Episode 5: Chico Fernandez - One of Fly Fishing’s Original, Romantic Pioneers

Chico Fernandez was born in Havana, Cuba in 1939. When he was 20 years old, he left Cuba for South Florida and brought his white Mercedes two-seater with him. Chico later sold his fancy car to help pay for his education at the University of Miami. He quickly found himself surrounded by like-minded adventurers who were enamored by the water and the scaly creatures below. Later down the road, Chico eventually quit his corporate job to pursue his passion for saltwater fly fishing. Along with his contemporaries, he has helped develop and advance many techniques used in fly fishing today. Chico has written hundreds of fishing articles and he is the author of Fly Fishing for Bonefish and Fly Fishing for Redfish. 

This episode was recorded in Chico’s tranquil home in Miami, FL. We talk about his early years in Cuba, kite flying as a kid, and his introduction to fly fishing.