About Us
My name is Brian Nagele, and I’ve been fishing since I was three years old. That’s not a metaphor. My dad Chuck handed me a rod before I could tie my own shoes, and somewhere between that first cast and the few hundred thousand that followed, fishing stopped being something I did and became something I am.
Chuck is 79 now. I’m turning 50. Between the two of us, we’ve got over a century of time on the water, and we’re still learning something new every single trip. That’s actually my favorite thing about fishing: just when you think you’ve figured it out, the fish remind you that you haven’t. I like to say it’s the most relaxing way to get frustrated and disappointed in yourself. And I mean that as a compliment.
Fishmasters started back in 2008 as a way to share what we were experiencing on the water. It’s grown a lot since then, but the idea is still the same: real fishing, real stories, real advice from guys who actually go.
We fish everywhere.
Home waters for us are Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. We keep a boat docked in Manasquan for saltwater fishing the Atlantic, and we know the trout streams of PA and NY the way some people know their own neighborhoods. But we’ve never been able to stay local for long.
Growing up, my dad was president of The Art Institute and moved between schools across the country. Every time he landed somewhere new, I visited, and I fished. Colorado fly fishing when my parents lived there. South Florida. San Francisco. Toronto. His career basically gave me a fishing passport before I knew what a passport was.
That habit never stopped. I’ve fished Europe, South America, Central America, the South Pacific, Russia. Most recently, Chuck, my brother Chris, and I spent time bonefishing in Andros Island in the Bahamas at Stafford Creek Lodge, one of those trips that reminds you why you got into this in the first place. We also got Chris seriously hooked on fishing during that trip, which might be our greatest achievement as a family.
How we fish.
Fly rod, spinning rod, trolling offshore for tuna, it doesn’t matter to me. I love all of it. Every method has its own rhythm and its own way of humbling you, and I’ve been humbled by all of them. There’s no snobbery here about the “right” way to fish. The right way is the one that gets you outside and on the water.
What you’ll find here.
Fishmasters is written for anglers of all experience levels, whether you just picked up your first rod or you’ve been at it for decades and you’re looking for your next favorite spot. We cover gear, techniques, fishing reports, destination guides, and the kind of honest, experience-based advice you’d get from a fishing buddy who’s actually been there.
We write the way we talk. No fluff, no filler. Just fishing.
If you want to reach us, have a tip to share, or want to tell us about a spot we need to fish, head over to our contact page. We’d love to hear from you.
Now go fish.
Brian and Chuck Nagele Fishmasters.com
