Florida Keys Outfitters IGFA Inshore World Championships

Fly Anglers

Heidi Nute

Women's Fall Fly Classic, Islamorada

Heidi began fly fishing five years ago in the rivers and streams near her house in the Catskill Mountains. Shortly after moving to Miami Beach in 2006, she and her husband went through the Florida Keys Fly Fishing School, where her instructor was Chico Fernandez and she continued to take casting lessons from him quite regularly. While she enjoys chasing native brook trout in cold mountain feeder streams, the hunt for giant tarpon in the Keys and the Everglades is her true passion in the sport.

Hopelessly addicted, Heidi now fishes over 100 days a year. Her rod and reel have taken her to Belize, Labrador, the Yucatan, Patagonia, the Bahamas, Southern Louisiana, and Brazil.

Heidi attributes her success in fly fishing to the world-class guides that she is lucky enough to fish with regularly. “This game is well over half on the shoulders of my guide. All I have to worry about is the last 40 feet.” An avid home chef, Heidi remarks, “If you can get me a spot at Mystery Key when the big ones are moving through, I promise I’ll make the best lunch you’ve ever had on your boat!” 2009 was a great year for Heidi, winning the Women’s Fall Fly Classic and catching her personnel best with Steve Huff/Snook; Rob Fordyce/Tarpon and Bouncer Smith/Sailfish.

Heidi is married to fellow fly angler Paul and her household is starting to look like a small zoo.

Kathryn Hoar

Ladies Fly Tournament, Islamorada

Kathryn was born and raised in Hanover PA where she operates the Sheppard Mansion, a full service luxury Inn & Restaurant, which is also the home where she was born. She & her husband Oliver have two boys Dawson (4) and Malcolm (1 ½) plus four Jack Russell Terriers……and all of them (including the 4 legged kids) love to fish!

Kathy began fishing for bass, croppie & sunfish in the lake behind her parent’s house with a mighty Fenwick fly rod at 5 or 6 years of age…..but didn’t get “serious” about it until going to Sandy’s Florida Keys Fly Fishing School with my then boyfriend (now husband) Oliver in Feb 2001. Also went salmon fishing with my dad twice, on the Miramichi and on the Bonaventure.

The Florida Keys Fly Fishing School helped a lot, plus spending lots of bow time with Oliver. Literally, the first time I fed a tarpon, I knew I was the one who was hooked. Quite the adrenaline rush! I love fishing for snook & reds in the ‘Glades too…..the scenery is amazing. Now we get to share this love of fishing & outdoors with the boys, which is really rewarding. Dawson’s got his Shakespeare “Lightning McQueen” rod, knows how to cast, and is quite the Bass Man for a four year old! Of course it only lasts 15-20 minutes, but we’re working on it!

Kathy fished in the 2006 - 2009 Ladies Fly Tournament and was Grand Champion in 2007 and 2009, as well as 1st runner up in 2008. She also enjoys growing veggies in her garden & running after kids...

Thomas Reckling

Tres Pescado Slam, Belize

Thomas Reckling, 42, was born and raised in Houston, TX. He is the father of 6 kids, 3 boys-3 girls - and the husband of Michelle who is an incredibly understanding wife.

He spends the majority of his fishing days in the Galveston bay complex with a few days fishing the middle and lower coast of Texas. When he has the opportunity to travel it is typically to Mexico or Belize.

Thomas says “He feels honored for the opportunity to fish in the Inshore World Championships. This is a once in a lifetime event for me since I am not a true tournament angler. I am looking forward to meeting all of the guys I read about in the magazines. My fishing partner, Mark Elliott and I won the Tres Pescado Slam Tournament which was operated by Jim Oliver at Ambergris Caye. It was so much fun we declared the tournament a success half way through the first day of fishing. Jim put on a great tournament. Mark who was my partner and my fishing mate for the past 25 years, died suddenly in October. He was supposed to make this trip to the World Championships and I am fishing in his honor. It was our first and only fly fishing tournament. I am going back to defend at the Tres Pescado Mark Elliott’s brother, Charlie.”

Robert Collins

IGFA Inshore World Champion, 2005, 2007, 2008

Robert grew up in South Miami, then lived in Naples for 25 years and now resides in Islamorada. During 30 years of business endeavors he has been an accountant, Marina Manager and a Fishing Guide. Robert and his wife Chrisse have been married for 17 years and each have grown sons from a previous marriage.

Robert's dad first took him to Flamingo at the age of 6 where they anchored in Snake Bight Channel and caught about 10 different species of fish. Robert said "I was hooked at that point and we fished Flamingo a couple of days a month until the time I moved to Naples. His dad was a member of the Tropical Anglers sport fishing club in Miami and he learned an incredible amount from him and the other club members at a very young age." Robert has also fished extensively on the West side of Everglades National Park for nearly 30 years, including a 14 year stint as a guide out of Chokoloskee.

Robert confesses that he doesn't really have a favorite species and is happy fishing for anything, whether with spin or fly, inshore, offshore, or catching bait. He enjoys any reason to be out on the water. He says about tournament fishing, "I love the preparation, analyzing conditions, scouting, experimenting with different tackle and techniques, and just plain old practice."

He has been fishing inshore and offshore tournaments for 18 years, winning over 90 awards as either Angler or Captain. Robert has fished all 8 previous IGFA Inshore World Championships and the last 2 IGFA Offshore World Championships. Additionally he fishes in 12-15 tournaments a year. He is a member of IGFA and became an IGFA Certified Observer in 2006.

Robert's many angling accomplishments include being on the Collier County Redsnook, Spin/Plug Champion Team and Fly Champion Team in 2004 He was Redbone Series Grand Champion in 2002 and won the S.L.A.M. Grand Champion in that year. Robert was S.L.A.M Team Grand Champion in 2005 and BayBone Grand Champion in 2004, Team Grand Champion 2005.

He was The Herman Lucerne Grand Champion in 2004 and Unguided Team Grand Champion in 2006 and Backcountry Fly Championship Runner Up Grand Champion in 2009. Robert also was Backbone Lures One Jig Team Grand Champion in 2002, 2003 and 2004 as well as Unguided Grand Champion in 2004and 2006. He was Fly Division Champion in 2008 and Islamorada Spring All Tackle Bonefish Grand Champion 2006

On top of those titles, Robert was I.G.F.A. Inshore World Champion 2005, 2007, 2008. He is the only angler in tournament history to double slam all 5 species, once in 2005 and again in 2007.

Mark Richens

Islamorada Fall Bonefish Fly Tournament, 1st Runner Up

Mark Richens, 38, was born in Wales, raised in England and now resides in the Bahamas with his partner Pippa and their two young children, Molly (6) and Jed (4). During hurricane season, Mark heads north to his Atlantic salmon fishing lodge, Camp Brule, on the Gaspe peninsular of Quebec.

A lifelong fisherman, Mark spent his childhood fishing the rivers and ponds of England. In the mid-nineties Mark founded a London based, marketing agency for the technology industry. When, in 2000, Mark sold his agency a few weeks before the technology crash he decided his luck was in and thus it was time to go fishing. A decade later he is still fishing.

A chance visit to the Keys, arranged by Pippa, introduced Mark to saltwater flyfishing and to Islamorada, a place he now views as the historical and cultural centre of the sport and where he has subsequently purchased a vacation home.

Mark is inspired by and grateful to all the guides and anglers who pioneered and developed the team sport of saltwater flyfishing and quick to acknowledge the many individuals who have directly helped him improve as a saltwater angler. Most recently Capt. Mark Cockerham of Islamorada has been a huge influence. Mark views Cockerham as the best all round inshore angler he has ever met and is honored to fish competitively with him in the Keys bonefish tournaments.

Above all Mark is thankful for the influence of his father, John Richens. “My father always made the time to be outdoors with my brothers and I. He made sure that each fishing trip was not just about catching fish but about developing an appreciation for nature, striving to do something well and persevering even under poor conditions”.

Mark tries to remember this when he takes his own children fishing and Mark’s most memorable fishing achievement was guiding them to their first ever bonefish, a ‘slob’, just before the sunset beyond his favorite flat, “The Swash”.

Sam Kaufman

Golden Fly 2nd Runner Up, Islamorada

Sam Kaufman was born in Colorado and lives in Evergreen where he is happily married to Mindy his wife of 26 years. They have 2 daughters Lindsay, 23 and Melissa, 20. Sam owns Kaufman's Tall and Big Men’s Shop in Denver and has been involved in the retail business all of his life Due in part to his love of fishing and for the Florida Keys, the Kaufmans bought a home in Marathon 7 years ago where they are part time residents.

Sam’s dad's hobby was running fishing trips all over the world and this sparked Sam’s love for fishing. Achieving global experience, he has fished the Bahamas, Mexico, Belize, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, Costa Rica, England, Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and all over the continental USA.

He loves fly fishing for Tarpon and spends over 50 days a year chasing Megalops Atlanticus. The rest of the year he fishes anything else that swims in fresh or salt water always dreaming of his next tarpon trip. Sam has a deep appreciation for angling and actively participates in preserving our fishing waters for future generations.

Sam's angling highlights include blue marlin on fly off Costa Rica, active support and participation in the Redbone Tournaments in which he focuses on the fly division, including the Superfly Events, The S.L.A.M., Baybone and Redbone. He is on the board of the Rocky Mountain Redbone at Large Fishing Tournament in Aspen, Co. and has placed in the top 5 three of the last four years. Sam also fished in the 2008 and 2009 Golden Fly Tarpon Tournament catching the largest tarpon and taking second runner-up honors in 2009. During that summer he also caught a grand slam on his 50th birthday trip to Belize.

2010 plans include fishing in the Golden Fly Tarpon Tournament and the Don Hawley Tarpon Tournament. Besides fishing Sam also enjoys hunting, snowshoeing, diving and listening to live music.

Brower Moffitt

Redbone@Large Deep Water Cay Fall Tournament

Brower Moffitt resides in West Palm Beach FL, where he enjoys fishing for anything in the salt.

While growing up Brower spent each summer fishing the freshwater lakes of Briarcliffe Acres and saltwater surfcasting in Myrtle Beach, SC. Brower moved to New York City in 1977.

Brower caught his first Tarpon with his father and Captain Jimmy Albright while staying at Cheeca Lodge in April 1963. Brower’s son Beau asked his dad to take him fishing in the Florida Keys after they had moved to Palm Beach in 1992. In 1994 when Beau was 13 he caught his first Tarpon with his dad while again staying at Cheeca Lodge. Brower began fishing the Redbone Series in 1995 and since that time his family has become a major supporter of CF and "To Catch The Cure for Cystic Fibrosis".

Brower has fished all the major Tarpon Fly Tournaments, the Spring All Tackle and Fall All Tackle Bonefish Championships, Fall Fly Bonefish Tournament, 2007 IGFA Inshore Championships and numerous Redbone events around the United States and abroad.

Sue Moret

IGFA Angler at Large, Islamorada FL

Sue Moret was born in a small town outside of Philadelphia and schooled at the University of South Carolina. As a youngster she vacationed with her family in Marathon in the Florida Keys at the “little fish camp” known as Faro Blanco where she caught snapper and marveled at the parrot fish around the docks. Sue raised her son & daughter Scot and Beth on Cape Cod and later Ft. Lauderdale. She is affiliated with the Moorings Realty in Islamorada and plays a major role in the success of The Florida Keys Fly Fishing School & Outfitters with her husband, Sandy.

She began salt water fly fishing in Homosassa with the late Capt. Cecil Keith and around Islamorada with Capt Bruce Stagg in chasing her first tarpon on fly. Sue spent a weekend at Sandy’s fly fishing school in hopes of polishing her skills and catching that elusive tarpon. A year or so later, she stopped by the Outfitters and mentioned that tarpon had continued to elude her. Sandy offered to take her fishing and that afternoon she brought a 90 pounder to the boat!

Since that time she has fly fished extensively in the Keys, Everglades, Bahamas and around the world in fresh and salt water. Her favorite fishing is for bonefish and her personal best is a 13 pounder caught with Capt John Donnell. Sue comes to us as first runner up of the Redbone @ Large Marsh Harbor Bonefish Classic and IGFA Angler @ Large

Sue is very actively involved in Voices for the Children of the Florida Keys.

Charles W. Duncan III (Carlos)

Don Hawley Invitational Tarpon Fly Tournament, Islamorada FL

Charles W. Duncan, III (“Carlos”) lives in Houston, Texas where he is President of a private investment firm, Duncan Interests. He was previously involved with private equity, investment banking and currently has cattle and real estate interests. Carlos and his wife of 18 years, Leslie, have two daughters, Sarah aged 16, and Annie aged 14.

He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from University of Virginia and a Masters of Business Administration from Harvard University. Carlos is active with various non-profit charitable organizations in Houston including being Chairman of CCA-Texas Foundation, the financial arm of the Coastal Conservation Association in Texas.

When asked about how he began fishing Carlos replies; “I have fished all my life. In the 1960’s, we had a bay house in Galveston and fished off the dock. My Dad and Uncle shared a 38 foot Post sportsfisherman, and we fished a bit offshore the Texas coast. In 1972, aged 12, I had two big new influences in my fishing life. I fly fished for the first time at our new family ranch property in Wyoming, and I visited Islamorada for the first time with my Dad as the guest of Carl Navarre, Sr. Fly fishing has been a passion now for almost 40 years. My Dad was never an avid fly fisherman, so my casting and knots were self-taught out of books. I probably read Joe Brooks’ book 50 times. My first real teacher of stream fishing was our next door neighbor, Alan Simpson, who later served 18 years as US Senator from Wyoming. In the salt water, my teacher and mentor was clearly Carl Navarre,Sr. He was a close friend of my Dad and invited us every year to fish Islamorada. He always arranged for us the best guides available, Billy Knowles, Cecil Keith, Bill Curtis, Al Polofsky, Hal Chitum. I caught my first tarpon on bait June 3, 1973, at Channel Two with Cecil; the next year I caught one on plug; then Mr. Navarre gave me my first salt water fly rod and a year or two later, I caught my first tarpon on fly with Hal. My first bonefish was caught at age 17 with Al and weighted 12 pounds – I have not caught a larger one since.

I quit fishing the Keys in 1985 when Mr. Navarre sadly passed away and my graduate school, marriage, and young children intervened. I returned to Islamorada to fish in 1995 and was put in touch with Rob Fordyce by Flip Pallot. Rob has become my modern teacher of fly fishing and particularly tarpon fishing. We have fished together several times a year ever since. I am clearly biased, but I believe Rob is the best tarpon guide of his generation and one of the best all around anglers and guides on any water today. He has taught me everything I know about modern fly fishing for tarpon – I think I have taught him maybe one thing. In 2002, Rob agreed to guide me in the Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament. We have not yet won, but had several near misses at 2nd place. Since then I have tried to fish in two tarpon tournament and two bonefish tournaments per year. I am not so good at bonefishing, but working on it.

Carlos and Rob Fordyce won the Golden Fly Tarpon Tournament in 2005 and has placed in the top three of the Golden Fly, The Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament and the Don Hawley Tarpon Tournament consistently over the past few years. He has had some of the single highest scoring days in the history of several of the events. Tournament tarpon fishing runs in the family – my wife, Leslie, fishing with Billy Knowles, is a two time winner of the Women’s Tarpon Fly Tournament. In addition to fishing, Carlos spends time riding, camping, hiking, skiing, and other mountain sports along with hunting and bird shooting, cycling and triathlons being a 3 time Iron-man Finisher.