Getting paid to fish every day, all the free rods, reels and tackle you could ask for, new boats, flashy social media posts, industry accolades... the life of a full-time fishing guide sounds rosy, but what is it really like to be a professional charter captain? Long hours, uncertain pay, broken boats, difficult familial relationships also take their toll. To get a better sense of the ins and outs of life as a professional fisherman, we turned to Capt. Bouncer Smith, who ran one of the top charter boats in Miami, Florida, for more than 40 years. What he says may surprise you.

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