Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephen Flook Jr.
Hi Stephen, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The dream of being a fishing guide began when I was around 4 years old. I was born in Tampa, Florida, and my dad starting taking me fishing when I was around 2 years old. Fishing with my dad on the boat, fishing golf course and neighborhood ponds, fishing off my grandparent’s docks for bass, it never ended. I would watch fishing shows with my grandpa-just absolutely fell in love with it. We lived overseas for a large portion of my childhood, so many of the times I wasn’t fishing I was watching fishing shows or looking through a Bass Pro Shops Fishing Catalog or re-organizing my tackle. When I was 18, I went moved back to the U.S. and went to college at North Greenville University-and funny story I almost dropped out a couple of years in a row so I could really pursue my passion-but I ended up pushed through and graduated with a B.S. in Outdoor Leadership. It did take me 5 years though, between working part-time jobs and fishing 5 days a week while in college. I kept my canoe on a rack on my truck, so right after class I would hussle to the truck and be at the lake bass fishing within 20 minutes. After college, I took a job working with a Parks and Rec program but quickly realized that was not where I needed to be. So, I quit that and went back to work at a tire shop I worked at through college and just kind of started to think through what needed to happen. I wanted to offer saltwater trips so eventually, I knew we would need to live on the coast or back in Florida where I’m originally from. But me and a buddy of mine started fishing in Charleston and quickly fell in love with the area. That next year (2019) I did some bass fishing tournaments as a co-angler and learned so much from them and started working on my Captains License so I could guide. I started working on a website, YouTube channel, etc. I got married that summer as well and was actually working 2 part-time jobs (60 hours a week) so I could have a little freedom to take off work if needed. That fall we got pregnant with our first and I went full-time at the tire shop but that was very short-lived as it took most of my time up and could only fish about once a week. January 2020, I quit that job and remember walking in, handing my manager my key, and actually drove to Charleston and went fishing. Hahaha I was pretty used to making the 4-hour drive from Greenville, SC to Charleston, fishing for the day, then driving back home the same day. That was the routine and what I did so I could fish down there. Oh yeah and I forgot to mention that whole time I was driving a Toyota Camry and towing a 14ft Jon Boat with it. So later on in January, I started a construction job full time that opened up my weekends and just gave me some more time to be able to start working on my guide business more. I got my Captain’s License summer of 2020 and started really pushing hard to get everything going but it felt really impossible to try and run saltwater trips when I lived 4 hours away. So, I dabbled in running some guided bass fishing trips but the passion just wasn’t as strong. So, moving on to Spring of 2021 I started talking enough of my friends in Greenville into doing my crazy day trips to Charleston to go saltwater fishing with me so I could get more practice guiding people. That went on every weekend to the point over the summer a buddy of mine and I ended up coming down every single weekend-leaving Greenville around 2-3 am, fishing Saturday, camping that evening, fishing Sunday, then heading home to go back to work on Monday. I started getting some phone calls for trips but had to turn them down ‘cause I didn’t have a boat big enough to take them out. Also, at that point, I was just never home so I knew we were going to have to make a move. So right around the time, we were trying to figure out what to do, my boss mentioned they had an opening in the Charleston branch so I knew that was God opening the door for us to get down there. So, at the time we had been renting a house for the past 3 years and as most of y’all know the cost of living is pretty expensive and still is so we really couldn’t afford the cost of rent on top of getting a bigger boat to guide out of and a truck to pull it-so we ended up getting a camper and going full-time camper-life so we could afford to live down here while getting the necessary equipment to get the business going. So, within a month we bought a truck, boat, and camper and moved down to the Charleston area. So now here we are, I have been running some fishing charters now, each month getting more phone calls, still grinding out the same mon-fri job, and really working toward building the business so I can go full time as soon as possible. The fishing is incredible down here and I offer trips targeting mainly redfish and seatrout and I prefer to use artificial lures and flies. It’s tons of fun! I think our next biggest hurdle is finding somewhere to live in the next couple of months when our term is up where we are now… major shout out to my wife for her insane support on the path we are on-definitely couldn’t do it without her!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been a long road. It has not necessarily happened overnight as I thought it would. I think deciding to go into tons of debt was a hurdle but honestly, when it came time it was super easy to do ‘cause I knew it had to be done and I wasn’t about to throw my dreams in the trash can. And that’s what it boils down to. How far are you willing to go and not quit. Whenever some sort of situation has come up where it feels like everything is just caving in I have kept grinding.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Unashamed Adventures Fishing Charters offers fun inshore saltwater fishing charters for all experience levels. Whether you have never been fishing before or you have fished your entire life, we have an experience for you. We offer fishing trips using live bait, artificial lures, or flies. And if you are reading this and have no idea what I’m talking about, you are more than welcome on a trip with me to come and learn! We fish the coastal saltwater marshes just outside of Charleston that are teeming with life. From healthy populations of redfish and seatrout to plentiful birdlife, it is a very beautiful area to now call home. My work ethic and drive, and broad variety of fishing in different zones from Alaska to South America sets me apart from others. How hard are you willing to work for it, and the relationships you build is what matters the most. Brand-wise, so far, I’m most proud of where I started and where I’ve come from. Nothing was handed to me. I think that makes me stronger. How far are you willing to go to make something happen?
What do you think about luck?
I don’t think luck has played any factor in my business or life- perseverance, grinding, and God opening doors is how I am where I am.
Pricing:
- 1/2 day (4 hour) fishing charter for 2 people-$450
- Full day (8 hour) fishing charter for 2 people $750
- If these options don’t fit your needs please contact me so we can make a custom package just for you!
Contact Info:
- Email: unashamedadventures@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.unashamedadventures.com/
