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Below you will find this Pro Staff member's bio and any reports they've submitted. Click on the report to view the full report details.
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Jeffri Durrance from
FL, US
Captain Jeffri Durrance is a fourth generation Florida native growing up in Bowling Green, Florida, which is located in Hardee County. Growing up on a cattle and citrus operation Jeffri fished many creeks and lakes in the central Florida area as well as the Peace River. Each year the family would spend some time on the coastal areas from Anna Maria Island down to Sanibel Island, which gave Jeffri a taste of saltwater fishing that would later become a regular part of his life.
Attending college in Texas he worked on a large cattle ranch that was a soil conservation success story. The Flat Top Ranch was known for its series of lakes and dams that provided a plethora of fishing opportunities while in Texas. He also took advantage of the many public lakes built around the north Texas area near Stephenville.
Upon completion of college he returned to Florida landing in Sarasota where he taught animal science for 16 years and is currently retiring as an administrator for Sarasota Middle School after his 30th year in the district. In Sarasota, Jeffri has served the community in a wide variety of areas, which include five years as president of the Sarasota County Fair Board and 15 years as chairman of the Sarasota Tarpon Tournament (the worlds oldest tarpon tournament).
In 1978 & 79 Jeffri went tarpon fishing with friends down at Boca Grande, which is famous for its tarpon fishing. But it was in 1980 he discovered the tarpon off the beaches in Sarasota. From that first tarpon jumped off the Point of Rocks his life has not been the same. Tournament fishing for tarpon in the early 80’s, he and a childhood friend began to gain notoriety for the tarpon caught and the tournament success they were having off the Sarasota beaches chasing tarpon. By 1985 the reality set in that to take people fishing for hire was a real possibility. This resulted in Jeffri earning his Captains license in August of 1985. This provided him with the opportunity to take many individuals tarpon fishing which he used for summer employment while “off for the summer” as a teacher.
Each year since the late 80’s Jeffri has presented his tarpon program to many clubs and organizations in the Sarasota area and he continues to promote the tarpon fishery and tournament here in Sarasota.
Looking forward to a “career change” with fishing as the center of the new career, Jeffri has also been fishing the Southern Kingfish Association circuit successfully since 2004, qualifying for the nationals each year since 2004. In 2007 Jeffri and team Top Down qualified for the 2007 SKA nationals as the top Mercury Powered boat in Division 11 in the 23 and under class of boats. This spring, Team Top Down won the Marco Island King Mackerel Tournament and have finished in the money in two other king mackerel tournaments getting 2008 off to a great start!
Retiring from the school district in the spring of 2008, Jeffri is looking forward to directing all of his energy toward the fishing industry and a second career as a professional fishing guide. |
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| This Pro Staff member has not submitted any field reports. |
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