High Seas Wranglers

Book excerpt: Raw, gritty, rich, and captivating, the stories in this book will astonish you. High Seas Wranglers presents real scenes from the lives of some of Florida's best-known commercial and charter fishing captains. Through Terry Howard's interviews, Captains Tristram Colket, A. J. Brown, Ray Perez, Glenn Cameron, and George Kaul tell true stories about hunting swordfish, kingfish, sharks, tuna, and billfish. They describe falling overboard alone many miles offshore, riding out deadly storms, navigating angry east coast inlets, orchestrating dangerous rescues at sea, struggling to land huge fish, playing pranks on other captains, and how they ended up living the lives that some only dream of. These fishermen have long been a part of the maritime life and culture of Florida, but today their livelihood is challenged and their industry fading. In this book, you'll hear in their own words the reasons they've chosen a life away from land, as well as their opinions about drift nets and falling fish populations. Their firsthand accounts of commercial handline mackerel fishing, commercial longline swordfish and shark fishing, and the growth of charter fishing on Florida’s eastern seaboard provide insights into a fascinating world. Gutsy fishing exploits like the ones in High Seas Wranglers are usually passed down through storytelling alone. This book preserves a thrilling history that would otherwise be lost.