Capt. Bill Stockton

There are two types of guides; those who do it for a paycheck and those that do it for passion. In the grind that is the professional guide’s season, it’s sometimes hard to draw a distinction between the two. Long days, wind, weather, fussy fish and relentless 4am alarm clocks, are the norm. As an angler you hope that when the odds are challenging, the conditions tough or the fish tricky to fool , you are on the bow of a passionate guide’s skiff. The guide who loves his job will see the bright points, have a secret spot up his sleeve, and maintain an optimism about the hunt. The passionate guide loves what he does and relates that to his anglers. Capt. Bill Stockton is a passionate guide.

Born and raised in South Florida to a family that knew the importance of spending time on the water, Bill grew up surrounded by a passion for fishing. From Lake Ida fishing for trophy bass to the Inter Coastal Waterway hunting Snook and Tarpon to the flats of Biscayne Bay stalking Bonefish, Bill was exposed to all types of angling addictions and has never shaken the habit. He caught his first bonefish at age 11 and never looked back! After earning a degree in Hotel and Hospitality Management from Western Carolina University, Bill moved to Key West to pursue permit in the Backcountry. His talents have guided many anglers to their first flats fish. His awareness of the purity of the hunt and the philosophy of conservation and sustainability are a constant principal he shares with his clients and friends. “The thrill of being in the element of your quarry & being able to get just a few feet away to make the cast is an amazing experience.”

The hallmark of a truly passionate guide is what they choose to do on their day off. If you want to know what kind of guide Bill Stockton is all you have to do is try to find him on a calm summer evening. You won’t. That’s because he’s knee deep on a turtle grass flat, fly rod in hand, pursuing his passion.