Transcript for Hustle & Heat Episode 4
00:00:04
What’s up, guys? Welcome to episode four of the Hustle and Heat podcast, where we bring the community together one business owner and one local official at a time. Today, I’d like to welcome a very different and special guest. An interesting guest with over 30 years in business. Welcome to the podcast. It’s an honor to have you on. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
00:00:33
I was born and raised in Fort Myers, Florida. I’ve run charter and fishing businesses since I was 18. I also have a carpentry business on Sanibel. I grew up out there. I don’t know—just go with the flow, living day by day.
So, you have this business focused on alligator hunting. What got you into it, and what is it all about?
00:01:08
It started with charter fishing and dive charters. About 32 years ago, they opened up a public gator season. A friend suggested we apply for tags and go gator hunting. We did really well our first year. The Naples Daily News came out and did an article on us. After that, people started calling, wanting to go out and fill their gator tags since they knew I already had a fishing business.
We did that for a few years and got busier and busier. Eventually, I traded in my big boats for airboats and skiffs and moved fully into alligator hunting instead of hook-and-line fishing.
00:02:10
I still love fishing, but the waters have gotten so crowded. Every fishing spot has someone there. When you’re back in the marsh on an airboat, there’s nobody around. That’s something I really enjoy.
00:02:43
Over the years, I’ve dealt with alligators, hogs, and even Goliath grouper. In over 30 years, I’ve never had a client get hurt—it’s usually me. I’ve been bitten and lost part of a finger. We’ve gone into the water to untangle gators from logs, docks, and pilings. Honestly, the gators themselves have been pretty uneventful.
00:03:22
It was an eight-foot gator. We used a snatch hook method. As we brought it in, it started rolling and twisted the noose badly. When I tried to grab it quickly, my fingers went into its mouth. It bit down and rolled again, taking the tips off. Everything happened too fast. We didn’t slow down. It happens.
00:04:41
I’ve had a few near-death experiences, but one actually did kill me. During an alligator hunt, we spooked a boar hog. It hit me from behind, flipped me into the water, and attacked again. My son shot it off my back. I was medevacked to the hospital.
They stapled me up and sent me home, which turned out to be a mistake. Infection set in fast. I was hospitalized, released, then hospitalized again. They performed multiple surgeries and installed a pump in my leg.
00:06:33
After removing the pump, I went into cardiac arrest and flatlined for 43 minutes. CPR was performed, paddles were used, and they eventually called it. Then suddenly, I had a heartbeat again.
Blood clots from my leg had traveled to my lungs. Doctors called it a saddle embolism—the widow maker. Every specialist I’ve seen since has told me I’m the only person they’ve met who survived it.
00:08:00
That experience gave me a second chance at life. Now, if an opportunity comes up, we do it. No excuses. My wife and I travel more and experience life. Saving money matters, but I can’t take it with me.
00:09:11
It hasn’t held me back. I still hunt and stay active. My wife worries, and my son is very protective now, but I still get right in the middle of it. I was charged by another hog about a month ago, but this time I was prepared.
00:10:12
Normally, wild hogs bluff charge and back off. What happened to me was extremely rare. When hogs are cornered or wounded, they’ll stand their ground.
00:10:50
My carpentry business has been very busy. Hurricanes are terrible, and I hope we never see another, but they created a lot of work. It’s hard to say you’re thankful after what people went through.
00:11:18
I’m always doing something. My wife and I just click. She enjoys her space, and I enjoy mine. When we’re together, we make the most of it. I work carpentry during the day and hunt at night.
00:11:55
Most hunts happen at night, especially in the summer when it’s cooler. We use lights to find their eyes, then light everything up once we hook one so clients can see what’s happening.
00:12:23
My ideal clients are blue-collar folks who saved up for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They appreciate it and get excited. Trophy hunters tend to rush through it. I enjoy watching people feel the adrenaline—especially kids. That’s why I do it.
00:13:30
I always knew this was my path. I got my captain’s license at 18 and started my business. When people hunt with me, they don’t just kill a gator—they learn everything about it. I want them to leave knowing more than they ever thought possible.
00:15:49
An eight-foot gator could be 15 years old. A ten-footer could be in its 30s. They don’t reproduce until around six feet. Killing smaller gators disrupts the population. When people understand that, they respect the hunt more.
00:17:27
Biologists say alligators can live over 100 years. Crocodiles, on the other hand, are more aggressive. Alligators usually pull away from people. Crocs will chase you.
00:20:16
Travel has become a priority. Africa, Panama, Wyoming, the Keys—experiencing different places and cultures has changed my outlook on life.
00:23:22
We’re family-oriented. Bring the kids. Bring your wife. Everyone ends up loving it. It’s safe, educational, and unforgettable.
It was an honor to be here. Thank you.
