Angler:
Chuck Espiritu (A.K.A "ChuckE")

Status:
Regional Team

Home Water(s):
Northern California Coastal

Experience:
Chuck is an avid sportsman in constant search of new adventures from his kayak. He spends countless hours fishing off Northern California's beautiful but very rugged coastline for big lingcod, Rockfish, Halibut, Striped bass, and Chinook salmon. His big game accomplishments include catching Yellow Fin Tuna off Baja Mexico's East Cape and huge White Sturgeon around San Francisco Bay. Besides fishing, Chuck is also well known for trapping tasty Dungeness crab and hunting waterfowl from his kayak. He also has a solid reputation atop the derby podium, but he doesn't just keep all of his secrets to himself. As a charter member and moderator of one of the world's busiest kayak fishing websites, NorCalKayakAnglers, Chuck routinely shares his knowledge through the online forum and conducting local seminars.

Accomplishments:

• 2007 NorCal Kayak Angler of the Year
• NCKA Charter Member and Forum Moderator
• 1st Place 2004 Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing Derby
• 1st Place 2007 Bendo at Mendo III Kayak Fishing Derby
• 2nd Place 2007 Monterey Bay Kayak Fishing Derby

Angler:
Marty Mood (A.K.A. "PA Hillbilly")

Status:
Regional Team

Home Water(s):
Coastal/Inland Maine

Experience:
Marty’s angling skills are superior, his knowledge of the underwater world is vast, and his ability to land big fish in the most unlikely of circumstances exceeds even the most seasoned angler’s expectations.  Marty grew up fishing for trout, steelhead, and bass in Central Pennsylvania and has extended his quest throughout his life for many of America’s game fish (both fresh & salt), ranging from redfish in the Gulf Coast of Mexico to striped bass in the coastal inlets of Maine.

Accomplishments:

• 2004 Extreme Edge Kayak Fishing Tournament Series National Champion
• 2006 Main State Kayak Fishing Tournament Champion
• 2007 Main State Kayak Fishing Tournament Champion

Angler:   
Jason "Talltails" Callaghan

Status:   
Regional Team

Home Water(s): 
Florida Panhandle

Experience:
Fishing the Great Lakes for muskies, the Minnesota boundary waters for walleye, the Colorado Rockies for cutthroats, and the Alaskan sound for halibut and salmon, Jason "Talltails" Callaghan is truly a scholar of sportfishing.  Jason currently calls the expansive grass flats of Florida's Panhandle his home waters.  There he can be found stalking the flats and numerous river mouths fishing for redfish, spotted seatrout, tarpon, sharks, and other big game species year round.  For the past several years Callaghan has been very successful in both kayak and boat tournament trail events.  In and out of the water, Jason spends a good deal of his time helping to promote kayak fishing through forums, charity tournaments, and other kayaking events. 

Accomplishments:

• 2007 Angler of the Year--Forgotten Coast Kayak Anglers Tournament Trail

 

Angler: 
John "JD" Donohue

Status: 
Regional Team

Home Water: 
Southwest Florida

Experience:

JD has had a love of fishing as long as he could walk to the trout stream behind his PA home as a young boy.  A 25 year semi-pro hockey career cut into the time he could spend on the water, but when he hung up his skates 5 years ago, it was fish on!  Now John is a fishing correspondent for the Herald Tribune and the subject of many features in both print and TV fishing programs.  Although he has several tournament accomplishments, John is more about the experience and about passing along the passion of kayak fishing to others.  If snook or redfish are your target and you want to catch them on artificial baits, you can find him at goal89@gmail.com.

Angler:
Frank “Mayor of Chicopit” Greg

Status:
Regional Team

Home Water(s):
Northern Florida

Experience:
The Mayor, as he’s most commonly known in his home town of Jacksonville, FL, has been named rightfully so.  Frank is Jacksonville’s unofficial ceremonial angler; he carries himself humbly, yet the information and insight the Mayor has relating to the underwater world is unsurpassed. Frank is the center of attention of Jacksonville’s supreme fishery, and when the Mayor speaks, the angling community in Jacksonville listens!  In fact, you can hear the Mayor weekly on the Jax Kayak Fishing Radio Talk Show.  Frank has won numerous tournaments over the years and was a dominating force in the Redfish Tournament Trail.  With over 30 years of tournament experience under his belt, Frank has tallied more than $50,000 in prize money.  He has racked up so many trophies that at some point in time he may just have to add an extension to his home in order to house them all.   

Accomplishments:

• 1st – 2005 Jacksonville Kayak Fishing Classic

Angler: 
James “S1tpilot” Ivy

Status:
Regional Team Member

Home Water(s):  
Mid Atlantic

Experience:

Angler:
            Michael “Fair Fight” Bayer

Status:
            Regional Team

Home Water(s):
            Texas

Experience:
Bucket Mouths Beware!  Michael “Fair Fight” Bayer’s nickname is simply a disguise. He’s after you—yes he is—and there’s nothing “Fair” about it! Michael’s on the water nearly every day, pulling unsuspecting bass up and out of their beds.  And as if that’s not enough, Bayer has begun producing some high quality videos dedicated to his bass-bashing-bonanza.  Check them out at www.theyakfisherman.com.

Accomplishments:

• 2006 – Angler of the Year – Ultimate Kayak Trail
• 2007 – Angler of the Year – Kayak Anglers Tournament Series
• 1st Place – Austin Kayak Fishing Challenge
• 5th Place – Austin Kayak Fishing Tournament