Captain Michael Anderson
Born and raised in Oshkosh, Wisconsin on June 9, 1968, Captain Mike was introduced to the wonders of the great outdoors and the simple joy of fishing at a very young age. Reared in a family of fishing enthusiasts, Mike joined his father and uncle on a regular basis throughout his childhood, as they would cast for walleye, muskie and perch.
On December 31, 1986, at the age of 18, Mike joined the U.S. Air Force and served his first 3 1/2 years at Spangdahlem Air Force Base in Germany. Completing his tour of duty at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL. He was honorably discharged on August 15, 1993.
In an effort to promote a fledgling business and at the same time satisfy his competitive nature, Mike began and still maintains the position of Manager and player of the Anderson Screens Softball Club. Through Mike's leadership the club has earned four city titles, one county title, one I.S.A. World Title, one I.S.A. Winter World Title, three State titles and was named the NIKE ESPN Florida State Champions. Mike retired from competitive softball in 2000.
Captain Mike has been fishing the Tampa Bay area since 1990. In early 2000, Captain Mike began Thunderbay Charters Service and is currently fishing approximately 150+ days a year. Captain Mike is a professional tournament fisherman currently competing in the Ranger/Mercury Redfish Tour and Southern Redfish Trail. Captain Mike is also contributor to a number of charitable organizations including Boys & Girls Club of Tampa, Children's Miracle Network and the Pediatric Cancer Foundation.
Captain Mike and Captain Billy Nobles for several years were found Sunday mornings on 620 AM, Tampa, FL sharing fishing stories and providing tips on The “Sports Animal’s Fishing Show.” Recently the captains moved their radio talents to ESPNFlorida radio and can be heard on stations in Tampa, Orlando, and Melbourne.
Captain Billy Nobles
Captain Billy was born in North Carolina on February 23, 1963. It was in the eastern part of the state where his mother and father taught him to admire and respect the great outdoors. He started his professional fishing career at the age of 13, mating on several off-shore boats and fishing in tournaments throughout Virginia and the Carolinas.
Upon moving to Florida he started fishing small local tournaments, immediately winning several. It was not long until Captain Billy put the skills his parents taught him as a child to use. Becoming a charter captain in west central and southwest Florida, fishing over 300 trips per year, Captain Billy specializes in catching trophy fish on light tackle.
The Captain is a well respected guide, lecturer (giving seminars at local fishing clubs and civic organizations), and tournament director (host the Continental-National/St. Jude’s Greater Tampa Bay Fishing Tournament this will be the sixth year of this tournament with over 50 charter boats, Magnum Tampa Bay Shootout, and scheduled for April 1, 2006 a fund raiser for the Florida State Aquarium).
Captain Billy has been featured on several local and national television shows (O’Neil’s Family Outdoors, Cabela’s Team Outdoors, Hooked on Fishing, The Average Angler, and The Professional Tarpon Tournament Series). He has also been featured several times in the Tampa Tribune, Saint Petersburg Times, Waterline Magazine, Boca Beacon, Onshore-Offshore Magazine, Saltwater Angler, Florida Sportsman, Saltwater Sportsman, Shallow Water Angler, and Sports Afield. You can also see Captain Billy at the new Snook exhibit in the Florida Aquarium located in Tampa, Florida.
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