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.