JORDAN CHAPPELLE
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Sitka, Alaska

~My trip to the Big 12 Baseball Tournament in Oklahoma City was suppose to be just a time to have fun and watch my college team duke it out with one of their biggest rivals. I was really excited to watch a great game of baseball and hang out with my whole family. What I least expected to come was that this one particular game was going to change my life. One simple question did just that, "Wanna go fishin?" When arriving at the ballgame I was waiting in line to get my ticket and I saw some guys with espn microphones and I told my family that I was going to try and get on tv. So I went over there but since the place was packed there was no hope in me getting on tv. So I just decided to go cheer on my team. While after finding my seat and chattin it up with the family one thing you have to do at the ball park is eat the great food. I was heading back to my seat down the stairs when someone tapped me from behind, I thought it was just one of my brothers but to my BIG surprise it was the guys with the ESPN microphone and video cameras. I was in complete shock but totally excited! YAY I just might be on tv. I thought they were there just covering the big game and getting some fans thoughts on who was going to win. Matt asked me some normal questions from where I was from and what I liked to do. Knowing that they were here for the game I told them how much I like to watch and play sports. But when I said I liked to fish their eyes lit up and I knew something was going on. They didn't have anything about fishing on them so I was pretty confused. But then the famous question was asked, "Wanna go fishin?" And then I was totally confused I had no idea what he was getting at but he then said I had 2 phone calls and 5 minutes to decide if I was going to go with complete strangers to ALASKA for a fishing trip of a lifetime. All I could do was laugh. I really thought it was a huge prank that they were playing on me. But Matt kept counting down the time saying you have 4 minutes left. So I quickly decided I was going no matter what. My mom was hesitant at first but she really knew that I wanted to go so she said ok. But the problem was my grandfather who was there at the game. I remember him telling Matt that he was wasting his time and that I wasn't going. But next thing I knew it I was on a plane off to Alaska. With all my sponsored gear on I was ready to catch the big one. I was on a mission. With the three days that I was there I caught enough fish to feed my whole hometown and enough memories to last me a lifetime. Alaska was beautiful and what made it even better was the feeling when I caught those huge monster king salmon. Words can't describe it when you catch something so big. The effort and time that it takes reeling those monsters in is all worth it when you get the chance to hold them up and in my case kiss them. If you would have asked me before this trip if I could reel in a king salmon like the ones I caught I would have said no way. But the adrenaline and excitement when you get a bite is amazing, you do whatever you need to do in order to get that fish in the boat even if it is dancing around the boat like I had to do. This trip was so amazing in so many different ways and I am so lucky to say that I have been on the most awesome fishing trip of a lifetime. And if anyone ever asks me again you'll know the answer- YES I wanna go fishin!!!

- Jordan Chappelle

Mark Blair
London, Kentucky to Punta de Mita, Mexico

Have you ever had a great fishing story that was so WILD that even though you didn’t stretch the truth at all, people just couldn’t believe it?  A story so wildly unbelievable that you thought “if I only had a picture… then people would have to believe this happened!” 
Now imagine that you HAVE a picture of the fish you’re trying to tell people about, and once you show people the photo, it actually makes the story harder to believe! The picture looks so outrageous that it clearly looks computer-generated, or like some amusement park gag or prop at a mini-golf course at the beach. 

And the story keeps getting so silly that you yourself start to believe, “until I see video footage and collaboration from other people who were THERE, I’m not certain I can buy this myself – this just doesn’t happen to people!”

Thanks to “Wanna Go Fishing” I will find out for certain this Sunday morning if my 4 day getaway to Puerta Vallarta was the dream trip I’ve been telling everyone about -- or simply a fantastic dream.

I was settled in to enjoy an interesting evening at the World Chicken Festival in London, KY, seeing what the folks there do to celebrate the birthplace of both Colonel Sander’s KFC and Lee’s Famous Recipe.  There were games and crafts, performers, bands and carnival rides.  I was walking between the world’s largest chicken-frying skillet and a huge plastic rooster with my wife and friend when a guy tapped me and asked if I had a minute for some questions.  I don’t exactly remember them all because I didn’t expect that short interview to change my life, but I will always remember the one: “Wanna Go Fishin?”

At first I knew they were joking.  This couldn’t be real.  These guys could not be in London, Kentucky looking for a guy like me to go to Puerta Vallarta tonight.  The rest is the best fishing story that will ever be told, and rather than me tell it here, it actually is documented on video, for everyone to see and believe with their own eyes.  From right there I was swept to stay in Casa de Casas, a 30,000 sq ft mansion right on the ocean and has to be the most luxurious estate in the world.  I fished for 2 days with Capt. Josh and the best crew, caught a monster world-class tuna, jumped off the boat and snorkled, drove dune buggies on the beach, ate the freshest ahi tuna I will ever eat, and relaxed at nights in the mansion’s pool and hot tub with some great new friends that I will remember for the rest of my life.  The trip changed me. I now pay more attention to the things that truly are important, instead of the things that I thought were, if that makes any sense.  I had time to focus, and smile, and take in how lucky I am.  Every day give thanks for that.

This fishing story is so unbelievable that I know it is a once in a lifetime chance and I’m the luckiest guy in the world! 

-Mark Blair

Chip Frazer
Washington D.C. to Puerto Rico

Have you ever observed someone else's good fortune and said to yourself, "Why don't those things happen to me!?!?" I used to think that, but found myself as the recipient of fantastic fortune when the guys from "Wanna Go Fishing" came up to my family and me on the National Mall in Washington, DC and asked me several questions on camera. Even after they popped the fishing question with the trademark "five minutes, two phone calls" line, I didn't believe that something so good could happen to me. After all, we were on the Mall because my in-laws were in town for the weekend. Who wouldn't jump at the chance to take an incredible fishing trip to Puerto Rico and leave the in-laws at home?

As soon as I said an emphatic "YES!" things started moving quickly. We went back to my place and I packed a small bag. After all, who needs much when you are going to the sun and fun of Puerto Rico? We left for the airport and flew to San Juan, Puerto Rico early the next morning. Being in Puerto Rico with such a great group of guys was an incredible vacation. We enjoyed ourselves by the pool and geared up to land some big tarpon! When we began fishing, I was amazed at how skilled the boat captain, Captain Omar Orraca, was in making sure that the fish would jump into the boat. The guys from Wanna Go Fishing were extremely encouraging, even though this was my first time at fishing tarpon. I quickly learned that you MUST "bow to the king" when they jump, or the line will come back to you much faster than what you cast it! We spent two days of fun, challenging fishing. There is nothing quite like bringing a beautiful tarpon on board and seeing the prize in your hands. It was truly the experience of a lifetime. So if you ever see some guys that ask you if you Wanna Go Fishing, know that you are going to have the time of your life. Memories of a trip like mine to Puerto Rico are hard to come by. Fischer Productions and ESPN are the consummate class act. Everything was already planned, prepared, and coordinated, so all I had to do was hook those awesome tarpon and have the time of my life!

-Chip Frazer

Mshak Ghazarian
Los Angeles, California to Puerto Vicente, Mexico

"One minute, i'm standing in line at a tamale festival in downtown Los Angeles waiting to eat some freshly made tamales, and the next second I'm flying down to Puerto Vicente to go offshore fishing for the first time in my life!

As I got pulled out of line by a couple guys wearing ESPN shirts and holding big video camera's and a microphone, I tried to figure out why they were at a tamale festival in LA. Initially, I didn't get an answer to my question. I was asked about the tamale festival, LA, and different things that I enjoy doing. When Matt Eastman asked me whether or not I fished or if i enjoyed fishing, my answer was a quick 'No. I think it's boring.' And with that, the crew thanked me for my time, cut off the interview and went on their way. Well, it turns out that Matt didn't appreciate that answer and came back to me on a mission; to prove me wrong. The camera crew came back, pulled me out of line again, and started asking me some more questions.
And then, came the kicker;

"So, Mshak, if someone gave you the chance to go offshore fishing, would you take it?

"Yes."

"Mshak, do you wanna go fishing with us tomorrow in Mexico?"

In my head, i'm thinking, "Whoa! WHAT?! This is a joke right?"

The next couple of days were a whole new world for me. Trolling the blue waters in a Ponga, I was fortunate to have the chance to battle with Marlin, Sailfish and Dorado. WOW! What a rush! The whole experience was brand new for me; getting up at 4:30am, spending the day on a boat out in the middle of the ocean, trying to find the little, almost imperceptible signs that life and fish were near. And then, if things are looking up for you that day, you get that bite. That's the feeling that will stay with me. The rush of knowing that it's a one-on-one battle between you and nature's finest. It was an experience that lasted for 4 days, and as cliche as it sounds, it's an experience that will stay with me forever. So if you or your friends are goin fishin', make sure to give me a call, cause I WANNA GO!"

-Mshak Ghazarian