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Eric Geiselman flaring up. | Photo: Patrick Ruddy
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EDITOR'S
NEW YEAR, NEW YEW!
NOTE
Another year has flown by and I'm trying to get off to a good start in 2019. I wouldn't say that we live in paradise, but we got it pretty damn good. It's hard not to love being a Floridian. The entire country has been freezing, and here in Central Florida, we've been wealthy with warm weather, good surf, and fish biting. Unlike the cold northern states, our weather is pretty much warm year round, so you can fish or surf virtually any day of the year, score! When it comes to fishing, we are located in the fishing capital of the world. Florida has over 8,000 miles of shoreline, if you count inlets, bays, and capes. We have the world famous Mosquito Lagoon in our back yard, and just offshore, our coast is home to some of the best big game catches in the world. If I can give you one solid piece of advice for the New Year, it would be to seize the moment in all aspects of life. I thought on it for a while and tried to decide what moment in time felt like I seized the moment. There are so many that come to mind, first and foremost taking the leap of marriage with my wife, Nicole. But I can't truly define that as seizing the moment because like the typical surfer, I dragged my feet in the sand for quite some time before I asked. I think a better example would be when I decided to start Fluid. I gotta say we were pretty clueless, but by God's grace, all the stars aligned. When we first dove into the publication world, it almost seemed like a bad idea to start a magazine in Central Florida. The economy was really bad, and it seemed like it couldn’t have been a worse time. We assembled an all-star team and hit the streets full force! It wasn’t easy by any means, but over the years, making each issue has been an experience to remember, constant peaks and valleys, but always memorable. It's a really thin line of knowing when to dive in head first, but you'll never know until you take the leap. In 2019, make sure you seize the moment and don't look back. Trust me, you won't regret it. Cheers to a prosperous 2019. Bryan Forand | Editor
Sponsored by:
Cre d i t s / Co ntents
Credits
Contents
Editor Bryan Forand bryan@thefluidmag.com
Issue 1 vol 8 | Jan - Feb 2019
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18
23
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Photo Editor Patrick Ruddy patrick@thefluidmag.com Art Director & Designer Lance Drake lancedrake4@gmail.com Marketing Director Adam Forand adam@thefluidmag.com Staff Photographer Jason Obenauer @surfsupwolf Jack of All Trades Tim Truelove trueloverealtor@gmail.com Sales Bryan Forand | Adam Forand | Travis Ajay Writers Bryan Forand | Bill Gallagher | John Brooks Contributing Designers Jeff Lastinger | Mylan Davich
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Miss Sunshine: Melissa Robinson
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Fluid Eats: Boston's Fish House
Cavin Brothers | Josh Letchworth | Gunner Hughes | Capt. Willy Le
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Spotlight: Matt Glenn
Aj Neste | Casey Collins | Johnny Perkins | Jason Arnold
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Fishing Report
29
Fluid Travel with Guest Editor Devon Tresher
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Local Business Spotlight: Flaunt Electric Bikes
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Reader Fish Photos
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Fishing Profile: Captain Bruno
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Talk Story: Mark Wooster
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Event Calendar
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Wolfie's Pics of the Month
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Outtakes
Contributing Photographers Patrick “Tupat” Eichstaedt | Kris Kerr | Tim Truelove | Andrew Gilbert
FLUID Magazine is Central Florida’s premiere publication dedicated to celebrating our community's culture and lifestyle. From fashion to art, entertainment and music to events, action sports to culture, FLUID Magazine covers everything our community needs to know through high profile interviews, mind-blowing photography, and in depth editorial coverage. Unlike any other magazine of its kind in Central Florida, we aim to reach all target markets through wide distribution channels. Not only will we focus on our local lifestyles, but from our staff’s extensive background as retailers, we know how much business is captured from tourism. Our FREE full color publication can be found all over Central Florida at colleges, key retailers, high traffic areas, hotels, shops and area restaurants. Our mission is to showcase the amazing talent, culture, and lifestyles of Central Florida. From our enticing profiles, in depth community coverage, fashion tips, and amazing photography, FLUID readers will be positively influenced by our featured content and in tune with the latest trending advertisers. Essentially making FLUID Magazine the most effective marketing tool for brand connectivity with consumers in our area.
For advertising information, contact bryan@thefluidmag.com | 386.679.2399
Behind The Cover Matt Glenn in position A.
FLUID Magazine, LLC D.B.A. FLUID Magazine 1 Swan Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168 386.679.2399 | thefluidmag.com
Photo | Laserwolf
PHOTO: PATRICK RUDDY
MISS
SUNSHINE
MELISSA ROBINSON @melgrierillustration Age: 24 Where do you live? New Smyrna Beach Originally from? The Eastern Shore of Maryland Occupation? Currently a server/bartender at Prima, in school for interior design, and getting started this year doing freelance illustration at @ melgrierillustration. Where would your dream trip take you? I’ve got a long list of places around the world I want to go, but I’ve been dying to take a trip out to the Pacific Northwest. Tell us something about you that might surprise us. I started playing music when I was 8. My first instrument was a “fiddle”, and I competed in bluegrass festivals. Yeehaw. How many times a day do you use social media? (tell us the truth) More than I’d like to admit... Unfortunately, it’s a vital tool if you want to promote yourself as an artist. So, despite the daily temptation to delete it all, I sort of have to utilize it. If you were a skittle, what color would you be and why? I feel like I’m more of an M&M? I don’t know, don’t read too far into that. I just like M&Ms. When you listen to music, do you pay attention to lyrics or the melodies and beats? Initially, I’m usually drawn to instrumentals. But it’s the songs with lyrics that resonate with me that I’ll keep coming back to for years. What do you enjoy the most about modeling? It’s been awhile since I’ve done any real “modeling” and it’s not really something I would want to seriously pursue, but I still enjoy taking photos with certain photographers from time to time. Not only is it cool being part of another artist’s vision, it’s sometimes when I feel the most confident. Real Housewives or Sunday Night Football? Murder podcasts. Got a boyfriend? No thanks. Worst Pickup Line? I was painted like a skeleton for Halloween, and some dude I walked past in a bar said “wanna bone?” Most important thing on a first date? Frankly, the first impression is most important. My intuition usually tells me right away whether or not there’s a real connection. If you had to live in another state besides Florida, which state would you choose and why? I’ve spent a little time in Nashville, TN this year and I could see myself happily living there. It’s beautiful, has an immensely artistic community, and there’s an actual change in seasons. Best Beach in Florida? I’ve only lived here a little over a year, but I’ve gotta say New Smyrna. Favorite celebrity? Amy Poehler. Not only is she brilliantly funny, she’s an activist for matters that are important to me. Who’s the hottest- Surfers, Skaters, Wakeboarder, Musicians or Artist? I’ve been known to have a thing for musicians, unfortunately. I love Fluid magazine because? Fluid is a true representation of local life in Florida, and I think that’s what makes it unique. What does the future hold for the lovely Melissa? Finishing school, making art, playing music, starting my interior design career, adopting 12 dogs, and traveling off to my next adventure.
Sponsored by:
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FLUID EATS
BOSTON'S FISH HOUSE Boston’s Fish House is a family owned and operated restaurant that specializes in fresh New England seafood. The original owner of Boston's is back and we couldn't be any happier. Boston’s has recently made several changes to the location located off of A1A in New Smyrna Beach. The menu has received a total makeover with the introduction of innovative new twists on classics. If that isn't enough to impress you, the new cocktail menu is full of fresh flavors and new favorites. To make your whole experience complete, even a new bar has been added! Our favorite addition to the NSB location. On Thursdays, drop in for BOGO on their specialty cocktails.
At Boston's Fish House their New England seafood is flown in fresh to ensure top quality! They offer many of the same regional specialties found in the northeast such as fried Ipswich whole belly clams, lobster rolls served on open faced Nissen rolls, fried or broiled Haddock fillets, New England Oysters, Sea Scallops, as well as seasonal favorites. All of their fried items are breaded and fried to order in high quality vegetable oil, which they change twice daily to ensure your food is fresh and healthy. Items are also available blackened, baked with cracker crumb topping, broiled in sweet butter, or grilled to perfection to taste the true freshness of the fish you are eating. They make their soups and sauces from scratch everyday with quality ingredients. In addition to all the great lunch and dinner options, the brunch on Saturday and Sunday is also a crowd favorite. Their brunch has something for everyone! Starting with their Bloody Mary’s for $4 garnished perfectly with a jumbo shrimp to their Crab Cake or Grilled Salmon Benedicts, build your own omelets, pancakes for the kiddos, and the best Shrimp & Grits. No detail has gone unnoticed with the new offerings, their company motto is quality, consistency, and value! Compliment your fresh seafood dish with one of our favorite specialty drinks; the Screaming
Seagull Jalapeño Margarita. It is infused with a spicy kick that you are sure to remember. If heat isn't your thing, then try the NSB Margarita that is made with Patron tequila and rimmed with a delicious hibiscus salt. Their dedication to customer service and experienced wait staff ensure a wicked good time to all customers. Whether you live in the area or planning to visit for a vacation, we highly recommend that you give Boston's Fish House a try. You won't be disappointed! Whether it's on the way to the beach or after, make sure to stop by for a delicious meal and some fresh specialty cocktails. Tell them the Fluid Mag crew sent you! Or visit bostonsfishhouse.com
PHOTOGRAPHED BY: PATRICK RUDDY
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SPOTLIGHT
MATT GLENN
T
LIFES
Sponsors: Katin USA, Sunbum, Otis Eyewear, Creatures of Leisure, Red Dog Surf Shop, Orion Surfboards How's everything going? Seems like 2018 was a pretty crazy year for you, tell us about that. Yeah, 2018 has been pretty crazy as far as new experiences go for me and the family. I started the year out rehabbing a pretty intense injury that happened in late September of 2017 where I ended up breaking my femur surfing out in front of Flagler Ave. It was basically a situation in which I was trying to land an air that was physically impossible and ended up with all my weight on my front leg thus snapping the fucker and leaving me on the couch for the rest of the year. Then a few months into 2018, as soon as I had begun my transition back onto a surfboard, I got some news from the guys over at Brixton that they were cutting a chunk of their surf program and that my deal with them was part of the cut. Fortunately, I had Brandon Campbell, the new head of the Katin USA team, approach me looking for a new surfer to help grow their brand on the East Coast. The deal was similar to the one I had with Brixton but also included some trips, which was a no brainer for me to jump on with them. They 23
also approached my brother Daniel a few
somewhat different out in the water. I think
weeks later, which gave us the opportunity to
we always learn a thing or two.
travel together on the same team. Basically it was a dream come true for us. Then, around
Best surf trip you've been on?
half-way through the year, my parents, with
The best surf trip I’ve been on would have to
the help of our grandparents, bought into a
be to Barbados. The raw wave that Soupbowl
bed and breakfast business called the Night
is will always have you coming back for more,
Swan, which we now help operate and call
and lately I’ve been trying to get back ever
our home base. And, now the rest of the year
since.
I have been focused on strength/flexibility training and getting myself back to where I
What is the biggest wave you ever caught?
was before I broke my leg, while at the same
I’ve never been out at a true big wave spot,
time helping out with growing the new family
but the biggest wave that I’ve ever caught
business.
was up in North Carolina during a solid fall storm. I’m pretty sure it was Stella, but there
The Night Swan is a huge change for you and the fam. How do you like it, and is it
were some decent ten to twelve-foot sets coming in that had to be one of the biggest
different then you imagined?
waves I’ve found myself on. I’m definitely
The Night Swan has definitely changed
looking forward to besting myself in 2019
up our lives for the better these past few
possibly spending some time down in Mexico
months. Unfortunately, it was more work than
with a couple big boards.
I anticipated at first, because I had never had a real job prior, which is sort of funny to me
Do you do any form of training or just rock
now. But as the time goes by and we have
up and rip?
been more acclimated to the basics of the
Since my injury in 2017 I lost a ton of strength
business, I’m learning to enjoy it more and
and flexibility that I’ve had to train hard to get
more, and really looking forward to what
back. So, I train at least three to four times a
the future will hold for our property such
week and stretch for thirty minutes to an hour
as: musical venues, board swaps, and much
before I surf every-time, mostly focusing on
more local community events.
my hips and legs.
Who is someone you've always looked up
Tell us something that most people don't
Someone I’ve always looked up to in our
I love playing and listening to music of all
local surf community and inspired by is Randy
sorts. I spent a lot of time while I was out
Richenberg. His outlook on fins and surf
of the water teaching myself songs on the
crafts far exceeds most shapers to this day,
guitar, and I still try to improve on it to this
and his designs have been in the hands of
day while occasionally playing with the Marks
the best surfers in the world proving just how
brothers and Geiselman.
to in our surf community and why?
know about you?
influential his “bio-fins” and experimental craft truly are. I have been lucky enough to
Tell us about a life changing event?
ride some of his designs and can tell you
Breaking my leg was the biggest life
personally they really work.
changing event I’ve experienced. It taught me a ton of resilience and the downtime
So, I imagine your older brother, Daniel,
brings out a pretty competitive side of you.
helped me mold a more cognitive thinking process than I had before. It also helped me
Tell us about your relationship with him.
appreciate surfing and its many forms, way
Daniel has always had that competitive edge
more than I had before. Which allowed me
that has given him multiple career wins and
to have way more fun in the water no matter
impressive results. I’ve maybe beaten him
what I was riding.
once which shows just how much he loves to out-best anyone in a jersey. I’ve had a
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Best and worst part about living in Central
few moments where his success has inspired
Florida?
me to do anything I can to win in a contest,
Definitely how easy it is to drive down to the
which works occasionally. However, lately
beach and go surf. You’re not worried about
I’ve been more focused on figuring out what
hiking miles to go to your spot because you
boards feel the best in conditions that require
can just drive right up to it. The worst part
them and really just improving myself rather
is the lack of waves in the summer time. It
than a judge’s perspective of my surfing. Our
can be extremely painful to see other parts
relationship is always growing every-time
of the world pumping while you can’t even
we surf together, since our mindsets are
physically surf because it’s so small.
What are your plans for the next 12 months? I’m planning on taking an EMT course at the local state college through the summer, while at the same time getting my leg back to 100%. Also helping out with the family business while scoring waves as much as I can. Favorite place to eat in New Smyrna Beach? That’s a tough one, but I’d have to say Café Verde is my favorite spot. The chicken gyro is pretty nuts plus a bunch of the homies work there, so it’s always a good time. Any shout outs or last words? Shout out to all the local shapers and craftsmen keeping it real with quality boards!
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JAN/FEB FISHING OUTLOOK
FISHING REPORT OFFSHORE With the recent cold fronts, there has been an influx of action over the holiday season. This winter, our coast has been prime for the picking and will continue in the months to come. If you can handle the tougher seas of January and February, it's an excellent time for bottom fishing. The bite will be hot for a variety of species including; cobia, black sea bass, sheepshead, triggerfish and red snapper. There has been quite a bit of action with some nice sized triple tail, with catches ranging from 6 - 12 lb range. Many offshore anglers had a decent run of weather over the holidays, with the lucky ones catching a few nice wahoo. Keep your lines tight and put in some extra time on the water in 2019. You won't regret it!
Photo Courstesy of: Jason Epperson
INSHORE Reeling into 2019, expect the Reds to be swimming in larger schools, grazing shallow grass flats looking for shrimp or any other bottom dwelling organism. Until we see colder weather you can still lock into a few tarpon around the bridges. With the recent weather drops we've seen the water clear up in the lagoon. The recent cold fronts have done wonders for the water clarity. Most anglers have seen redfish beginning to school up, but the larger Reds still tend to roam alone. With the cooler temperatures approaching, it is going to be tough to find the elusive snook. In the river and around the jetties, you are likely to hook into bluefish, reds, flounder, trout, mangroves, & sheepshead. The jetties are still seeing large numbers of black drum and pompano.
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Photo Courstesy of: Captain Robert McGhee
Photo Courstesy of: Shayna Foster
Photo: Courtesy of Epperson
FLUI D WITH
T R A V E L
GU E S T
DEVON
E D I T O R
T R E S H E R
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF DEVON TRESHER
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This wasn’t exactly how I’d imagined it. I always dreamed that one day I’d go gallivanting across the globe on a quest for surf and adventure. But while my packed bags included multiple surfboards and an open ended itinerary, this was not a surf trip. If you don’t know the difference between surfing while traveling and traveling to surf, well you’re not a surfer. But time passes and dreams evolve, and my dream now included more than just myself. Amongst the small pile of luggage was also the gear of my travel companion, my wife Wendy. Together we had saved and planned for a 6 month hiatus from the American Dream and purchased ‘round the world plane tickets with stops in 8 different countries. Surfing had been heavily woven into the fabric of our plans, with the bulk of our journey centered around Australia and New Zealand. Although, my wife is rather understanding of my obsession, she still doesn’t want to sit on the beach while I surf all day. So I shipped my boards and wetsuits to Sydney, Australia where we would pick them up later in our trip, and Wendy and I swung our backpacks on and hopped on a plane to Africa. The six months that followed were a life altering experience in many ways. Traveling in an easterly direction, we visited 10 different countries, starting with South Africa, followed by Lesotho, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Seychelles, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, and Tonga. After Tonga Wendy went home, and I stayed in Samoa for two additional months to work as a “boatman” at a surf resort (which made country number 11 and 8 months for me). We were both well traveled, and I had even been around the world once before. But this was different. I had never been away from home for more than 6 weeks at a time, and almost all of my travel was centered around surfing. This was more about immersing
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ourselves in our surroundings and experiencing everything a given place had to offer. In Africa we felt the rhythm of the culture and raw energy of the land and got up close to wild beasts in their natural habitat, including elephants, lions and mountain gorillas. We relaxed in the tropical paradise of the Seychelles, a tiny Indian Ocean archipelago where giant tortoises roam the ground and giant fruit bats drift over the canopy. Thailand offered ancient culture and exotic cuisine, and while there we learned to free dive to depths we never thought possible. Down Under we encountered nearly as many friendly people as strange marsupials, and long expanses of pristine coastline offer more surfing opportunities than you can shake a didgeridoo at. New Zealand is a sportsman’s paradise with pretty much any outdoor activity you can imagine on offer, from snow capped mountain peaks to the bottom of the sea floor. In the South Pacific islands of Tonga we had the incredible opportunity to swim in the open ocean with Humpback Whales. A short distance from there in Samoa, I felt like I had traveled back in time to Hawaii before Western Civilization took over. The whole experience was something that is difficult to sum up. When someone asks me how my trip was, I really don’t know what to say other than, “It was great.” Looking back, the things that stick out are not what I would have expected beforehand. I was most looking forward to living in a van in both Australia and New Zealand for several months, wandering the coast, surfing my brains out and eating meat pies from the small town bakeries. But while I had some fantastic surf sessions, other things are much more prominent in my mind. Africa was my favorite part of the journey,
and I didn’t surf once on the Dark Continent. But even beyond that, it’s the human element that really stands out. It’s the people we met along the way and the things we learned about ourselves and the world we live in that have left a lasting impression. At some point along the way, no matter how spectacular the adventure, it becomes just another waterfall, mountain peak, wild, exotic creature, rugged coastline, and so on. That’s when you begin to realize it’s the people you share it with that really mater. After eight months, I was ready when the time came for me to leave Samoa and return home to New Smyrna Beach. While traveling we thought we may stumble upon a new place we’d like to live. After all, Central Florida has seen a lot of change in my 32 years of life. But when it was all said and done, we realized that for us, the most important thing is to be around our loved ones. We also came to the conclusion that there are plenty of wonderful places in the world, and New Smyrna is one of them. Four months earlier, on our first wedding anniversary, while living in a van in New Zealand, our suspicions that Wendy was pregnant were confirmed. As I type this, my son is set to enter the world any day now. I couldn’t be more excited to raise him in my home town. Undoubtedly, he will ride his first waves at the inlet, and I’m sure he’ll catch his first fish somewhere nearby in the river. But more importantly, he will be surrounded by friends and family from day one. And when he is old enough, I will encourage him to burst the bubble he’s lived in, see the world and expand his horizons. If you’d like a more in depth look at our journey, check out my blog www. thetreshertotem.com
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Photos courtesy of: Adams
FLAUNT ELECTRIC BIKES
LOCAL BIZ SPOTLIGHT
FLAUNT Electric Vehicles was founded in 2013 on the idea that eco-friendly transportation could be stylish, affordable, and created with the highest quality standards. After an initial three years of Research & Development, FLAUNT launched their line of high-quality electric bicycles back in June of 2016. 2 1/2 years later, after a lot of success, they closed their shop in New Smyrna Beach, only to re-appear on US-1 in Port Orange. We sat down with the owner Kevin Mount to find out why.
Q&A So we've been seeing more and more FLAUNT bikes every day, and a question I think everyone is wondering is why did you close down in NSB, what happened, and why did you move? In a nutshell, we literally sold out of bikes quicker than we could produce them. Back in December of 2017, we had zero bikes left to sell, and as soon as we sold out, our retailers like Ron Jon quickly sold out as well. It was a chain reaction. That might sound awesome but there is nothing worse than having a customer do all of their research, then take the plunge and come in to purchase your product that you've put your whole life into only to tell them we couldn’t supply them anymore, we were sold out. It's probably the best/worst problem you could ever have in business. Fortunately, we recovered.
was the best and worst year of my life.
So you closed up? We reached out to all of our existing customers to let them know that we were going to be going through a transitional phase, but we were still there for them. We gave out our personal contact info, made a lot of house calls, and continued to stand behind our product, as promised.
There seems to be a lot of options out there these days for electric bikes, what sets FLAUNT apart from the rest? Despite our name being “FLAUNT” we are actually pretty humble, so I will tell you what our customers tell us. They say our bikes look better aesthetically, and that no other electric bike companies offer the complete package of features that we do. One small example: some e-bikes have pedal assist, some have throttles, we have both. Other customers appreciate the quality and craftsmanship, or the level of customer service we provide them with. Our geared motor system allows the bikes to be pedaled without any resistance from the motor. You just can’t find that with direct drive or center drive motor e-bikes. With FLAUNT your buying more than just an electric bike, you’re buying an experience. You become a part of the family, and we take very good care of our family. All of our customers know this, and perhaps this is why they recommend us to their friends and family as well.
It looks like you have been doing well, I have been seeing a lot more FLAUNT bikes out on the roads these days. We are so fortunate to have our local community. Our customers put a lot of faith in FLAUNT back before we didn’t have a single review and we were selling bikes out of an office in a back alley of New Smyrna Beach. Now seeing them riding around town, they’re enjoying life more, and that’s contagious. Simply put our customers are helping to spread the good word about FLAUNT on a daily basis, and we can’t thank them enough. How did you re-establish the business after closing up shop? We started a pre-order campaign back in May to help raise capital to finish production on our 3rd generation electric bikes. We discounted the bikes as incentive for customers to save money since they would have to wait a few months for their bikes and wait for us to open our new location. Again, a lot of people had to put their faith in us, however this time around we had the reviews and good faith of the company. We found a great showroom and warehouse combo in Port Orange where we could run all of our operations under one roof, with increased visibility as well. We finished the bikes and set a company record of shipping over 60 bikes out opening weekend. I tell people that 2018 Photos: Ruddy
Wow, that’s a lot of bikes to ship! Are there any differences from Gen 1 to Gen 3 FLAUNT bikes? Lots, but the average person might not notice them. For Gen 3 we added more stainless steel nuts, bolts, and cables wherever possible, upgraded the brake pads, changed our battery rack for fitting, blacked out all of the rims, switched tires, and added 2 new colors for the Vicko model (Matte Fuchsia & Matte Gun Metal Grey). Most FLAUNT bikes you see will have these upgrades, the only difference is now we implement them at production, as opposed to doing it after the fact. In 6 years, I can tell you we have worked out all of the kinks and nuances, and our Gen 3 is our best yet.
I see you are also promoting the Onewheel as well? Yes, we have quite the selection of boards and a full line of accessories. Basically anything you could ever want to “trick out” your Onewheel. Plus we have demo boards and give lessons as well. We feel like the Onewheel is the perfect compliment to FLAUNT electric bikes and vice versa. The quality is high and it’s another form of eco-friendly transportation, and we are big promoters of that in general. What’s next for FLAUNT? New bikes and new stores. 2019 is supposed to be a great year for everyone and we are very much looking forward to it! 33
FISHING REEL - READER SUBMISSIONS
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1. Yellow Dawg Fishing is always hitting them. Photo courtesy of: Yellow Dawg Fishing
2. Finding a solid one on a cold winter day. Photo courtesy of: Yellow Dawg Fishing
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3. Ava is the cutest ever and always seems to find the fish biting. Photo courtesy of: Collins
4. Evan Geiselman rips the inlet all day and chases the fish all night. Photo courtesy of: Geiselman
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5. Kerr starting the New Year off right with his first red of the year. Photo courtesy of: Kerr
6. Labs are the best fishing partner. Just ask Jason and Kolbi. Photo courtesy of: Epperson
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7. Nice looking redfish caught off the coast of New Smyrna. Photo Courtesy of: Hand
8. Marty G finds a blackfin tuna on a recent trip offshore. Photo courtesy of: Goldys
To submit your image, email fish@thefluidmag.com. Photo must be 1MB or bigger.
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FISHING PROFILE
CAPTAIN BRUNO What are three items you never leave the dock without? I never leave the dock without my sunglasses, rods/tackle, and a positive attitude. What is your favorite species to target? I like to target every species of fish! That's what keeps me going. Learning how to find, target, and catch a new species is very rewarding when it all comes together. If I had to choose, it would be cobia because of the experience you get from finding the big manta rays and having the excitement of seeing a cobia, making a perfect cast and watching the fish take your bait. Cobia are hard fighting fish and one of my favorite to eat. Preferred Rig? The F/G knot for line to leader. A circle hook with adjusted weight for presentation of bait. I fish light tackle which allows for a better hook up ratio. I adjust my rigs according the the conditions and fish that I'm targeting. Why types of fishing charters do you offer? Caught Up llc. offers inshore and nearshore/ offshore fishing charters ranging from 4-8 hr trips that accommodate every type of person from beginner, intermediate, and advanced anglers. I teach the proper techniques to land what I call the go home happy fish. Who is your favorite person to fish with and why? I like to fish with Capt. Fred, aka Frenchy, because of his pure entertainment and friendship. Frenchy has years of local knowledge and experience which allows me to learn from him every day. I enjoy fishing with everybody and anybody because I learn from every situation and become a better guide. What attributes separate an OK fishing guide compared to what you would consider a great guide? Experience - respect - patience - hard word passion - personality What do you feel is the biggest challenge of running charters in our area? Mother nature and boat traffic are our biggest factors. The wind, rain, murky water can factor a
days charter and also all the boaters that leave behind trash and don't respect our waterways. How different is running charters in the Keys VS around here? Islamorada has its advantages of crystal clear water and world class fishing, diving and a very chill lifestyle, but nothing compares to my home waters of new Smyrna beach. NSB is where I've put my time into fishing, from the inlet to the backcountry of our mangroves and oyster beds, which keeps me motivated to continue to fish these waters for the rest of my life. Can you tell me about how you got into guiding and how you got to where you are today? Fishing has been my passion since I was a little kid. I always wanted to be a fishing guide, but I chose to become a firefighter/EMT in 2010. Shortly after becoming a firefighter I blew my knew out which resulted in me having to leave the department. Not knowing what I would do for my career, I realized that I was already doing what I loved which was fishing. Everyday I was at it and crushing it. Showing my friends was part of my job. It taught me that if you do what you love, you never work a day in your life came to mind, and I went for it. With a little help from my buddy, BB, and some other well known local Captains, I was able to pursue my dream job. Do you fish tournaments? Yes. I fish the SKA Kingfish tournaments along with King of the Beach and other tournaments around the state with team Total Vision fishing team with Capt Shane Murray, Matt Pearce, & Berry Hughes.
Any last words or people to thank? I'd like to thank everyone who stayed positive and supportive through my life! Thank you to all the Captains that communicate and work with me. Thanks to my family, friends and partners that helped me get Caught Up. If you want to book a charter check out http://www. Caughtupfishingcharters.com Call or Text Capt Bruno or check him out at River Deck Marina @ 111 N. Riverside Dr., New Smyrna, FL.
Photos: Courtesy of Bruno 36
Sponsored by:
Photo: Ruddy
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Photo: Tupat
What is the biggest difference now and when you were growing up in the New Smyrna Beach area? Everyone says it, and it may or may not be true based on how you look at waves, it changes with more experiences. But it seemed better back in the day at NSB. What year did you start shaping surfboards and how did you get into it? I'm not sure what exact year it was, but around 25 years ago. I went and watched Pat Rawson and all the top guys shape boards for 2 days at Surf Expo, then went on the very next night to Mike Luke’s shaping room and shaped me a 6’2'' diamond tail that worked insane, and that was the start. That’s such an epic story. On another note, you've made your home base in Costa Rica. How's it treating you? Costa has been good and giving me a lot of opportunities. I've shaped for Channel Islands, JS, Lost, and Pyzel. In addition, my brand, Wooster Surfboards, does well here, so it’s a good fit for me to live and raise my daughter, Aloha Layne. How different is it having a business in Costa Rica compared to Florida? In Costa I do a lot more boards for good barreling waves instead of fishy kind of things or trendy stuff. It's more meat and potatoes down in Costa.
TALK STORY:
MARK WOOSTER
What motto do you live by, if any? Freedom How long have you been surfing for? For over 40 years. What was it like in the 80’s being a surfer in our area? It was great as a teenager in New Smyrna Beach. Back then you could drive on the beach at night and enjoy good waves with friends. Who were the top guys at the inlet back in those days? There were a lot of good surfers. I always looked up to Randy Richenberg, Terry Pressley, Mike Luke, Ross Pell, Scott Brill, and Bob Lindsley. There was so many others, but my memory isn't as clear after I cracked my skull this summer. If you can go back 30 years what advice would you give yourself? Get out sooner. Get into surfing real waves earlier on if you want to make it shaping.
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Do you miss home at all? I do miss all my friends and relationships with people I had for years. Guys like Richenberg I miss, because he won’t come visit. The Crab does, but it’s all good. What is the best travel experience of your life? Best experience I've ever had is my little girl, Aloha! Surfing with her, anywhere we go, is the best. Our life is a surf trip. Thanks for your time. Any last shout outs or thank you’s? Thanks to everyone that had me shape their boards on the east coast. That’s what allowed me to refine my skills and given me more opportunities.
Photo: Tupat Photo: Ruddy
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Affordable Custom Embroidery, Screen Printing and Monogramming
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803 E. 3rd Ave., New Smyrna Beach
CENTRAL FLORIDA EVENT CALENDAR
01/15 | Orange Avenue | Ocean Deck | Daytona Beach 01/18-19 | Asking Avery | Flagler Tavern | New Smyrna Beach 01/19 | Ben Prestage | Beachside Tavern | New Smyrna Beach 01/22 | Orange Avenue | Ocean Deck | Daytona Beach 01/24 | Reed Foley | Flagler Tavern | New Smyrna Beach 01/25 | Bring Me The Horizon, Thrice, Fever 333 | CFE Arena | Orlando 01/25 | Crash Test Dummies | Plaza Live | Orlando 01/26 | 4 Ocean Beach Cleanup | Ocean Deck | Daytona Beach 01/26 | Supervillains | Beachside Tavern | New Smyrna Beach 01/26 | Drive By Truckers w/ Lucinda | Plaza Live | Orlando 01/29 | Orange Avenue | Ocean Deck | Daytona Beach 01/31 | Johnny Mathis | The Peabody | Daytona Beach 02/02 | Reed Foley | Flagler Tavern | New Smyrna Beach 02/06 | Bob Marley Birthday Party | Ocean Deck | Daytona Beach 02/10 | REO Speedwagon | King Performing Arts Center | Melbourne 02/16 | Agent Orange | West End Trading Co. | Sanford 02/22-23 | Tesla | House of Blues | Orlando 02/25-26 | 311 | House of Blues | Orlando 02/28 | Gin Blossoms | House of Blues | Orlando 3/30 | Collie Buddz | Ocean Deck | Daytona Beach 3/31 | Bands on the Sand | Ocean Deck | Daytona Beach
WO L F I E ' S
PICS OF THE MONTH PHOTOGRAPHED BY: JASON OBENAUER @SURFSUPWOLF
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01. Ava McGowen / @ava_rose_mcgowen
07. Jay Smith / @cleversurfboards
03. Bobby Levy / @bobby_levy
09. John Brooks / @jbwhitecloud
02. Caleb Johnston / @kslabjohnston 04. Cory Lopez / @corylopez
05. Eric Geiselman / @ericgeiselman
06. van Geiselman / @evangeiselman
08. Ethan Harbinson / @ethanharbinson 10. Nils Schweizer / @nilsers 11. Sean Preston / @s3an_p
12. Zack Hillier / @zackhillier
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OUTTAKES
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Photo: Ruddy
2 Photo: Laserwolf
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Photo: Ruddy
Photo: @surfsupwolf
Photo: @surfsupwolf
FLUID EXTRAS
Photo: Ruddy
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Photo: Ruddy
Photo: Ruddy
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Photo: @surfsupwolf
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Photo: Courtesy of Tresher
Photo: Ruddy
1. The ultimate wave check accessory. The always reliable Flaunt Bike 2. @bensatgrom and @grom are always frothing and throwing out the good vibes. 3. Shake it up baby! That is so fun to say. 4. The NSB margarita at Boston’s Fish House is epic. Patron plus hibiscus salt makes for a really good time. 5. Film isn't dead. Cover boy Matt Glenn still loads a camera to document his travels. 6. Flagler Tavern has been so good since we started Fluid. We love those guys! 7. Maddie - “Connor come out for just one drink, I swear it will be mellow." 8. Captain Bruno has some long days on the water but made sure to show up for the Fluid Mag Christmas party. 9. Eros and Evan bringing the aloha to the party.10. The originator of the air. The real locals airing it out with style. 11. Guest Editor Devon Tresher and wife Wendy with cloud level selfies.
Lunch. Dinner. Happy hour.
VISITORS LOVE TO STOP IN AND HANG OUT WITH THE LOCALS. Our outstanding views are only surpassed by our exceptional menu. Enjoy very fresh seafood, southern cuisine with a marina flair, craft beers and signature cocktails. Happy Hour: Monday thru Friday 3-6pm. Weekend specials and live music 6-10pm. On the North Causeway | 200 Boatyard Street NSB | Reservations 386.428.6888