Our Guides

Captain David Mangum

As a born Floridian, David Mangum has spent the better part of his 50 years on the region’s local waters. Having grown up in Destin, David’s passion for fishing was cultivated from a young age. “Thru the years, I have witnessed the evolution of our fisheries here on the Panhandle, and that knowledge has played an important role in my guide career.” David’s local history is translated to his day-to-day guiding. “Where they are and when they are there changes with the day, month, and even over the years. You have to be on the water everyday to experience these changes first hand.”

Well versed in light tackle and offshore fishing, David’s passion is fly fishing. This pursuit has found him guiding in Alaska, Colorado, Texas, Puerto Rico, and all over the Bahamas. Because of his extensive fly fishing resume, David understands the very specific needs of the shallow water fly fishing client. “Sight fishing is what we specialize in, there is nothing like stalking the fish, making that great cast, then watching the fish eat your fly!”

David takes his passion for the marine world and it’s images a step further – he translates them to canvas. An accomplished oil painter, David’s work can be seen throughout the south in both public and private collections, and in Old Florida Outfitters in Watercolor. A visit to David’s studio will find him either at his easel or at the tying vise. “I tie all my “working flies” and especially enjoy experimenting with new tarpon patterns”. Of all the species David guides his clients to, none rival his obsession with the Tarpon. “I consistently started hooking, (not landing mind you) Tarpon on the fly here in the Panhandle about 25 years ago, since then I have become completely and totally obsessed.”

Captain Kyle Pitts

Captain Kyle Pitts was born and raised in Panama City, Florida and has spent his entire life there. As a child, he began fishing with his father and uncle, learning the ebb and flow of his local waters. At age thirteen, he started spending his summers working on his uncle’s charter boat, earning the respect of the local fishing community and paving the way for his future as a fishing guide.

Kyle still sticks to what he learned, “fishing is all about having fun and being on the water”. You can find Capt. Kyle floating around in his 24 ft. Tidewater BayMax looking for Jacks and Cobia, or in his 18ft Hell’sbay Guide, stalking tailing redfish or staked out for tarpon. When Kyle isn’t guiding, he enjoys spending time with his wife Leah, and passing down his fishing heritage to his daughters Alexis and Saylor.

Captain Jason Giles

As a true Floridian, Captain Jason Giles has spent the better part of his life on, in, and under the waters along the Florida Gulf Coast. In 20 plus years on blue water and the back bays, Capt. Jason keeps the creativity going with different techniques for the one main objective. “There is not much more fun than watching a fish eat!” Jason runs a 24ft. Skeeter bayboay.

Captain Jason Stacy

Born in the rural South, Captain Jason Stacy grew up in a family of sportsmen, where his passion for the outdoors began. He draws upon a lifetime spent on the water to share his love and appreciation for the outdoors. He began guiding and teaching fly-fishing schools while attending Auburn University.

He is a certified instructor by the Federation of Fly Fishers and owner of the Emerald Coast Fly Fishing School. Jason understands the rigors of saltwater fly-fishing and knows how to position clients of all skill levels, for success.

A seasoned fly tyer, Jason enjoys creating new and innovative patterns for his clients. Although Tarpon and Redfish are his passion, he also chases a large array of exciting inshore and nearshore species. Jason runs 18ft Maverick and a 22ft Jones Brothers bay boat. A patient and attentive guide, Jason strives to create an exciting and successful day. “My main goal is always for you to have fun, and enjoy your day on the water!”

Captain Clint Hood

Captain Clint Hood is an Auburn, Alabama native who grew up hunting and fishing the waters around Alabama, Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle. Fishing and Duckhunting are both obsessions for Clint, and from February to October he can befound along the gulf coast patterning the local fish.

Come November to January, you can bet that he will be in a rice or bean field somewhere in the Mississippi Delta with a hot cup of coffee, good friends and a wet dog. “The only thing that rivals a group of pintails cupped up in the decoys is a tarpon screaming off drag.” Clint is an advocate of getting kids involved in the outdoors, donating his time to the Ducks Unlimited’s Greenwing program and the CCA Kids Tournament at Grayton Beach.

Fishing the better half of his 27 years, he is experienced in all types of waters. Fishing year round, he witnesses the ever changing fish patterns. This allows him to know when and where the fish will be on the next trip.

Captain Cleve Evans

Captain Cleve Evans grew up fishing the lakes, rivers, mountain streams, bays and beaches of the Southeast. He spent countless hours plying the waters from N. Georgia to the Gulf Coast in search of pretty much anything that swims.

Equally as comfortable with spin tackle or fly, his passion for catching fish and sharing the rewards from that with others naturally grew into guiding. Cleve runs 18ft Hell’sbay Marquesa and 16ft Waterman skiffs. Having fished the waters around Mexico Beach and St Joe Bay for most of his life, he gets no better joy than to pass his knowledge along to whomever is on his boat. Whether it be a first time beginner or a seasoned skilled angler, he is eager to get on the water and create memories that will last a lifetime!

Captain Jack Foley

Capt. Jack Foley was born and raised on the Choctawhatchee Bay in South Walton County,FL. He was drawn to the water even as a toddler, when he delighted in fishing, setting out crab traps and throwing a cast net off the dock at Eden State Park.

Many have remarked that Jack’s love of fishing is in his genes. He is the namesake of his late uncle Jack, who was a commercial fisherman out of Panama City, while another uncle is a well known fly fisherman and outdoor writer in upstate New York.

An accomplished surfer as well as an avid fisherman, Jack loves everything about the waters of the Florida Panhandle. When not guiding others, he spends most of his spare time running his Hell’sbay Marathon along waters of the nearby bays and beaches.

Jack swears that nothing on earth can compare with the thrill of sighting a fish down a shallow flat or shoreline and watching it eat a fly-
Unless, of course, it is a visiting fly fisherman on the bow of his skiff watching that fish eat the fly!

Captain Steve Bachman

Growing up in central Pennsylvania, Steve comes from an avid outdoor family (his grandparents and parents fly fished)! He honed his skill fishing the area’s famous trout streams, the Susquehanna River and the lakes of the Pocono Mts as a kid. After graduating from Grove City College (Pa.) and a stint in the U.S. Army he landed a job on a charter boat in Cape May, N.J. That taste of the salt led him to Panama City Beach in 1980.

Steve’s passion is sight fishing the bays and beaches of Bay and Gulf Counties with a fly rod. During the fall, winter and spring seasons he loves to explore the ultra skinny waters of the marshes and tidal creeks chasing redfish. If he can’t get there in 5 inches of water in his skiff be prepared to get wet and pursue on foot! The summer heat means tarpon on the beaches and Steve will be staked out in a lane in his 18ft. Maverick HPX totally outfitted for the task!

Steve has incredible patience and moves less than a lot of guides, “Working an area slowly is more likely to yield success with a flyrod. I believe fishing is more about quality than quantity”. Spin fishing is available too, artificials only!

Capt. Steve has written the Gulf Coast Fishing Report for Flyfishing and Tying Journal, appeared in Salt water Flyfishing Magazine and been featured in numerous episodes of Chasin the Sun TV Show.

Captain Clayton Morgan

Captain Clayton Morgan was born and raised fishing on the Choctawhatchee Bay. He is a 4th Generation local to South Walton and loves to spend time on the water just like his Dad, grandpa, and great grandpa.

When Clayton was young his Grandpa was the local Alligator trapper for Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. Clayton grew up listening to his elders tell stories of these wild encounters. He knew early on that he wanted a career that involved the outdoors. Clayton has a 22ft pathfinder and has the most recent gear needed to provide an exceptiona;l experience on the water
When Clayton isn’t out on the water you can find him in the woods chasing deer with his family!

Captain Kyle Gray

Capt. Kyle Gray is a Destin Florida native, and 3rd generation fisherman who specializes in light tackle shallow water sight fishing along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Born into a family of avid outdoorsmen, Kyle was introduced to a lifestyle that incorporated time on the water and in the woods at a very young age.

Related to renowned pioneer and frontiersman Daniel Boone on his Mothers side, and a long line of high performing outdoorsmen on his Fathers, it was quite fitting that he would find his footing in the guiding world of saltwater fly fishing. His beginning in fly fishing started nearly a decade ago, as a rod and reel was gifted to him by his Father that once belonged to his Grandfather. The spark that grew the flame, years later Gray can be found sharing his initial love for the sport with clients of all ages and skill levels. His passion and discipline for shallow water sight fishing speaks for itself as he progresses into his guiding career with a focus on Tarpon and Redfish in particular.

Captain Brent Berry

Bio for Capt. Berry coming soon.