Page 100 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2026

SPORTS & OUTDOORS
Fishing Guide
Most sportsmen think fishing guides
live the perfect life, fishing every day
while others pay for it, but the job entails
much more than driving a boat or
casting a rod.
“Fishing is actually the smallest part
of the job,” says Ronnie Daniels with
Fisher-Man Guide Services in Pass
Christian. “I tell people who want to
become a fishing guide to go fishing
three straight days. Then, try fishing for
seven straight days. Many guides go for
30 days straight.”
Daniels always wanted to become a
professional fisherman. After college,
he worked with his dad at their car
dealership, but the lure of the water
proved too strong. He fished offshore
tournaments for about 11 years. He
stopped in 2007, but missed competing.
Next, he fished a few bass tournaments.
Then, Daniels and his fishing
partner competed in about 14 redfish
tournaments a year until the Deepwater
Horizon oil spill occurred in 2010. That
shut down fishing for months.
“When the oil spill hit, I started
thinking about getting my captain’s
license and becoming a guide,” Daniels
recalls. “I met a charter captain who
said I could run some trips for him. That
gave me the nudge to go ahead.”
In 2012, Daniels earned his license.
He planned to run 100 trips that first
year, but ran 142. He’s been guiding
ever since. He hosted the Fisherman’s
Guide television show for six years.
Then, the governor appointed him to
the Mississippi Advisory Commission on
Marine Resources.
“I’m thankful that I was able to do
this and support a family,” Daniels says.
“I’m blessed to do things I love, but
people don’t see what goes on behind
the scenes. They don’t see guides staying
up late at night after fishing all day to fix
something that broke before meeting the
next party before daylight.”
Although guides spend considerable
time on the water, that doesn’t mean
they personally fish that much. Guides
must make sure their clients enjoy a
great time. Some people know how
to fish. Others require significant
instruction.
“The clients are always our primary
concern,” he says. “On most trips, a
least one person needs help. I’m teaching
them how to fish. Above all, we try to
make sure everyone stays safe.”
Often, guides work seven days a week.
They miss school events, sports and
other activities with their children while
leading a charter. During the winter,
they might only take one or two trips a
month. At any time, a storm or another
disaster could shut everything down.
“We must be entertainers, teachers,
mechanics and other things,” Daniels
said. “Guides must be able to market
themselves. Above all, they need to
produce.”
Guides need to be versatile. Some
days fish bite and some days they don’t.
If a desired species doesn’t bite, they
look for other things to catch or other
things to do. Guides do whatever they
can to make their clients happy and
entertained.
“I have many clients that I consider
family,” Daniels says. “That’s the most
rewarding part of guiding. Most people
show up wanting to have a good time.”
While not quitting his guiding job,
Daniels began a new venture with
Decked Out Solutions in Pass Christian.
The company makes and installs marine
flooring products for boats, vehicles and
other functions.
100 | October 2026 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living