Page 90 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2024

SPORTS & OUTDOORS
story by Cherie Ward photos courtesy of Strike Zone
Fishing Charters
Get Hooked on Deep Water Fishing Adventures for All Ages
Josh Swinford grew up like many people native to the Gulf Coast, with feet in the water and hands on a rod, throttle, or crab trap.
“I’ve been fishing offshore since I was old enough to go, probably four or five years old,” Swinford said, adding his love for rods
and reels began with his grandfather, father, and stepfather.
90 | April 2024
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“I’ve been surrounded by male influences who fished my entire life,” he said. “My
grandfather was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and he’d still go fishing in the Bay after his brother would pick him up from
the old VA hospital. He fished until the day it was over. Like so many people on
the Coast, it’s a way of life. Something we’ve always done. It was also a way for me to stay out of trouble and provide a
little food for the family.”
That angler attitude has continued
to flourish as an adult. Two years
ago, Swinford created Strike Zone Fishing Charters in Biloxi, a year-round, family- friendly deep-sea fishing charter. He believes Biloxi is the family fishing capital
of the world and set out to share everything the Coast has to offer outdoor enthusiasts such as diverse sports fish and their habitats, great year-round angling weather, and unsurpassed tourism with a strong focus on the seafood industry.
Captain Ben Troxel and deckhand Jagan man the 36-foot Yellowfin Center Console with Triple Yamaha 300HP outboard
“Our family had a once-in-a-lifetime trip aboard the Strike Zone. So many memories were made on an absolutely amazing boat. We have already enjoyed eating the fish and were truly blessed to have spent a day with you guys.”
– Nathan C.