Team Elite

Capt. Owen Armstrong

Team Elite

My name is Captain Owen Armstrong. I grew up in Orlando, Florida, where I discovered my passion for fishing. Some of my earliest childhood memories involve fishing in local neighborhood ponds for largemouth bass. As I got older, I was introduced to fly fishing, and my passion for it grew even larger. I picked up my first fly rod when I was 8 years old and haven’t put it down since. During my teenage years, I spent a lot of time fishing in Mosquito Lagoon, Indian River, and Banana River. As I got older, my love for sight fishing became stronger, and I eventually became a fishing guide to share my passion and experiences with others. Mosquito Lagoon holds a special place in my heart. The lagoon is unique because you can catch tailing redfish with the sound of waves crashing along Playalinda Beach in the background. Additionally, there is a wide variety of wildlife that calls Mosquito Lagoon home, so you never know what you might encounter. The fishery is always changing, which allows me to learn new techniques and productive zones to produce fish for my clients. From redfish, sea trout, snook, tarpon, to black drum, the lagoon has something for everyone.

Capt. Ian Ritchie

Team Elite

Capt. Noah Miller

Team Elite

Born and raised here on the Florida Space Coast, I was introduced to fishing at a very early age. My Dad and Grandfather were both avid fishermen and outdoorsmen, some of my earliest memories are fishing for Bluegill with them when I was only 4 years old. My father was a light tackle enthusiast, targeting large Sea Trout on 6lb mono and an ultralight spinning rod. He shared what he knew of saltwater fishing with me, and I quickly became obsessed. As I grew up, I read every book, article and magazine I could possibly get my hands on. Books on fishing and the science and biology of the fish made up most of my adolescent library. I was introduced to fly fishing at 10 years old, and as I evolved as an angler and eventually a guide, fly fishing, especially for Tarpon, has become my favorite obsession. Passion for what I do and the obsessive drive to become a better angler and guide pushes me to continue to become the absolute best that I can be. Now as a full-time guide, I get to pursue my passion even farther and I’m always learning every day on the water. It is truly my happy place

Lucas Largel

Team Elite

Fishing has always been integrated into my life from a very young age. The memories of being on a boat extend as far back as my mind can recollect. Growing up my dad ran the professional bass circuits so I cut my teeth at an early age fishing for bass, hybrids, and screaming across lake Okeechobee while barely being big enough to see over the edge of my life jacket.

My family has deep roots in Florida spanning from very early years in Ybor city down to the keys. Growing up we had houses on Key Largo, Big Pine, and Cudjoe key where I would spend a lot of my early years lobstering and offshore fishing with my dad, grandfather, and uncle who all had a passion for fishing.

Although most of my upbringing was centered around offshore fishing for Mahi, grouper, cobia, and amberjack I found my place in flats fishing in my early teens. While other kids were skipping school to go party me and my friends were leaving early to fish massive schools of tailing reds on the mosquito lagoon. Fly fishing was introduced to me many years ago from a spur-of-the-moment trip to Colorado, I came back to Florida with a whole new mindset and have never looked back since.

I now reside in Tavares Florida with my wife and two beautiful children. As I am equal distance from the east and west coast I get the pleasure of fishing both coasts regularly, Which I take full advantage of in my constant pursuit.

Capt. Bryce Gabriel

Team Elite

My name is Captain Bryce Gabriel and I am 25 years old. I was born and raised in Jupiter, Florida and have had a passion for fishing since the age of 3. I grew up fishing the Loxahatchee River and the local ponds and canals throughout Palm Beach and Martin county.

Things escalated for me at the age of 13 when I was first introduced to fly fishing by my uncle Brian. I was instantly hooked. I slowly started transitioning into throwing flies at snook and tarpon.

High school was when I started to take fishing more seriously. I quit playing sports and ceased all extracurricular activities aside from fishing. I would fish after school in the Loxahatchee River and spend my weekends exploring the flats anywhere from Hobe Sound too Vero. When spring and summer came around I was spending my evenings and weekends working on a head boat and as a commercial king fisherman.

In 2016 I moved to Fort Myers to attended Florida Gulf Coast University for college. In 2020 I received my B.S in Environmental Studies with a Concentration in Environmental Education. All throughout college, I would spend my weekends or days or when not attending class or work chasing redfish and snook. I frequented anywhere from Charlotte Harbor to Chokoloskee. I spent my last 2 years of college at 239 Flies learning how to tie my own bugs and slowing continuing to fuel the fishing addiction.

In July 2021 after graduating college and obtaining my captains license I moved down to the keys to start my career as a backcountry fishing guide. I am currently working as a full time guide in Islamorada, Florida working with long time family friend, Bou Bosso. I look forward to perfecting my craft and learning more and more about the amazing fishery we have down in the Florida Keys.

Capt. Matt Chipperfield

Team Elite

Russell Jacobs

Team Elite

My passion for fishing was influenced by my father. He moved my brothers and I from Arkansas to Pensacola Florida at a young age where we spent countless hours fishing from piers, bridges, grass flats and beaches. During sunrises, I am often reminded of the sun rising over the Pensacola Beach bridge while waking up on the seawalls of Ft. Pickens.

I now live in the Tampa Bay area with my beautiful wife, daughter and two dogs that keep me grounded when I am not on the water. My passion for fishing quickly grew into an obsession. I am a, wake up and get to the water daily type. Some of my favorite ways of fishing are Sight Fishing, Fly Fishing, using Topwaters, and every so often chasing Monster fish using Monster baits. In the past few years my passion for inshore fishing has taken over. I now run a kayak guide business, Active Angler Kayak Guide, out of the Tampa Bay waters and fish every tournament that I am presented with. I‘m constantly wanting to learn more and improve my game to the level of some of saltwater’s greatest fisherman.

I leave the launch with one fish in mind 90% of the time, REDFISH. Tampa is great, you can target Redfish all year with great success. It is also the species that most major inshore saltwater tournaments require at weigh in. Thanks to RCI Optics I now can see all the details that improve my time on the water. Whether it be a tail popping up through a light chop in the water or a laid up fish in a sand hole, I now have a distinct advantage while I‘m fishing for these shallow water fish. I slide my RCI’s over my eyes a little after sunrise and don’t remove them until I am home most days.

Paul Alderman

Team Elite

My Name is Paul Alderman. I am 26 years old. And I am living the dream. I am one of the blessed few that get paid to travel and do the things I love to do.

I was lucky enough to be born and raised in a place that creates a unique breed of outdoorsmen. Central Florida was paradise for a kid that never wanted to be indoors. I grew up splitting my time between the woods, rivers, lakes, swamps, and the ocean. The weather would determine whether I was poling up on tailing redfish, live-baiting tarpons, sitting in a tree stand, or paddling around on a surfboard. And I’m happy to say that not much has changed over the years. I’ve just continued to learn and grow from my outdoor lifestyle.

My career began to take shape early in high school when I started working on charter fishing boats around Port Canaveral. I’m thankful for the really talented older generation of guys that mentored me. I soaked up every ounce of wisdom they were willing to give. I was just like a sponge, and I fished every opportunity possible. I fished charters and local tournaments all through high school and college. Over the years I met a ton of great customers and inevitably started having more and more success. Eventually I started getting hired to fish with really talented offshore tournament teams.

I am currently working on an 85’ sport fishing yacht called El Cazador. I get to travel to exotic locations and compete in some of the most prestigious fishing tournaments in the world. This year I get to test my skills against the best anglers in the world at the Offshore World Championship in Costa Rica. Winning an invitation to this event was a huge honor and I plan on making a great showing. They say a bad day on the water is better than a good day at work. Well it is my work. Life is good when billfish pay the bills. I’m extremely grateful to live in a world where I get paid to chase the fish of a lifetime.

When the boat is at the dock, you can still find me on the water or in the woods around Central Florida. I hope to see you out there!

Alan Ryland

Team Elite

Joey Antonelli

Team Elite

Joey was fishing before he could walk. Some of his earliest memories are of his father, Pop-Pop, and Uncle Matt leading the whole family in a day of beach fishing. Those beach fishing adventures are the solid foundation Joey built his entire fishing lifestyle on. Now he lives in Indialantic, Florida and fishes and spearfishes more than ever. Most of the fishing Joey does is nearshore and offshore. He makes a point of having a camera on board to capture his excursions on film, which is good, because things can get a bit interesting when you’re in a 12-foot aluminum boat eight miles from shore.
You can follow Joey on Instagram. - @h2ovinyldesigns
Check out more of his pictures, videos, and fishing reports. - www.eastsidefishing.com
Also, if you need any vinyl stickers made, he’s your guy. - www.h2ovinyldesigns.com

Sean Strahlo

Team Elite

The ocean has always been an integral part of my life. My earliest memories as a child are those spent fishing alongside my dad. I am a native Floridian, born and raised in Melbourne since ’93. Growing up most of my friends wanted to be firefighters, astronauts, doctors, etc. I wanted to be Jose Wejebe. I idolized him. His knowledge and passion for the ocean was contagious. By the age of 13, I spent the majority of my free time on the water. My summers were spent fishing and diving from Alaska to Key West. If the ocean was blown out, I would skimboard, wakeboard, body surf, skate, and play soccer.

One of my favorite aspects of the fishing industry is all the interesting people I‘ve been blessed to meet over the years, many of whom are still close friends of mine. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with many industry leaders (like RCI Optics) and I look forward to furthering my friendship with the company and rocking the highest performing sunglasses on the market.