Hooked UpWITH SUZUKI MARINE

Captain Bob Hovey, is the owner of Louisiana Bluewater Charter Company, based in Venice, LA. Bob operates a fleet that includes two 37-foot Freeman boats for offshore fishing, two inshore boats, and four houseboats for lodging.

A seasoned angler, Bob has found notable success in tournament fishing, including back-to-back victories in the Louisiana Tuna and Wahoo Classic Tournament in both 2023 and 2024.

Clay Shidler began his charter fishing career in 2011, shortly after graduating high school. Fishing has always been his greatest passion, and he finds great joy in sharing the experience of the environment and ecosystem he enjoys daily with his clients.

In 2015, Clay’s brother, Blake, joined him in guiding, becoming the first member of Hang’Em High Sport Fishing, followed soon after by Hunter Bozeman. Today, the team has grown to 7 guides and 11 boats, offering a wide range of charters—from shallow water marsh trips and wintertime duck hunting to deep-sea fishing trips up to 150 miles offshore. In the summer, Clay also guides in the Florida Keys, targeting everything from mahi to daytime swordfish.

Clay is deeply grateful for the guidance he received early in his career from some of the best mentors in the industry, including Dan Clymer, Jimmy Long, and William Toney. These legendary captains taught him not only the art of fishing but also the importance of running a successful, ethical business. Their mentorship has played a huge role in his growth as both a fisherman and a businessman. After 13 years of guiding, Clay’s favorite part of the job is watching his team grow and improve each season. He considers himself incredibly fortunate to have turned his passion into a career and believes that no other profession could offer the same fulfillment and connection to nature.

Clay has been proud to work with Suzuki for the past eight years, relying on their 350 and 300 engines to power his fleet. The reliability and performance of Suzuki’s products have been instrumental in growing his business and allowing his team to do what they do best without worrying about engine issues.

Chris Trosset was born and raised in Key West, Florida, where he has spent his entire life fishing the waters surrounding this world-renowned fishing destination. With 15 years of experience running his own charter business and a background as a mate on both private and charter boats, Chris has honed his skills across a variety of fishing techniques.

Having fished numerous tournaments in the Florida Keys since a young age, he’s found success in many of them and now operates a 2023 Contender 39ST, specializing in light tackle wreck and reef fishing from Key West to the Dry Tortugas—some of the most exclusive waters in the U.S.

Key West’s unparalleled diversity in fishing has been a true gift for Chris, allowing him to refine everything from sight fishing for sails, permit, and mahi to bottom fishing for swordfish, snapper, and grouper. He also utilizes a variety of live baiting techniques to target tunas, kings, and wahoos.

Fishing isn’t just Chris’s career—it’s his passion, and he considers himself extremely fortunate to be able to share that with others every day.