Captain Ryan Bauer holds a United States Coast Guard license #1097906.  He is a member of The Michigan Charter Boat Association and The National Association of Charter boat Operators.  Captain Ryan and his First Mates are all members of The Maritime Consortium, Inc., a random drug testing company, which keeps them in compliance with DOT and USCG regulations. 

Captain Ryan is a professional, full-time firefighter and an Intermediate-advanced EMT for the South Bend Fire Dept.  His career started in 2001 and is assigned to RESCUE 1, where he is the primary driver.  He is also a boat operator on the South Bend Fire Department’s Swift Water Team.  When not on duty or at the fire station, he is on the water. His dedication and professionalism will ensure that your trip is successful!

Ryan started fishing Lake Michigan back in 1987, when he was twelve.  His dad, Garry, often  took customers on charters for his company and he let Ryan come along.  Soon after, his dad  bought a 19’ boat with two downriggers and away they went.  Together they applied what they learned from the charter captains and started catching fish and the fever!  Thirteen years later, at 25 years old, Ryan got his captains license and started his own charter business. 

Captain Ryan  currently competes  in several big-money tournaments around the lake. His competitiveness and passion to be the best have helped him to many respectful finishes. 

Ryan and his wife, Lori,  added to their family on March 25, 2006.  They gave birth to a beautiful red headed, blue eyed girl.  They named her Brooklyn.  She already loves the boat and the water.  Mom and Dad took her on the “Treble Hook” for the first time on July 7, 2007.  She was 16 months!!!

 

Ludington Lighthouse.

Capt. Ryan with a 23lb. King.

Nobody fishes harder than Capt. Ryan!

Staying in touch with the fleet, to see who is on the fish!

Garry Bauer is my dad and best friend.  I owe everything to him for taking me fishing when I was little.  He let me skip school to go with him on several charters and that was all it took.  He helped me get my license, the boat, and the business started. Garry is usually at the wheel, always trying to put us on fish.  He is a vital key to our success!

Rory Iwaniuk has been fishing with Capt. Ryan from the start.  They have been good friends since junior high school.  Rory is an avid fisherman and hunter. If it swims, flies, or lives in the woods it had better be watching out for him.  He was a Berrien County Sheriff for several years before becoming a Niles City Firefighter. Rory just found out he is having a baby!  When he found out that it was a boy, he called me and told me to lock up my daughter!

A.J. Walker is Capt. Ryan’s only nephew and is Treble Hook’s first mate in training.  He has been fishing with us since he was 4 years old!  Now at  age 15,  he has several tournaments and a few charters under his belt.  A.J. is a straight “A” student (finally) and earned his 1st degree black belt at age eight.  He is a freshman in high school and hopefully, he can work this summer on the boat!

About the First Mates

Family fishing pictures.