Ambassadors
At Southerly Fishing Gear, our vision is for tomorrow. Conservation of marine resources and coastal fisheries are paramount. As such, our Ambassadors must consist of industry professionals that have the same vision. They enjoy helping others experience the best the coastal outdoors has to offer and have dedicated their professional career to a sustainable future for anglers to come.
Our Ambassadors are a chosen group of full-time professional guides. Our goal is to maintain a team of the best professionals in their respective markets that conduct themselves in a positive and professional manner.
At Southerly, we live and breathe saltwater fishing, and so do our Ambassadors.
Engineered for the salt, designed for the catch.
Capt. Gary Gray was born and raised in Seadrift, Texas. Fishing and hunting in San Antonio Bay is a way of life for him.
At the young age of 12 he got his commercial fishing license and in a short span of time learned more about San Antonio Bay and the surrounding areas than most will ever learn.
In 1986, Gary started a fishing and hunting guide service based in his hometown of Seadrift. He knew the waters of San Antonio Bay held more fish and waterfowl than any other bay along the Texas coast.
Capt. Gary has been featured in many regional and national publications including Texas Fish & Game, Texas Outdoor Journal, Texas Monthly, Saltwater Sportsman and Ducks Unlimited.
He has also been featured on several episodes of Fishing & Hunting Texas. Capt.
Gary was named Gulf Coast Outstanding Guide for 1988 and in 1997 was ranked the #2 guide on the Texas Gulf Coast by a Texas Magazine poll.
Gary is a member of Ducks Unlimited, CCA, Gulf Coast Troutmasters, Coastal Bend Guides Association and one of the founding Fathers of Saltwater Conservation Association.
Gary is the owner of Bay Rat Guide Service.
Capt. Shellie Gray was born in Port Lavaca, Texas and was introduced to fishing by her mother at an early age.
After spending many years on the waters of the Middle Coast improving her fishing skills and knowledge, her life long passion has grown into a successful full time profession.
She has been a full time fishing guide since 2002.
She has taught many men to catch different species of fish but specializes in getting more women involved in this great sport.
When she is not guiding clients she teams up with husband, Gary, and fishes many professional tournaments.
Capt. Shellie also writes monthly articles that can be read in the Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine.
Shellie is the owner of Bay Rat Guide Service.
Capt. Wyatt Foster is a dedicated full-time fishing guide based in Corpus Christi, Texas. Originally from Friendswood, Texas, Wyatt cultivated a profound appreciation for the outdoors during his childhood, fishing along the Texas coast with his father. This early exposure transformed fishing from a mere pastime into a lifelong passion.
At the age of 19, Wyatt achieved a significant milestone by obtaining his captain’s license, which allowed him to begin guiding part-time while pursuing his studies. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 2023, and shortly thereafter, he fully committed to his ambition of becoming a professional fishing guide. In this role, Wyatt not only shares his enthusiasm for fishing but also educates others about the craft.
Wyatt is deeply invested in conservation efforts aimed at enhancing and sustaining fisheries for future generations of anglers.
Wyatt operates primarily out of Corpus Christi, Texas, and spends the winter months guiding in Port Mansfield, Texas.
Additionally, Wyatt actively participates in various fishing tournaments along the Texas coast, further showcasing his skills and dedication to the sport.
Capt. Chase Blackwell is a dedicated full-time fishing guide based in Corpus Christi, Texas and he currently resides on North Padre Island with his girlfriend. Originally from Cuero, Texas, Chase developed a passion for fishing while spending time in Rockport, Texas, alongside his father and brother.
Chase pursued higher education at Texas A&M University in College Station for one year, during which he obtained his captain's license. He subsequently continued his studies at Del Mar College in
Corpus Christi for another year before fully committing to a career in fishing guidance.
At just 23 years old, Chase has already achieved notable success in various fishing tournaments. His accolades include:
• 1st Place in the 2021 Freeze Out
• 1st Place in the 2021 Saltwater
Legends Series in Corpus Christi
• 1st Place in the 2022 Saltwater
Legends Series in Matagorda
• 1st Place Team of the Year in the
2022 Saltwater Legends Series
• 1st Place in the 2022 May Madness
• 1st Place in the 2022 Port Mansfield
Professional Redfish League
• 1st Place in the 2023 Saltwater
Legends Series in Corpus Christi
• 1st Place in the 2023 Professional
Redfish League in Port O'Connor
• 1st Place in the 2024 Saltwater
Legends Series in Corpus Christi
• 1st Place in the 2024 Professional
Redfish League in Port O'Connor
Chase Blackwell's accomplishments reflect his dedication and skill in the field of fishing, establishing him as a prominent figure in the local fishing community.
Capt. Colton Blackwell is a full-time wade fishing guide and
tournament angler based in Corpus Christi, Texas.
He is a dedicated husband and
father of two. Originally from Cuero, Texas, Colton frequently traveled to Rockport to fish with his father and brother whenever possible. By his senior year of high school, he obtained his fishing guide license and attended Texas
A&M University-Corpus Christi for two years while guiding part-time. At the age of 20, he committed to a full-time guiding career.
Now 25 years old, Colton boasts several recent tournament victories, including:
• 1st place at the 2021 POC Freeze Out
• 1st place at the 2021 Saltwater
Legend Series in Corpus Christi
• 1st place at the 2022 Saltwater
Legend Series in Matagorda
• Series Win at the 2022 Saltwater
Legend Series
• 1st place at the 2022 May Madness
• 1st place at the 2022 Professional
Redfish League in Port Mansfield
• 1st place at the 2023 Saltwater
Legend Series in Corpus Christi
• 1st place at the 2023 Professional
Redfish League in Port O’Connor
• 1st place at the 2024 Saltwater
Legend Series in Corpus Christi
• Angler of the Year for the 2024
Saltwater Legend Series
• 1st place at the 2024 Professional
Redfish League in Port O’Connor
In addition to his guiding and tournament achievements,
Colton has recently established a fishing lure company, Coastal Brew Bait Co.
Capt. Jay Watkins, Sr. is a full-time fishing guide, author and social media creator.
In 1980, Jay Watkins took his first client fishing. Little did he know that morning spent on Copano Bay, just north of Rockport,Texas, would change his direction in life forever.
It is true that Jay had a love for
fishing that was instilled in him by his father and grandfather, but to actually make a career from fishing; it never entered his mind.
In the early 80's, the GCCA (Gulf Coast Conservation Association) was just getting started. With their focus on protecting Game Fish species, Jay's timing could not have been orchestrated any better.
Jay makes his home in the coastal town of Rockport, Texas. Jay has lived in Rockport his entire life. Jay enjoys spending time with his two boys, Jay Ray and Ryan, both of which are accomplished anglers in their own rights. "It's just breath-taking to be out there watching them enjoy and love the things I do," Jay has been quoted as saying. If you have ever seen them at the Texas Trout Masters or Red Fish Cup Events, you would know that they are "3 peas in a pod".
Jay is the owner of www.jaywatkins.com, a WEB SITE that offers weekly Game Plans for anglers wishing to visit the Rockport area. A Game Plan is seven days of Jay's fishing, with detailed advice on WHERE, WHY, WHEN and HOW to find and catch fish in and around Rockport. Jay just might be the ONLY guide on the entire Gulf Coast willing to tell everyone exactly where he is fishing each and every day.
Jay is also the owner of the JAY WATKINS FISHING CLUB. This exclusive FISHING CLUB is available to members only.
Jay is also the author of the ASK THE PRO article in the #1 selling Texas Saltwater Magazine.
On the tournament scene Jay's accomplishments run deep. To list a few, Jay has won three Trout Master events, the only Texas Pro to win back-to-back victories in a single season. He has also won the prestigious Trout Masters Classic Event, which is the Top 100 anglers of the season event. Jay has won two CCA Mid-Coast Guide Cup Championships and two Saltwater Angler Guide Cups, (back-to-back victories), two Baffin Bay Big Trout Bash victories (back-to-back). In Jay's FIRST Baffin Bay Bash he set an all-time record for the heaviest stringer weighed in ALIVE. In two days, he weighed in trout weighing, 9 lbs. 10 oz., 9lbs. 2 oz., 8lbs 14 oz and 7lbs 14 oz. All of these fish are still alive today in a research hatchery in Corpus Christi, Texas. Jay and his son and partnered and won the
2004 AMERICAN ROD SMITHS TROUT MASTER and the Port Aransas I.F.A. RED FISH TOUR EVENT. Jay finished 2nd overall in the I.F.A. TEXAS DRAW EVENTS in 2004, which qualified them for the I.F.A. CLASSIC. Jay, along with partner Jim Franklin, finished 32nd overall in the ESPN RED FISH CUP SERIES in 2004. A blown engine in the final event of the year cost them a birth in the CLASSIC. Jay has won many other local tournaments throughout his career.