This book had its genesis a decade ago when I found myself standing on the bow of Steve Huff’s skiff, deep in the Everglades. I was on assignment for Garden & Gun magazine, there to do a profile of Steve. During that trip with him and the ones that followed, Steve kept mentioning a word that seemed both enchanted and poetic to me from the first moment I heard it: Homosassa.
That Steve Huff article led to another assignment from Garden & Gun, this time on Andy Mill. During the three days I spent with Andy and his son, Nicky, in the Florida Keys, I received something akin to a master’s degree in tarpon angling, in its art and lore. (I’m still working on that PhD, which may be a long time in coming.)
It was Andy who called me in early 2018. “You have to tell the story of Homosassa,” he said. He told me about Tom Evans and gave me a phone number. A few months later, I was in the poon shack in Homosassa, with Tom, Al Dopirak, and Dean Butler, and a book was born, one that was an absolute joy to work on, from start to finish.
I’ll always be thankful to Steve and Andy for getting the ball rolling, each in their own way. And I remain especially grateful to Tom, Al, and Dean, who generously shared their thoughts and time as I followed them around for many weeks, on land and at sea, with a tape recorder and a pen and notebook in hand.
David DiBenedetto, Tom Bie, and Sid Evans (no relation to Tom) assigned, edited, and published magazine stories by me about some of the characters in this book. All three of them are among the very best at what they do, and I have been incredibly lucky to write for them over the years.
I spoke to a little more than one hundred people for this book. Not every interviewee made the manuscript by name. But each and every one of them helped.
Paul Bruun shared his encyclopedic mind with me for the section on tarpon gear. Jason Schratwieser at the IGFA answered tons of questions and helped me get in touch with a few sources. The late, great Richard Ben Cramer was the first to use “all caps” when quoting Ted Williams, a device I have borrowed here.
Paul, Ruthann, and Olive Weamer put me up on the road as I sought information about tarpon in… Montana.
The Olympians continue to encourage and inspire me.
I mention my good friend Charlie Ernst here only because he wants to see his name in print.
First Katie McArver, and then Fabby Theobalds, kept the little girls at bay just long enough for me to complete this book.
Sid Williamson and my uncle Charles Gaines (to whom this book is dedicated) read drafts of this book and offered very wise counsel and encouragement.
My agent, Richard Pine, remains my lodestar in this industry. His guiding principle has always been “Pursue what you love, and I’ll help make it all work out.”
My sincerest gratitude goes to everyone at Pegasus, but especially to Jessica Case, who made this project come to life and then made it much better.
My father’s spirit hovers over everything I do, and I see him often in the eyes and deeds of my brothers, Justin and Chris.
My mother, Hansell, has always showered me with love.
My wife, Heidi, and our three daughters are simply the loves of my life and make everything worth it.