SC Lowcountry Fly Fishing Guide Capt. Caleb Andrews

Q&A With Capt. Caleb Andrews

Describe your fishing style. 

As a former professional engineer, I’ve always enjoyed the problem solving aspect that surrounds fishing. When I’m out fishing, I’m trying to use hypothetical analytics to most efficiently try and catch fish; ideally by sight fishing them with a fly rod. 

Why did you become a fishing guide? 

Simply put, because I believed that I could do it. My parents always encouraged me to chase my dreams, so I believed my passion for fishing and the outdoors could allow me to be great if I put in the work. Additionally, while working as an engineer, I would work all year with one “special big” fishing trip planned annually. The “success” and reflection of that one “special big” fishing trip would often carry me through the work grind for months. I wanted to help share that same feeling with others. 

Why did you choose the Charleston Lowcountry?

An engineering job actually moved me to the lowcountry. In the first couple months of being in South Carolina, me and a buddy of mine took out our Jon boat and went fly fishing for redfish on a flood tide. It was one of the coolest fishing experiences I had ever had. After my experience fly fishing for redfish I knew it was something that I wanted to do more of so I decided to buy a flats boat. In 2013 I purchased a 16’ dolphin super skiff. The next few years I fished as much as possible around work; learning the waters and tides and meeting a few local guides who I was able to fish with. After a few years of fishing and grinding I decided that I wanted to try to make a living from guiding. 

What’s your most memorable catch?

Probably a lowcountry tarpon that I got on the fly with a buddy. A fellow guide and I both had the day off and saw that the stars had aligned for a potential epic day. We ran the skiff to the secret spot and within minutes it was clear that the tarpon were there. I was fishing a special fly I had tied up, and about ten casts in I was hooked up. The fish wasn’t small and started jumping around the back of the boat. After the second jump the tarpon managed to wear through the leader and came off. Stoked and disappointed we see another much bigger tarpon start busting on baits. I re-tied my leader and put on the same secret fly… five casts later I was hooked up to a sea monster. The fish jumped then went on screaming run taking me deep into backing. Pulling on the fish as hard as I could I could feel the fibers in the rod starting to give way as the fish started to yield. At this point I had been hooked up to the fish for almost 20 minutes. The fish jumped again in shallow water and I watched as this monster tarpon basically beached itself, to rest in shallow water. I knew that we almost had the fish beat so my buddy quickly beached the boat and I jumped off the skiff, running down the beach, reeling in line as fast as I could while the massive tarpon sat back out the water regaining its strength. My buddy grabbed the leader trying to reach his hands down the line into the beasts mouth. The tarpon was at least 7’ long. It realized what was happening and surged off the bank exploding out of the water snapping my 12wt into pieces. 

What’s your most memorable client catch?

Probably a 34” tailing redfish that I caught with my mom. It was her first ever fish on a fly rod and it gave her everything she could handle. To start my mom is not a good fly fisherman. A 10-15’ cast is probably maxing out her casting abilities. However, she can spot fish like a hawk, and she does a great job listening when she’s on the skiff. We found a fish that was nose down in the grass tailing hard. She threw a 10’ cast that landed pretty close to the fish. The fly got hung up on the grass just beside the fish. I told her to just wiggle the fly so it would barely move. The fish keyed in on the flies wiggle and rose up on it like a trout eating a dry fly. It worked out perfectly as the fish basically set the hook on itself because it came out of the water to eat the fly. Then the chaos ensued. Mom had never reeled in a fish on a fly rod let alone a stud red drum. Needless to say about a few minutes of chaotic scrambling we had the fish in the skiff. It will forever be one of the most special catches I’ve been a part of. 

Do you enjoy fishing as much as you enjoy guiding?

I enjoy fishing more than guiding. However, there is something special about sharing your passion with others and watching them connect to the same passion. That’s what makes guiding so fun for me personally. 

Who got you into fishing? 

My father 

What’s your favorite fish in the world to fish for?

If I had one fish in the world to fish for give me tarpon. But if I get to pick another species give me tarpon and smallmouth bass. 

What’s your dream fishing location? 

Everglades 

Music or no music on the boat?

Generally no music. One of my favorite parts of fishing is the act of trying to remove myself from society. That said, sometimes when guiding I’ll bring a portable speaker with us to play some music either to get us in the right mindset or to lighten the mood. 

What’s your opinion on bananas? 

They taste good. We make our luck. 

What can everyone do to help the environment in areas you fish? 

I think it starts with awareness. Educating yourself about the environment that surrounds you helps to identify things that’s can be done that’ll make the most impact your environment. That said, at the end of the day all we really need to do is anything. Something is more than nothing; and the more people that do something the better off the world will be.