Capt. Chandler Williams

Capt. Chandler Williams was born into a multi-generational family of Captains whose roots on the water stretch back to some of the first Pirates to settle in Charleston. As his mother was working as the head of the Longshoreman’s Union in coastal South Carolina, she was troubled with a difficult labor. The doctors were amazed by what they saw. The complications were caused by the fact that when Chandler was born, he somehow had a fishing rod in his hands. It was upside down, and he was reeling it backwards, but none-the-less he was off to a good start.

Well, in all honesty, Capt. Chandler spent his youth chasing redfish in Charleston, and quickly caught the Tarpon bug. Over the years, he has guided fly anglers in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, and the Seychelles. As soon as he was able, Chandler setup shop in Key West, and began his journey to become the best Florida fly fishing guide he can be.

Chandler has a bit of a tarpon problem that compels him to hit the road at certain times of the year. Besides Key West, Chandler extends tarpon season by taking anglers on guided fly fishing (and conventional fishing) trips throughout the Everglades as well as the Forgotten Coast near Apalachicola. Chandler is a patient guide who enjoys taking anglers of all abilities fishing for just about everything that swims in shallow salt water… especially tarpon.

Q&A With Capt. Chandler Williams

Describe your fly fishing style.
I’d say my style of fly fishing at times can be very fast paced. I really like to pattern the fish out figuring the entry in exit points and hit them on the move in different locations. You find some times that’s bouncing around hitting those points of movement will collectively add up to a higher number of shots.

Why did you decide to become a guide?
I knew at pretty early age this is what I wanted to do! I grew up watching Spanish fly on Sunday mornings, practicing with a fly rod in the front yard since the age of 12. Over time I grew this immense passion and love for the sport. i really enjoy the feeling of someone catching that fish of a lifetime, or making lifetime memories, the feelings you get from that I believe is one of the greatest things in life. I also love hunting/fishing so much and being outside growing up, so I needed to find a career that would allow me to hunt and fish at the same time.

What is your most memorable catch?
I believe I was 16 or 17 at the time, all my high school buddies and I. We boated close to a 300 pound blue marlin in a 22 foot Sea Hunt with a single 150 Yamaha on the back. We were about 80 miles off the coast of Charleston.

What is your most memorable client catch?
I actually have two! One was a 38inch plus snook a 14 year old caught in key west, the other is a 22lb sea run brown trout I guided to in Patagonia.

Do you enjoy fishing as much as you enjoy guiding?
Sometimes I’d rather guide than fish, if that answers the question

Who got you into fishing?
I’d say my father and my grandfather. Well a lot of people actually played a major role in that. But with my dad we would bass fish together a lot growing up. There was a family pond down the road I’d always drive my bike too.

What is your favorite fish in the world to fish for?
Tarpon, but second is big snook. They will humble you!

What is your dream fishing location?
One where there is not a lot of guides, and very little fishing pressure, of course.

Music or no music on the boat?
Music when running, no music while fishing. Come find out why.

What is your opinion of bananas?
Eat them at home or leave them at home.

What can everyone do to help the environment in Florida?
Choose guides who believe in conservation, and protecting their fishery. Guides who educate you and practice proper etiquette/respect with the fish and environment. Guides who donate to local organizations like the Lower Keys Guides Association, an organization that protect its local guides and gets heavily involved politically and physically in, and making changes for their local ecosystem.