Episode 89: Capt. Albert Ponzoa - Under the Radar

In 1959 when Castro was on the eve of taking over Batista and the
future of Cuba was unknown, Florida’s fishing intelligence would
soon hit pay dirt. Over the next six decades many of our premier
guides, anglers and commercial fishermen were descendants of the
mass exodus from that small Island only ninety miles from Key West,
including our guest today, Albert Ponzoa. Albert was born later in
Miami in 1962. He was the only male in the family, but as he says
his two sisters have his fishing DNA. His 95 year young dad, Lucas,
used to motor his panga right down the Marathon flats and drop
anchor where ever he wished. We knew who he was and where he came
from. We loved it! His son, Lucas Jr. has followed Albert’s love
into the blue water of the gulf stream as an offshore guide,
commercial lobster diver and supplies the locals charter boats with
pilchards. Fishing and love of the ocean makes this family whole….
I’ve known Albert for many years, but more so of his reputation as
a stellar, fishing wizard. When his peers spoke about him it was
always with great admiration and respect. He was always pushing and
running his skiff further than others with profound success. He
never pursued the tournament strife, but if he would’ve, the names
on the bling would be different today. He has been a successful
commercial fisherman as well as a traditional guide, making his
fishing dexterity most interesting. Albert played an important role
in how we tarpon fish today through the precise techniques used
with worm flies. His concerns for conservation and what he’s seen
and knows has to be heard. On today's podcast we cover a fishing
spectrum very few in the lower Keys have ever seen!