Building Anglers

From a few weeks ago, and coming back in two weeks, clients/friends like this guy are the only way I get to keep doing what I do.

First, if you ever find a stranded, beached, or injured dolphin or whale, please call the SCDNR Radio Room at (803) 955-4000. Do not attempt to move the animal unless instructed to do so by trained professionals.

This morning, around 8:30, my client, Rebecca Leach, spotted what looked like the shape of a dolphin on a sandbar. We quickly poled off the flat, ran the skiff to the edge of the bar, and found a live dolphin stranded roughly 60 feet from the nearest water, on an outgoing tide.

We immediately called SCDNR and were connected with Lauren from Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network. She instructed us to leave the wet towel we had placed over the dolphin, continue gently pouring water over the dolphin’s body while avoiding the blowhole, then we FaceTimed with Lauren so she could assess the dolphin’s condition.

For more than an hour, Rebecca Leach and I made trip after trip carrying water to keep the dolphin cool and wet while we waited for additional help that Lauren had dispatched. As time passed, we noticed encouraging signs. The visible shaking stopped, the dolphin began squeaking each time we poured water over her, and she started moving her tail more. It was clear that keeping her cool was making a difference.

Once additional help arrived, we put Lauren on speakerphone and she walked us through exactly how to safely lift and carry the dolphin back to the water.

The videos above show the release. Thank you to Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network for the work that they do.

Have a great 4th of July!

If you’ve ever dreamed of fishing the Amazon, this is the kind of trip that belongs on a bucket list. We have two openings available for an unforgettable week targeting some of the most exciting freshwater species on the planet.

📍 Amazon, Brazil
📅 January 17–24, 2027

If you’re interested or would like more details, send me a message. These spots won’t last long.

Hoppers saved the night.

Right from the start, last night’s flood tide looked promising. The fish were tailing, and our first shot came within 30 seconds of stepping on the flat. Unfortunately, that ceased.

As the tide reached its peak, we began hearing the unmistakable sounds of gulpers feeding. While gulpers will eat a variety of prey, the first two fish we poled to were keyed in on grasshoppers, and we watched them eat hopper after hopper.

A fun evening on the water with some of my longest-running clients who have become great friends along the way.

Wind was a tough one today, but angler was an ace.

Over the last week, leading up to this fish today, I’ve been reminded just how important the relationships and connections built over the years truly are to the sustainability of what I get to do every day.

So many clients and friends — from my years being part of an incredible team, to now building something of my own with Building Anglers — continue to show up and support not only me, but things much bigger than all of us. Seeing that support poured into the and helping give back to the meant a lot.

Every 2026 sponsor (please review these on the CFI instagram page), every angler who attended, every silent donor, and every friend who helped with the little things, played a critical part in this years CFI. This fishery provides opportunities and livelihoods for a lot of people, and supporting the resource and the organizations working to protect it should matter to all of us who benefit from these waters. 

Then came this fish today — a true highlight for someone I’ve had the privilege of fishing with for more than 15 years; this is his largest one to date. As guides, we’re rarely the ones standing on the front of the boat. But if we’re fortunate enough, we get to provide an assist, in moments that the angler will tell stories about for years to come.

From today’s game of tag.

A fine Sunday.