Personal profile

I have been fishing for as long as I can remember. My dad had me out on the Indian and Banana rivers before I could walk. (Even to this day, my family, which includes both my dad and mom and brother and sister, still supports my fishing career, often traveling considerable distances to encourage me during the tournaments.)
I was home-schooled through high school and part of the blessing that experience was the time it afforded me to fish - almost on a daily basis which was easy considering my house is on the Indian River n Merritt Island. As I grew older, the range of my fishing territory expanded along the Indian River Lagoon System, north to Scotsmoore and south to Sebastian Inlet including the world famous Mosquito Lagoon. My passion for fishing and the amount of time I spent on the water fueled an interest in fishing tournaments, in which I began competing locally in 2001. Success in the local tournaments has encouraged me to join the national redfish circuits.

Born 12/10/85 - Cape Canaveral, Florida
Graduated from Rollins College with a degree in Biology
Off time – surfing, fishing, hunting, golfing
Favorite Movie – Gladiator
Favorite Book – The Old Man and the Sea
Favorite Food – Grilled Quail

Rocky Van Hoose

Growing up along the shores of Sarasota Bay in the early 60s, I quickly developed a passion for fishing in the shallow saltwater grass flats and clear freshwater lakes of the west coast of Florida. The purity of fishing resonated with me: the stillness, the fellowship with nature, and the lure of the water and the hunt.
As a young fisherman I was mostly self-taught, having built on the introductory lessons of my grandfather. I studied books and magazines such as Field and Stream to hone my skills and collected counsel from other local fishermen and traders in the fishing industry, funding my hobby by collecting Coke bottles, mowing lawns, and selling mistletoe at Christmas time.

Now forty years later, I am the father of three and live in Merritt Island, Florida, with my wife Jerri. When not working as a professional fishing guiding or competing in national redfish circuits, I serve the Lord as a pastor - a 'spiritual guide' and 'fisher of men.'

Born and Raised in Sarasota, Florida
Graduated from the University of Alabama with a BS in Accounting and an MBA
Earned an MABS from Dallas Theological Seminary
Off time – fishing, reading, and spending time with family
Favorite Movies – Chariots of Fire, A River Runs Through It, and The Natural
Favorite Books – The Bible and Fly Fishing Through a Mid-Life Crisis (Howell Raines)
Favorite Food – Pineapple Upside-down Cake