Meet your Captain

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I grew up surrounded by marine life while living in our waterfront home in Terra Ceia. My dad was a commercial fisherman, harvesting fish, crabs, sponges, and seashells. My mom was busy processing and packaging the shells brought back to the dock. Even though I was young, I was always eager to help by racking sand dollars and sorting through different fish species. Sometimes, I had the chance to accompany my dad at the fish houses to sell our catch. 

During my preteen years, my family relocated to a private island in Tampa Bay, near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The island, named Joe Island, was accessible only by boat. Due to the challenges of traveling to and from the mainland, my mom decided to homeschool us. Our school days were shorter than most, which meant we had more time for play than formal learning, however; our playtime often evolved into learning opportunities. As an avid animal lover, I had many of farm animals. Through caring for them, I picked up various skills. For instance, I successfully incubated chicken eggs using my bedside lamp, built a functional chicken coop, bred and raised a litter of puppies, and created a goldfish and turtle pond. These achievements are just a glimpse of the practical education I gained.

During our time on the island, we also established a clam farm just offshore. We nurtured clams from their seed stage to full retail size. To care for them, we placed them in mesh bags on the seafloor, where they could feed on algae and grow. When it was time to sort or sell them, we would suit up in our hookah diving gear and dive beneath the surface to retrieve the bags from the sand. As we hauled the clam bags up, a variety of fish would gather to feast on the worms and crustaceans released from the bags, often leading to a feeding frenzy that could attract larger fish and occasionally small sharks. Hookah diving quickly became one of my favorite pastimes, allowing me to spend hours underwater observing the fascinating behaviors and interactions of marine life.

My family expanded our ventures by opening a seafood and sushi restaurant called "The Clam House,” which also doubled as our new clam packing facility. By the time I was 16, I was fully engaged in the service industry. I took on roles as a server and bartender while also helping to manage the restaurant in my parents' absence. I learned how to source fresh seafood when we couldn't harvest it ourselves and became skilled at preparing it. I can fillet, season, and craft a fantastic fish sandwich—let me tell you. I took great pride in educating our customers about the quality and origins of our seafood, and our commitment to excellence made me truly proud of our businesses.

During my first year of college, I landed an internship at Mote Marine Aquarium and Laboratory, which proved to be one of the most enriching experiences of my life. Over the four-month stint, I trained sharks, bred jellyfish, raised cuttlefish, treated sick sea turtles, hatched brine shrimp for baby seahorses, participated in the Shark Zone feeding show, and managed various exhibits. The wealth of marine knowledge I gained during this time was remarkable. Inspired by this experience, I went on to start an aquarium rental business in 2015, offering fully stocked aquariums to local businesses so staff and customers could enjoy the tranquility of the sea in their workspaces and waiting areas. I ran the business until 2023.

Eventually, after selling the clam business and the restaurant, my parents bought a marina. My dad has scaled back on his commercial fishing activities and now primarily fishes for trade. Meanwhile, my mom is savoring her semi-retirement while also getting involved in local community issues in Manatee County, such as combating over-development. My brother takes care of the service operations at the marina and oversees our food truck during its seasonal openings. As for me, I simply show up, grab a boat, and enjoy the marina—life couldn’t be better!

Throughout my life of boating, I've always dreamed of sharing the incredible childhood experiences I was fortunate to have with others. Thanks to my parents and their marina, I was able to turn that dream into reality by starting my own aquatic excursion company. Now, I get to take guests on unforgettable journeys through Florida’s stunning waterways. I host party cruises to scenic sandbars, offer serene sunset rides with views of the Skyway Bridge sparkling at night, and, most rewarding of all, give kids the chance to explore the underwater world as I once did. The ocean has always been my home, just as Myakka City has become my home. This connection drives my commitment to conserving Florida’s waters, lands, and wildlife.