Episode 48: Fitz Coker - Southern Gentleman

The venerable Fitz Coker is known as one of Key West’s fondest
people. This southern gentleman from South Carolina has always been
a keen outdoorsman. As a young man he was always found in the back
water creeks catching everything he could out of his skiing water
canoe. His curiosity for the flora and fauna during those formative
years has evolved as vibrantly as his passion to fish. He was an
athlete at heart and wrestled at Princeton University where he
studied engineering. His family’s business had him traveling the
world extensively for decades. Reading too, became close to his
heart during his boundless journeys. But it was 40 plus years ago
when he found himself on the bow of a flats skiff in Key West. Even
though Fitz had and enormous life already, this southern point
Island and its abundance of fish was an awakening. So much so that
Fitz would spent the vast majority of his life down there. He
fished often and grew extremely fond of tarpon and his guides that
eventually became extremely close family members. But his finest
hour would be with his wife Dotty Ballantyne, who would eventually
pursue record fishing. Fitz would be her greatest inspiration. He’d
tie the tippets and organize the tackle. He'd be her quarterback as
they chased down the incredible numbers. With always a smile and a
sense of humor, here is Fitz Coker.