Interview with Wan Ho

Bob Rich is a native of Miami, where he spent his entire life and built a successful career in the maritime industry. His journey into the maritime business began with his father, who was initially an engineer for Pan Am but later ventured into entrepreneurship, starting a small business that eventually evolved into selling marine electronics. The industry was relatively small at the time, with no pressing need for radios and depth finders, but it has since grown and transformed with the advent of technologies like the Global Positioning System (GPS).

Interview with Luis Garcia

Manny Toledo is an experienced fisherman hailing from a family with deep fishing traditions. Growing up in a fishing household, he honed his skills in Cuba before migrating to Miami, where he continued the family legacy of building and selling high-quality commercial traps. Known for his expertise in trap building and as a dealer for fellow fishermen, Toledo is a respected figure in the fishing community.

Scope and Content Note

Interview with Michael Landa

Richard Wahrenberger is the owner of City Seafood, a restaurant and seafood market in Everglades City. The only Red Tide event he has personally noticed was when he lived in Madeira Beach, some 50 years ago. He generally believes that Red Tide doesn't occur near Everglades City.

Scope and Content Note

George "Bem" Storter is a Naples native and is 83 years old at the time of this interview. He hasn’t been out on the water in around 20 years (since the net ban) but he is known throughout Naples as being a wealth of information. He commercial fished before the net ban and has been recreationally fishing since then. 

Scope and Content Note

Captain Will Thompson is a seasoned fisherman with over 25 years of experience fishing in the Sarasota area. For the past 15 years, he has been actively involved in the charter business, specializing in offshore and near shore fishing with extensive knowledge of targeting species like snapper, grouper, kingfish, goliath grouper, sharps, and cobia.

Scope and Content Note

Captain Sandy Melvin is a seasoned fishing guide with over 30 years of experience in the industry. He specializes in guiding fishing trips for snook, redfish, speckled trout, and tarpon in the backcountry and shallow waters of the Boca Grande area. Sandy also co-owns Gaspar Outfitters, a retail store with a focus on resort wear and outdoor clothing, alongside his wife.

Scope and Content Note

Rodney Raffield is a former stone crab fisherman and seasoned fishing guide with a 12-year charter fishing career. He comes from a family background in the stone crab industry and has extensive experience navigating the waters around Lostmans River and Cape Sable. Rodney has witnessed sporadic red tide events throughout his fishing history and offers valuable insights into their impact on marine life.

Scope and Content Note