Salty Fly Charters

Captain Russ Shirley is a native Floridian and has fished the waters of Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Sarasota for over 45 years. Surrounded by the waters of Tampa Bay, he spent most of his time on or in the water. From childhood, whether fishing, water skiing, surfing, swimming, boating or sailing, this is how you grew up in Florida. Even as a teenage musician on the road, he carried his fishing rods and surfboards all over the southeast. As a professional musician, Russ made the move to Atlanta, Chicago and eventually New York City, where he continued recording, playing, and touring with many of the top artists of the time. It was also there that he returned to fly fishing, mainly in the small lakes a few miles from the streets of Manhattan. Upon moving back to Florida (from Los Angeles) and the fishing he once knew, he took another turn and found himself immersed in the music related field of computers. As this hobby turned professional career expanded, so too did his fishing experiences. Once he found saltwater fly fishing, things were to change once again. Before long Russ’s fishing and especially fly fishing led him to guiding as a new way of life. Now celebrating 19 years as owner of Salty Fly Charters, he spends most of the year on the waters near his home fishing St. Petersburg, Florida. May and June however, are devoted to the giant tarpon along Florida’s west coast. Whether fly fishing or light tackle fishing Tampa Bay or tarpon fly fishing St. Petersburg to Tampa or Clearwater to Anna Maria, tarpon are king!