Bouncer Smith

Smith started his fishing at the age of 5 in Pontiac Michigan with bluegills from the shore of Square Lake. He was making the outdoor report headline in the newspaper with a couple 2 pound trout at 7 years of age.

He rigged his own double hooked ballyhoo and caught a sailfish on it at 8. Worked as bait assistant and live bait salesman on Sunny Isles Pier at 13. First party boat job was New Years Eve 1963/4 on board the Mucho K out of Haulover Park Miami Fl.

Upon graduation from high school in 66 he worked as first mate nights on the Sea Breeze out of Pier 5 Miami, Fl. By September ‘66 he worked nights on Sea Breeze and mated on the Sea Gull Jr, a charter boat during the day. Hours were 7 AM till 1:30 AM.

1967 returned to Haulover aboard Popeye at night and charter boat Duchess during the day. Then in fall moved to Castaway Docks to work aboard charter boat Bandit. Received “Captains License” on March 13, 1968 and started running the bandit March 14th. June 1st moved to “Top Luck” charter boat and began fishing marlin in the Bahamas as mate and part time captain.

Fished out of Bahia Mar in Fort Lauderdale from ‘73 to March of ‘76 aboard “Doctor’s Orders” many say he introduced Kite fishing to Broward County. March 1st 1976 went in business for himself at “Bud and Mary’s” in Islamorada. Flats fishing was a high school dream he had to live. Spent 2 seasons (March through June and November through June) there and fished Ocean City, Maryland in the summers (July through September). This was canyon fishing for white marlin and yellow fin tuna.

Returned to Miami in fall of ‘77 and ran party boat, guided on the Miami area flats and taught people how to fish their own boats. 1979 moved up to 20 foot skiff and found his place in the fishing world. Bouncer has been a sailfish and tarpon guide ever since.

Buying his first Dusky in ‘81 put him where he is today. He continued to visit Ocean City through ‘81, but soon built his skiff guiding business to 300 trips a year.

• Bouncer was The Billfish Foundation “Captain of the Year” in ’99
• Won the Hyman Award from the Met fishing tournament in ’97
• Miami Beach Rod and Reel Club guide of the year in’97
• Miami Billfish Tournament “Bob Lewis Memorial” public service award ‘02
• Caught a worlds record halibut on fly (111 lbs.) and yellow eye rock fish in ‘99
• Has guided anglers to over 50 worlds records
• Has won numerous local and international tournaments
• Is active in Make a Wish and other youth activities
• Co-founder of South Florida Fishing Club and a member of a couple clubs today
• On the board of directors of Yamaha/Contender Miami Billfish Tour.
• Fishing today on Bouncer’s Dusky 33 out of Miami Beach Marina