Chris Smith, born and raised in San Diego, CA has spent nearly 40 years in pursuit of one type of fish or another in waters around the world. Fresh or salt, big or small, in moving or still water, matters not, as Chris likes to say, “If there are fish, and they will bite and pull, then I’m all in.” Growing up in the San Diego area allowed Chris to experience a wide range of great fishing opportunities at an early age, and he and his brother Mark took full advantage of the freshwater bass and trout, saltwater bay and surf, inshore and offshore big game species the Southern California and Baja California, Mexico areas had to offer. Chris has been fortunate to expand his fishing experiences over the years, particularly with Michael and Kim Fowlkes of Inside Sportfishing Television fame.

Having caught fish from Alaska to New Zealand, Maine to Australia, the Sierra Nevada and the Rocky Mountains to Baja and Mainland Mexico on every type of tackle, Chris is very committed to helping children and teens experience fishing. Chris has taught youth fishing clinics and camps and developed and managed youth fishing programs for more than 30 years. Currently he is developing his School-of-Fish program, with a mission statement of youth fishing education, conservation, and FUN! School-of-Fish will operate seminars, day and residential fishing camps, as well as sponsor fishing related events, scholarships, and school fishing clubs.

“For me, fishing has always been a learning process. The places, people, and things I have experienced from fishing have enriched my life. Why not get others hooked, especially kids? My daughter caught her first fish when she was 18 months old and wearing a diaper! The feeling I got from that was electric! Kind of like the jolt I get when the latest fish bites.”

Chris currently lives in the city of San Diego with his daughter Lauryn, 15. Undoubtedly he is planning his next fishing fix…so many fish, so little time.