. Listen, guys, both my parents are 85 years old. Married. You just never know. Aaron, I don't play the lottery. The Florida lottery? Yes, because I already won the lottery. Right? Right. I was adopted by my parents. Oh, wow. Wow. And every day, to me is winning the lottery because I have nannies, parents, and I love them so very much.01;00;52;13 - 01;01;07;17UnknownOh, that's a great. And I call my parents every day for 2 to 3 minutes. Yeah. Just to say good morning. Yeah. See how the day's going. You tell them I love them. Yeah. I love them so much. Oh that's awesome. That's a great story. Do you ever if you taken them out recently. Nope. Nope. That doesn't fish.01;01;07;20 - 01;01;25;14UnknownMom start getting in the boat. But I do every day. Send them pictures. Yes, from the fishing charter. And then I call them again in the afternoon or the evening to tell them to give them the fishing report. Because mom loves to hear what the kids were doing on the boat. Oh I'm sure, yeah, I'm sure. You know, I barely even read my material.01;01;25;14 - 01;01;43;10UnknownThis was so easy today. Thank you for coming in. My play could go for hours. Oh. We could. Oh, this is easy peasy for me. Easy stuff. And, guys, if you haven't been fishing or you want to fish and you want to learn about the Valley, Palm Valley and Ponte Vedra, Florida, captain Leon's the guy. What a fun time.01;01;43;27 - 01;01;53;18UnknownGo to PTO, have a sandwich, and you can see my business cards in the bait shop. Absolutely. And, what a great time. Thank you. Say my pleasure, brother. Absolutely. Yeah. Thank you. Yes, sir.01;01;53;18 - 01;02;07;26UnknownThe Hometown Jack's podcast is recorded and produced by First Coast Mortgage Funding. Located in the heart of Jacksonville. Do you want to be our next guest? Visit our website at Hometown Jack's podcast.com. We can't wait to hear your story.
