Tag: Chuck Darner

April 24, 2018

FishingNosara Hall of Famer Chuck Darner invited Florida Sportsman Radio host Roger Walker for a fun week of action.

After lighting it up on the Harvester on the 23rd, they moved up to the Wanderer for a productive day offshore on the 24th. Roger got it started with this nice big Dorado.

Chris nabbed this schoolie Dorado, then hooked up a nice Sailfish.

Nice clean release by Mate Johnson of this monsters.

Then Captain William headed offshore and pursued a big school of porpoises. When they are packed in this thick you know that there is something tasty just beneath the surface.

Chuck Darner got in on the feeding frenzy with this sweet Dorado.

Then Roger Walker got in on the action with this beefy Yellowfin Tuna, clearly the best fish of the day:

Near the end of the day Chris hooked up another big Sailfish, which put on an aerial display on the way to a safe release.

Great work by Captain William to deliver the goods for these Northeast Florida angling legends.

November 30, 2012

Chuck Darner and the boys just won’t let up on these fish. Two days removed from the first Marlin release of the season, these Jacksonville anglers joined Captain David on the Explorer for a little visit to the fish market.

The Super panga kept her end of the bargain as illustrated by this Dorado estimated to weigh upwards of 35lbs. Add these filets to the Wahoo from their previous outing and I’d say the Darner boys may be coming back to North Florida with some heavy suitcases. Great work by the unstoppable Captain David and the Explorer.

November 29, 2012

Hall of Famer Chuck Darner was sitting in church between his two grown sons a few weeks ago and had a vision. He wrote the vision down on the corner of the weekly bulletin and handed it to his sons. It read, “Let’s go fishing in Costa.”

While Chuck has visited us several times, his sons had not yet taken the adventure. Tickets bought and trips booked, but then a change of plans! One of the boys is a freelance insurance adjuster and his special skills were placed in high demand in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

He couldn’t get away for this trip, but the Darner posse found a worthy pinch hitter in the form of Chuck’s 14 year-old grandson.

Chuck told me that he was hoping to get the youngster on a nice Sailfish, but unfortunately the mighty Wanderer could not find a sail on this trip.

The season’s first Black Marlin release will have to suffice!

This magnificent fish is the culmination of Captain William and the Wanderer‘s prowess and Chuck Darner’s indomitable fishing spirit.

For the dinner table they whacked this 50lbs. Wahoo which is reminiscent of the monsters Chuck catches off the ledge in Jacksonville in his Powercat High Roller.

The Darner Boys have several more trips on the books and we anticipate some more inspired from these North Florida anglers.

November 19, 2011

Chuck Darner and Bill Wilderotter finished their week of excellent fishing with Captain David and Mate Pipio on the Explorer and they dialed up a fish feast for the ages. David kept the barroom brawler on the fish while Pipio broke in the new forward casting platform…the result was a cornucopia of marine eatin’.


They started at 9am. The first fish was a 35 lbs. Dorado, then they backed that up with a 25 lbs. Cubera Snapper, a 25 lbs. Amberjack, and a nice White Tuna.


The Jacksonville anglers finished off their trip by adding a Macarela, two Jack Crevalles,ย  and four beefy Bonitas. Excellent end to an amazing week in Nosara…these guys are on top!

November 18, 2011

It’s all about small adjustments when it comes to big time billfishing. Since the full moon passed yesterday the blue water break has moved offshore, which means the Sailfish bite has moved from 10am to about 1pm.

Chuck Darner, Bill Wilderotter, Gary Newman, and Ronnie Dorsett found this to be true when, after a dreadfully slow morning, the beautiful bullets came calling in the afternoon.


They released 3 more pacific sails on the Wanderer and displayed the yeoman’s patience required to best such beasts.

November 17, 2011

Amazing day for Chuck Darner and his posse on the Wanderer! With several Sailfish release under their belts this week, these Jacksonville anglers set their sights on another beautiful billfish release.


It was Chuck’s turn to do billfish battle this time and his prey put on quite a show for the crews’ cameras. What a fighter!


First Mate Alex kept the fish close and the fight was over in less than 20 minutes. With Chuck assisting the Wanderer released this beautiful monster unharmed and unstressed.


For a victory lap Bill Wilderotter put yet another tasty green Dorado into the fishbox. Excellent results from the Jacksonville anglers and the Wanderer.

November 16, 2011

High rollers Chuck Darner and Bill Wilderotter followed their excellent day on the Explorer with a trip with Captain William on the Wanderer and once again they had a productive day of marine harvesting.


The Sails were scarce today due to inshore rains, so Captain William adjusted his spread for meat fish and sure enough the boys piled the cooler high with fresh Mahi Mahi (Dorado).


Chuck and Bill will be back on the Wanderer for another crack at some billfish tomorrow! The skies cleared up mid-day today and the fishing weather for the rest of the week should be outstanding.