Captain Bruce Chard has more than 30 years of experience navigating the highly technical waters of the Florida Keys, where he specializes in sight fishing for bonefish, tarpon, and permit. An FFI Master Certified Fly Casting Instructor, Chard has become one of the top saltwater fly-casting instructors in the country, teaching casting schools in such far-flung destinations as Belize, Mexico, Argentina, Guatemala, the Bahamas, Christmas Island, the Seychelles–and of course the Keys. Chard’s accomplishments include designing and creating a complete series of saltwater fly lines for Airflo’s Bruce Chard Professional Series; designing and creating a complete series of saltwater fly line tapers for Scientific Angler’s “Saltwater Grand Slam Series,” which won a “Best of Show” award at the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show in Las Vegas; and designing over 24 custom fly patterns with Riverborn Fly Company. He is an FFI (Fly Fishers International) ambassador and also serves as an advisor, brand ambassador, pro tyer, or elite pro staffer for numerous industry leaders including Scientific Anglers, G. Loomis, Hatch Outdoors, Simms, Costa, Yeti, Regal Vise, and Gamakatsu Hooks.

Chard’s media profile also looms large: He has had several guest-hosting stints on the Discovery Channel’s “Seasons on the Fly”; serves as a saltwater contributor to Fly Fisherman; has been featured on the cover of 19 different high-profile fly-fishing magazines, in more than seven Gray’s Sporting Journal photo essays, and on numerous popular fly-fishing podcasts including “Wet Fly Swing,” “WFS Guide,” “Gink & Gasoline,” “Fly Fishing Insider,” “Ask About Fly Fishing,” and “Bonefish on the Brain’”; and is a saltwater contributor to “Gink & Gasoline,” one of the top fly-fishing blogs in the industry.

With a deep commitment to conservation, Chard emphasizes sustainable fishing practices, ensuring that future generations can enjoy rich marine ecosystems. His commitment to the Keys in particular is personal: Chard and his wife Sara call the Keys home, along with their son BJ, who is following in his father’s footsteps as a professional Keys fly-fishing guide who also teaches and hosts fly-fishing adventure trips worldwide.

Don’t miss Captain Chard’s limited seating specialty classes An Insider’s Guide to Fishing the Saltwater Flats (Friday  and An Insiders Guide to Fishing for Bonefish  (Saturday). Captain Chard will also be teaching part of our Master Angler’s Class offered to only 10 students on Thursday January 8th at Meadow View Mansion at Meadow Event Park