Today we’d like to introduce you to Jack Carlson.
Jack, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born and raised in Marathon, Florida Keys and I followed the footsteps of my father as a Keys Fishing Guide since 1973. I started Two Conchs Charters in 1997. I came up with the name “Two Conchs” after my best friend Ben Daughtry and myself. If you are born in the Florida Keys, you are called a “Conch”. Ben was born in Key West and I was born in Marathon at Fisherman’s Hospital (I think they even named it after me 😜)
Growing up in the Keys, we were on and around the water 24/7 and having a father as a local fishing guide made learning how to fish/spearfish & lobstering easy.
Has it been a smooth road?
Running a charter business and keeping a family life has not always been easy. We have always been in high demand as a guide, which means fishing seven days a week practically year around means you don’t get to spend as much time with your family as you should. Back in 2010, when the economy crashed, so did my marriage after being with the same wife for 17 years. I had three boats in my fleet at the time and had to sell off two since the economy couldn’t support all three boats.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
After the fall comes the climb of the Two Conchs brand, not only are we a top-notch fishing charter service we have started a Fishing Apparel Store called “The Angler’s Closet” that my second wife operates along with her being a local Real Estate Agent for Ocean Sotheby’s Realty. I also still own & operate our bait & tackle shop called “Big Time Bait & Tackle” for the past 18 years. We have also started filming our 3rd season of our Reality Based Sports Fishing TV Show on The Sportsman Channel & World Fishing Network. It’s called “Two Conchs Sportfishing TV.”
Our fleet has now grown to 12 fishing boats, mainly of Yellowfin’s powered by Mercury Marine. We offer Flats, Reef, Wreck, Offshore, Gulf, Tarpon & Swordfish charters. We currently run a wide range of size boats to cover all the styles of fishing including 17’ Yellowfin, 21’ Yellowfin, 24’ Yellowfin, (2) 26’ Yellowfin’s, 30’ Mako, 32’ Yellowfin, 33’ JAB Custom, (2) 34’ Yellowfin’s, (2) 36’ Yellowfin’s and will be expecting our new 39’ Yellowfin with quad Mercury’s in Feb 2021 that will be featured in the Miami Boat Show 2021. Most of our fleet is located at the beautiful Brand New “Isla Bella Beach Resort” in Marathon, located at the East end of the world-famous 7-Mile Bridge.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes I think Miami is a great city for a business like Two Conchs Charters and we are now able to sell a franchise to someone that would like to fish under the Two Conchs brand. By having our guidance and our booking system and our exposure, we can fast track anyone who would like to get into the charter fishing industry.
Pricing:
- Charters start at $600
Contact Info:
- Address: 11499 Overseas Hwy
Marathon, FL 33050 - Website: TwoConchsGear.com
- Phone: 3054810495
- Email: twoconchs@yahoo.com
- Instagram: @twoconchs
- Facebook: @twoconchscharters
- Twitter: @twoconchs
- Other: TwoConchs.com
Image Credit:
Capt. Jack Carlson (left)
Capt. Austin Carlson (right)
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