About me
Hello! I’m John Rivers; I started fishing up in Indiana when I was around five years old for bluegill, and as I got older, I moved onto bass, crappie, catfish, you name it; anything that was in freshwater I caught it. I joined the Marines when I was 18 years old and did a six year tour. I went to college at Western Kentucky University and studied education, PE and social studies.
I got married to my lovely wife Gina and we soon had a son named Nicholas. We ended up moving to the panhandle of Florida when he was six years old, and while I was finishing up college to teach. It didn't take long for the saltwater fishing siren to lure me out to the water, and as soon as I hooked my first bull redfish, I was, pardon the expression, hooked on saltwater angling! So, the teaching degree was put on hold while I studied the art of inshore fishing, and I launched my charter business in 2004. After many years of guiding in the Pensacola area, I longed for the shallow water experience of the more southern parts of Florida, and in 2016, my wife and I made the move to Tampa.
The year round opportunities for fishing this area are tremendous. It took a couple years for me to get it dialed in, but practice and persistence has definitely paid off.
If you’re looking for a professional inshore fishing guide, you’ve come to the right place. With my 21 years of expertise on the water, my 2022 , 24-foot Ranger Bay boat, and top of the line tackle, I can assure you that you’re going to have a great day on the water. Take a look around my site and if I’m the kind of guide you’re looking for, give me a ring and let’s go fishing.
