One Cast Away

Captain Dean Herdman is an experienced angler who loves nothing more than sharing his excitement, natural surroundings and love for the sport with anyone who is happy to listen, relax and enjoy an amazing day. He feels that anyone who joins him is just “One Cast Away” from catching the biggest bass in their  lifetime.

A native of Gloucester Massachusetts, Captain Dean and his wife Julie are settled in Fruitland Park, Florida, two hours from his favorite fishing hole, Stick Marsh. Stick Marsh is a beautiful setting where men, women and their families frequently hire Dean for a day out on the lake in his state-of-the-art 21′ Legend with 250 Mercury. “We take lunch, bring our bait and plan for a day enjoying the scenery and catching the biggest Florida Largemouth Bass possible.” The Stick Marsh is a very secluded lake down a 6 mile dirt road with no homes or docks. Dean says that his clients have come with children as young as 6. He practices catch and release and says “We don’t get a lot of small fish. I consider any largemouth bass over 5 pounds to be a trophy size and we usually get a few of those every day… A real trophy is a 10 pounder, and those do happen occasionally!”

Parkland resident, Hayden Farrugia, 14, took a day trip with his dad and friend, Jack DeChene, 13, to fish with Captain Dean. “I learned tricks to catch more bass and I felt like Captain Dean was encouraging us to have fun and spend time relaxing. Jack and I became better fishing buddies and learned how much we had in common.” Hayden would only change one thing about his time at Stick Marsh. Since he had more day left than bait, he says with a laugh, “Since we caught so many fish, next time I’ll bring a lot more bait!”

Hayden also enjoyed learning more about the importance of conservation and the catch and release program. “Captain Dean  showed us the proper way to hold a larger fish so that we don’t damage its jaws before we throw it back in the water.

As the old saying goes, “A bad day fishing is better than a great day at work,” but at the same time, Dean opines that any opportunity for father and son (or any parent/child combination) to share time on the lake holds special meaning for both of them. “Great memories are made on those trips,” he says. “It means a lot to both the child and the parent. With today’s electronics keeping them on the couch, it’s important to show kids nature. The Stick Marsh is a wonderful place to do that!”

From beginners to experts, Dean is happy to take any one of them out for a great day on Stick Marsh. He says “The best time to go is now through April for the weather… But the fishing is good year-round if you can stand the heat.”

Get in touch with Dean toll free at 866-BASS-066 or www.OneCastAway.com

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

Scroll to Top