Episode 59: Gary & Teresa Register - "Red Man"
In this episode, Gary & Teresa talk about the Keys in the 60's, pompano nets in Florida Bay, the abundance of shrimp on the flats, and the prestigious Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament.
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Show Notes
Born in Miami in 1935 Gary Register would travel into the keys fishing with his family until he moved there in 1965. It was a small fishing village back then - everyone knew each other. He’d play softball with Eddie Wightman and the young Klein boys.
Clarence Lowe mentored Register and inspired him to be a guide. Clarence showed him the nuances of the profession and eventually Gary became one of the best. He purchased the La Siesta hotel and would spend day and night guiding. He was known to be a hard working guide, and throughout time started to fish with some of the better fly anglers. Many also considered Gary to be a loner, but big hearted nonetheless. He also explains how he wasn’t resentful when others started coming into town to guide, as most of them were “Stuck in the Mud” guides.
He and Jimmy Bell Jr. hoisted the Gold Cup trophy three times. He later was gifted a trip to Alaska by a client and fell in love. Gary would eventually move there to get out of the heat of the Keys and take advantage of the remote serenity. After fishing so hard for so long (35 years), burn out was a real thing.
Gary thinks often of the fishing world he once lived in and misses how it used to be. But, at 87, he’s found new footing and passions in Alaska. He wants to be remembered as a nice man and a wonderful husband!