Episode 39: Hal Chittum – Skiff Mastermind

Hal Chittum has been pushing the boundaries of greatness his entire life. Everything he’s ever engaged with he’s exerted limitless focus with an innate ability to understand the exacting process it took to succeed. I was first exposed to this when I entered his Islamorada store in the early 90’s and wanted to buy everything I saw. It was a fly fisherman’s wonderland! The door and handles of my tackle room now are a direct replica of his. His stores were incomparable.
I’ve spoken to Stu Apte about Hal and the two tarpon world records they caught on six pound test on the same day. One was on conventional plug and the other was an 82 pound 8 ounce fly record that stood for decades.
I didn’t meet Hal for the longest time, but everywhere I went his footprints were on the trail I walked. Homosassa, tournaments, records, and the boat I always wanted and finally bought, a Hell’s Bay, from Hal!
Chittum did all those things at a very profound level, but it was his boat building that made a historical, indelible change in the game of how we chase fish. His newest vessel of Chittum Skiffs is the most sophisticated, scientifically designed boat ever built….
On today’s podcast Hal uncovers his labyrinth fishing life which leads us to his latest stage of brilliance, Chittum skiffs!