Name: Captain David Heinke
Age: 49
Occupation/Job Title: Professional Fly Fishing Guide
Description of where you work, and what you do:
I currently live and work in Apalachicola, Florida, guide fishing the “Forgotten Coast” from Shell Island to Crooked Island. When I’m not fishing, for fun I’m a surfer. I also love music, so for a challenge I took up the ukulele. Practicing an hour almost every day for the past 10 years, playing the uke has now become my greatest passion. Beautiful sound and it travels exceptionally well.
Education: Describe the education, apprenticeships, or any learning experiences that were necessary to learn the skills for your job, to acquire the credentials or degrees, and to qualify you to do your job.
My degree in Education may on the surface may have nothing to do with my professional choices but along the way I realized that being a guide is just a teacher but in a really cool classroom. Sea School helped with the licensing process to become a boat captain, but good old “time on the water” was the greatest teacher and helped me get to where I am today.
History: Describe the history that led you to doing “what you love,” as a career; early interests, experiences, motivation.
I grew up sailing, skiing and fishing with my family and was proficient at each by the time I was 12. I put myself through college by being a DJ on radio and at clubs, teaching sailing, working as a sailmaker and also I raced on the university ski team. After college I wasn’t exactly sure of what I wanted to do when I grew up, so I took a job as Fleet Captain at VHYC on Martha’s Vineyard. I enjoyed not being in an office or classroom so I moved to Vermont and spent my summers as a sailmaker and racing professionally and then teaching skiing at Sugarbush in the winters. Fate led me to California where after a short stint in Silicon Valley, I took a job as a Technical Advisor for West Marine Catalog. All along I fished and while at West became successful taking WM Associates fishing on Monterey Bay for striped bass and salmon and the coastal range and Sierras for trout. I had an opportunity to move to Florida working for the Fish and Wildlife Commission and also rigging boats for a boat dealership. Then after an intense 5-year study of Apalachicola Bay with my mentor, George Wood, I knew what I really wanted to do and in 2005 became a full-time flats guide for the prestigious Robinson Brothers Guide Service.
Obstacles: Describe any obstacles you had to overcome to do what you do now.
I had several obstacles to overcome. The first being negative people I’ve dealt with whose doubt and sour attitudes were difficult to escape. I never let them dictate my goals and used the criticism to push me to succeed in all my endeavors. Not to say. “I told you so”, but to say to myself, “I knew I could do it”.
My second biggest obstacle was being diagnosed with Hodgekins Disease--a type of cancer-- when I was 22. I went through chemo and radiation therapies, lost my hair, went into remission but then five years later had a relapse and more chemo and radiation. Now 22 years later I’m still in remission and feel great. During that time I discovered, Joseph Campbell, and was inspired by his message to “Follow your bliss”. After having a mortality wake up call at such an early age, I began to appreciate everything about life and wanted to fulfill dreams.
The first dream I fulfilled while living in Santa Cruz, CA, was to learn to surf well. Working to become a better surfer really helped get me through the tough times. The reward that surfing brings can’t be put into words--only a surfer can understand. It might sound strange to a non-surfer, but surfing is not only a great way to exercise, but is also very therapeutic and there is no better feeling in life than to be stoked from surfing a wave well.
Mentors: Describe others who affirmed your goal of doing “what you love,” and/or helped you in some way to reach your goal.
While I have had many people help shape my life, there are three that stand out from all the others. First on the list is my mother, Gretchen, who was responsible for introducing me to fishing, sailing and skiing. Considering she was a single mother and worked as a Medical Technologist and didn’t make much money, it amazes me to this day how she did it. She wanted to follow her dreams by pursuing her passions and wanted my sister and I to enjoy what she loved so much. By utilizing second hand equipment, PB&J’s instead of steak, camping instead of motels we were able to pursue activities normally reserved for the wealthy. She made many sacrifices and even at the time I appreciated everything she did for us and strive to excel in everything I do to make her proud.
My second mentor, the late George Wood, wanted to pass along his knowledge of fishing and I was a willing and dedicated student. If it wasn’t for George, I would not be guiding today. He gave me at least a 20 year jump start by passing along his many years of accumulated experience and he believed in me and gave me the confidence to become a guide.
Finally, I must mention Joseph Campbell. Through his teachings, I learned it is unhealthy to obsess on an individual pursuit but to diversify and include disciplines that are intellectual, artistic/spiritual and athletic/physical. By exercising the mind, spirit and body I could find a balance and lead a healthy, satisfied life. This has made me a nicer, happier person who is able to do what is most important, to follow my bliss!
Any advice?
The older I get, the more I realize just how simple everything can be if you follow some basic principles. First, be nice. Second, be friendly. Third, realize that everything is connected. Its easier to smile than frown. It feels good to help others as opposed to helping yourself. Working for something is far more rewarding than, “getting it for free”. Finally, live your life to its fullest, you don’t know how long you have and appreciate friends and family because you don’t know how long they have and all strangers are just friends I haven’t met yet. Take care and have fun!
If any of this interests you and you wish to contact me, do so at: tarponfly7@yahoo
