Capt. Russell Tharin is a native Floridian that was born and raised on the St Johns River about 15 miles west of St Augustine. As a very young child Russell hunted and fished with his father and grandfather, Russell received his first fly rod in 1966 and found himself consumed with the joy of fly fishing.
In 1979 Russell enlisted into the USMC and received existence training as a Marine Scout Sniper.
1988 Russell became a charter member and later, president of the First Coast Fly Fishing Club in Jacksonville, Florida.
1992 Russell became a member of The Federation of Fly Fishers and was certified as a Fly Casting Instructor, and now holds the designation as a “Master” Fly Casting Instructor. Capt Russell is a member of The FFF Guides Association, as well as a member of the Guide Association Board of Governors.
Capt. Russell has also attended and completed the Joan Wulff Fly Casting Instructor Course, taught by Joan Wulff at the Wulff School of Fly Fishing.
In 1993, Capt. Russell received his Captain’s License from the United States Coast Guard and began guiding. Capt Russell had fished the Gulf Coast, the Keys and up and down the east coast of Florida and Southeast Georgia.
In 1997 Capt. Russell moved to Amelia Island, Florida and created Discover Fly Fishing and Light Tackle Adventures, which provides some the most advanced methods of modern saltwater fly casting.
1998 Capt. Russell was very proud to become an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide.
Capt. Russell was recognized as the "2004 Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide of the Year" at the company’s annual gathering in Bozeman, Montana. The Orivs-Endorsed fly fishing guide of the year is awarded based on the sum total of favorable reports filed directly to the Orvis Company upon completion of a guided trip. Each year the Orvis Company recognizes one extraordinary individual guide for providing a consistently world class fishing experience meets or exceeds standards set by the company. Capt. Russell received the highest ratings from among 1200 guides in the Orvis-Endorsed program.
Capt. Russell is very proud to sponsored by Mercury Outboards and to be a member of the Mercury Pro Guide Saltwater Team.
Capt. Russell has a full schedule and enjoys offering his services as a motivational speaker,
Specialized in Fly Fishing, Fly Casting and Light Tackle fishing to Clubs and Organizations.
Best of all, Capt. Russell met and married the catch of his life, Janet. Janet booked Capt. Russell because he was an Orvis Endorsed fly fishing guide for a fly fishing charter and they became best friends and soul mates for life.
We are a team and will be very happy to serve you.
Captain Russell and Janet Tharin
www.flyfishingameliaisland.com
When fishing the flats of Cumberland Sound to Nassau Sound aboard the "Kodak Moment" (19' flats boat Powered by 125 Mercury) with Capt. Allen Mills, you will know you have accomplished the Anglers Dream; weather on a Fly Rod or Ultra Light Tackle. Capt. Allen has been fishing for over 35 years from Fernandina Beach Fla. to Mexico and the Bahamas. For the last 20 years he has been guiding at home ( Amelia Island Fla.) from Backcountry to Blue Water.
Capt. Allen loves sight cast fishing whether its for Redfish in the Backwater or Cobia offshore. With a Flyrod or light tackle the thrill of seeing the fish before you catch it is one of the best Highs in Life. Capt. Allen also holds a current World Record for Bonnett Head Shark.
