Introducing The Catch Co Local Leaders Fishing Ambassadors

At Catch Co, our purpose is to rescue humanity from the indoors by creating products, content, and experiences that modern anglers love. In order to fulfill this mission, we created the Local Leaders Community Ambassadors Program to help us welcome new anglers into our growing fishing community and empower them to do good.

Catch Co. Local Leaders are brand and community service ambassadors that are active and engaged leaders in their fishing communities. They are ambitious anglers who come from all walks of life and have a passion for learning, teaching, and mentoring.

In addition to being passionate anglers, Local Leaders are fans of Catch Co.’s products and services. They have a deep understanding of who we are as a company and what we create to entertain and support our customers. Local Leaders embody our values and above all else, believe everyone can fish with us!

We launched this program last year with 4 amazing leaders and now, we have a growing team of 13 local leaders representing 10 different states. Learn more about them below and read what they had to say during our interview process. If you’re interested in joining our mission to rescue humanity from the indoors, visit the link below and apply! We’ll be reviewing applications for our next cohort later this year!

Become A Catch Co Local Leader

Terrence Lynch

Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina
Connect on TikTok: lynchfishing

Terrence Lynch has been a member of Fishing Free-For-All since Jan 11, 2020. If you’ve been in the group lately, you’ll likely find him talking about the new baits he wants to try this year and flexing pics of slab crappie or chunky bass. When we asked,

“Why do you want to grow your local fishing community?” he said:

Greensboro is a city on the come up. It’s a small city that has a college town vibe but becomes a place where people settle down or even retire. There isn’t a lot to do though. That’s why I fish! There are 5 great public fisheries in the area that you can explore. Being able to enjoy the outdoors and just learn new ways to experience it through fishing is something I think more people should try. The opportunity to host events and workshops that give people something new they can enjoy is the best benefit of it all.

Yahaira Vargas

Hometown: Bastrop, Texas
Connect on TikTok: yahairavargas95

Yara Vargas has been a member of Fishing Free-For-All since January 10, 2020. She is a recreation and tournament angler that loves Googan Baits, travel, and teaching others to fish! Yara also helps run a Facebook group for women called #BassGrls and shares pictures from those adventures with us. When we asked her,

“Why do you want to grow your local fishing community?” she said,

I fell in love with fishing thanks to my dad. He introduced me to fishing while I was in the military. He took me one day and I felt all the peace and quiet of the outdoors. It inspired me to keep practicing and I’ve gotten really good! I want other people to experience that feeling of unity, respect, and love for nature… to leave places better than we found them. Nature gives us so much and I want to encourage people to enjoy it and preserve it.

Bryan Grantz

Hometown: Canton, Ohio
Connect on Instagram: Bgrantz86

Bryan Grantz has been a member of the group since August 13, 2020. Usually, he’s posting memes or tackle haul pictures. He’s always trying new baits and has amassed quite a collection thanks to his curiosity. He will be the first to tell you that he got skunked on a new bait and is willing to share what he’s learned while using it. Bryan enjoys sharing knowledge to spark others’ interest in fishing and the outdoors. When we asked him,

“Why do you want to grow your local fishing community?” he said,

I think the biggest problem in my little part of Ohio is that not too many people know what our community has to offer. I can help bring more of our activities to light by teaching people about fishing! I've found some of the best hiking and fishing locations by searching Google maps. My goal is to show the younger generation just how easy it is to connect and enjoy nature that’s right in their own backyard.

Aaron Royster

Hometown: Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
Connect on Instagram: red.oak.outdoors

Aaron Royster has been a member of the group since April 1, 2021. He’s a firm believer that fishing brings people from all walks of life together. He sees hard working anglers in his community open to sharing tips, tricks, and even honey holes because they understand fishing means more than baits and biggins. When he asked,

“Why did you want to be a Local Leader?” he said:

I want to be a part of building a community where people feel like they belong, where we can all learn and grow as people, not just anglers. Fishing adds value to people’s lives in so many ways and they work really hard to enjoy it. So for me, discovering that “why” helps us become more self aware. When we can understand ourselves better we can understand those who share our passions better as well.

Josh Thompson

Hometown: Marshville, North Carolina

Josh Thompson has been a member of Fishing Free-For-All since August 26, 2021. He’s a proud dad who loves taking his two kids outside every chance he gets. Josh grew up fishing with his grandfather but lost that connection as he got older. Now that he’s fishing again, Josh reconnects to nature with his favorite explorers by his side. When we asked him,

“What does "Explore Your Passion" mean to you?” he said,

It means never stop learning. For me, it means trying new fishing styles and techniques. It means learning about local species. It means learning how to be a responsible angler and showing respect to wildlife. Basically, I wanted to become a local leader in order to explore my passion for fishing and have the means to share this passion with others.

Chuck Shoumake

Hometown: East Brewton, Alabama
Connect on Instagram: cshoumake

Chuck Shoumake has been a member of Fishing Free-For-All since August 14, 2020. He got into fishing after retiring from the US Navy and spends his time fishing for largies. He takes a trip out to fish saltwater at least once a month too! During the interview we asked,

“Why did you want to be a Local Leader?” he said,

The opportunity to continue passing on tips and educating others about what's around them is important. Outdoor life (fishing, hunting, things like that) are starting to disappear. Don't get me wrong, video games and cellphones are fun, but there ain't nothing like a good day swimming or fishing at the creek or lake. The benefits of being outside can’t be replaced by a screen.

Anthony Jimenez

Hometown: Oxnard, California
Connect on Instagram: Getting_Skunked

Anthony Jimenez has been a member of the group since December 20, 2020. He’s the proud host of the Getting_Skunked YouTube channel where he shares his adventures learning how to fish for bass on the west coast. Anthony got back into fishing during the pandemic after being stationed in California for the Navy. It took 3 trips for him to catch his first bass and now he’s hooked! When we asked him,

“Why do you want to grow your local fishing community?” he told us that,

“... when I was trying to learn techniques from YouTube, it seemed like everything was coming from the south. So I decided to create my own channel and share all of my trial and error to help aspiring anglers in my area. It’s about exploring your passion after all.

Liam Tonns

Hometown: Jupiter, Florida
Connect on Instagram: liamtonnsfishing

Liam Tonns has been a member of Fishing Free-For-All since August 20, 2020. He’s a saltwater angler that has helped a few group members land new saltwater species and PB’s in south Florida. He fishes all the time. Like, almost everyday. The only time he’s not fishing is when he’s in the hospital because he didn’t fish enough. True story. When we asked him

“Why do you want to grow your local fishing community?” he said,

I want to show others you don’t need a $50,000 bass boat and $300 rods and reels to get out there and have a great time catching fish! Whether it’s downsizing tackle and teaching others the joys of light and micro fishing, or doubling down with the big guns and going after some true freshwater monsters: there’s a fish to be caught for everyone.

John Johnstone

Hometown: Hastings, Michigan

John Johnstone has been a member of Fishing Free-For-All since July 20, 2021. If you’ve ever posted a pic in the group, you might’ve seen him in the comments offering words of encouragement and celebrating your catch! He started fishing for trout and salmon as a child in Ontario, Canada and over the years has found a true passion for bass fishing. When we asked him,

“Why did you want to be a Local Leader?” he said,

Being a local leader gives me the opportunity to connect our local youth to the beautiful lakes, rivers,a nd creeks they have in their backyard. I know that fishing is a way to release stress and get exercise too. For people who suffer from different addictions, fishing and exploring the outdoors can improve mental health and be a great outlet. I have a goal and a dream to share something that brings me peace and happiness with the people in my community and beyond!

Lance Griggs Sr.

Hometown: Centreville, Alabama

Lance Griggs Sr. has been a member of the group since July 10, 2021. He started fishing with his brother when they were kids and got back into fishing in recent years to spend time outdoors with his family. He loves trying new tackle and just being around other people who love the outdoors. For him, being part of our community is a joyful experience and he wants to build that in his hometown.

When we asked him “Why do you want to grow your local fishing community?” he said,

Fishing seems to always bring the best out of people. The community always seems to have each other's backs whether they know each other or not. I want to experience that joy and compassion in my hometown. I want to build a community where anyone can easily lean upon someone else for help whether it’s with fishing or life. We all share a special bond as outdoorsmen and women!

Emily Gerardo

Hometown: South Portland, Maine
Connect on Instagram: bazz_hands

Emily Gerardo has been a member of the group since February 14, 2021. She fell in love with fishing a couple of years ago after an amazing trip with Maine Guide, Jake Rackliff! Since then, Emily has used fishing as a way to reset from all the chaos of her busy life being a nurse and a student.When we asked her

“Why do you want to grow your local fishing community?” she said,

Fishing is so much more than an event or an experience: it's a lifestyle, a tradition, an epicenter for diverse backgrounds, skill, and interests. Part of what makes fishing what it is IS the community, and helping to grow one locally is a great way to introduce others to a sport that is addicting, rewarding, and restorative. I believe in being a positive force and I’m eager to share the sportsmanship, the camaraderie, and the appreciation for the natural world with those who would like to experience it with me!

Jerrod Lamkins

Hometown: Rosharon, Texas
Connect on Instagram: Largemouthbassturd

Jerrod Lamkins has been a member of Fishing Free-For-All since August 10, 2020. He started his fishing journey in saltwater as a child around Freeport, Texas, but lost touch with the sport as he got older. In 2019, he started freshwater fishing after being inspired by Jon B and the Never Stop Tour. When we asked him,
Why did you want to be a Local Leader? he said,

I think the Houston area is a very rewarding fishery with a large variety of species. I want to host events that showcase the diversity of the fish we have and teach people the styles of fishing we use to catch them. I also love the idea of helping clean up our waterways and show other anglers how that can make our fisheries even more exciting. Besides that, I think it’s a great opportunity to build friendships and a sense of community in my hometown.