Mike Baxter

Mike Baxter

Sportfishing Captain, Salmon fisherman, Conservationist, Radio Host

Captain Mike Baxter is unique among California outdoorsman as his experiences run the gamut from ocean charter boat captain, commercial salmon fisherman, radio show host, creator and organizer of a major fishing event in the Central Coast, board member of the Monterey Bay Salmon and Steelhead Project, outdoor writer, passionate angler of varied fish species ranging from steelhead to bluefin tuna to swordfish, and dedicated hunter of wild boar. He is constantly living the legacy of a sportsman and teaching and recruiting others to be good stewards of our natural resources.

Baxter started commercial salmon fishing with his father, and at the age of 19, he wound up working the decks on San Diego long-range boats on the Royal Star and Royal Polaris on trips up to 23 days. 

He attained his 100-Ton Masters Captain’s License and started running charter boats at the age of 21 out of Santa Cruz for ‘Shamrock Charters;’ eventually running the well-known Wild Wave, a 70-foot sport fisher with a capacity of 49 passengers.

His passion for steelhead has taken him along the Pacific Northwest where he spends as much time in the winter and spring on the Olympic Peninsula in search of giant steelhead. He has mapped and learned to row his drift boat down these rivers and has caught and released three steelhead well over 20 pounds. 

He enjoys pig hunting, and he has captured several trophy boars including two over 300 pounds. An aficionado of bluefin tuna, he has landed several over 200 pounds along with an Opah over 100 pounds on rod and reel. 

Baxter has been in pursuit of a swordfish for over five years, hooking and lost three, before recently ending his quest with fishing partner Jason Young with a 322-pound swordfish off Nine Mile Bank outside of San Diego. He dedicated thousands of hours to reach this quest.

Baxter started, produced, and hosted the ‘Let’s Go Fishing’ radio show through KSCO in the late 1990s and ran the seasonal show for 13 seasons. He obtained his own sponsors along with writing and producing their custom ads. He also wrote for the local Paper Press Banner, Western Outdoor News, and other publications.

In 2004, Baxter envisioned an affordable fishing tournament to provide Central Coast anglers an option during the slower winter season, and this spawned the Sand Crab Classic Perch tournament. Along with Allen Bushnell, he organizes over 30 volunteers and 300 participants, and dedicates all proceeds from the annual event to the nonprofit Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project (MBSTP). 

Baxter has been a Board of Director with MBSTP since 2006, donating his time and attention to capture wild brood-stock steelhead for production of juveniles. He recruited crews to man a trap 24 hours a day until the goal was met, allowing 30,000 juveniles to be released in the San Lorenzo River. He also assists with various other projects including the annual spring release of 200,000 Chinook salmon off the Santa Cruz and Monterey wharves.

Baxter is both a passionate outdoorsman and contributor to the future of the sport.

Frank LoPreste

Frank LoPreste, A life spent greatly at sea.

If California ever chose its most legendary sea captain, Frank LoPreste would surely be on the list.

His life at sea began in 1951 as an eight-year-old deckhand on the Clemente, San Mateo, Frontier, then Sea Raider, starting at $3 a day. By 21, he was a licensed captain, running his own vessel.

Today, LoPreste is widely regarded as a pioneering figure within San Diego’s long-range sportfishing fleet. He was among the first sportfishing captains there to voyage to remote areas in search of trophy game fish. He popularized Clipperton Atoll in the eastern Pacific, 1,600 miles southwest of San Diego, and further expanded the San Diego fleet’s range beyond Mexican coastal waters to the Baja & Revillagigedo Islands. For his exploits and long-range sportfishing adventures, Frank LoPreste is described by the International Game Fish Association as a “Living Legend.” 

On Royal Polaris, LoPreste innovated kite fishing, a technique where a kite is used to carry baits far from a boat, keeping them in the water at the surface. LoPreste recognized its effectiveness in targeting species like sailfish, tuna, and kingfish and presenting live bait and lures in a way that imitates a skipping baitfish or avoids the boat's wake. Once the bait is bitten, the line releases from a clip on the kite, allowing the angler to reel the fish in more reliably and safely than other methods. With his novel approach, sportfishermen were more successful in landing big fish and better enjoying their trips. 

Now 80 years of age, LoPreste has been cutting back, though he is remembered as having been tireless in serving his guests, working late hours, mentoring crew, treating guests and crew alike with respect and compassion, and always willing to help bait a hook and teach others what he knows about fishing. His concern for the guest experience is noted on social media by many past customers. “RubberHook2” commented on SatFish that at 14 years old, he was called to the bridge by LoPreste to take the helm and experience steering Royal Polaris in large S curves across the swelling Pacific, a childhood memory he has cherished into adulthood.

His expertise as a blue-water navigator, sea captain and sportsfisherman is unexcelled. LoPreste introduced advanced fuel, refrigeration, and bait-storage systems, making multi-week voyages possible. More than any other captain, Frank LoPreste molded today’s great San Diego sportfishing fleet and pioneered long-range sportfishing expeditions to far-flung and remote islands across the Pacific Ocean. Many of San Diego’s sportfishing captains were mentored by LoPreste and owe their lives, skills and success to his guiding hand.

When fellow Captain 39-year-old James “Rollo” Heyn - who began as a deckhand for LoPreste - lost his life at sea in 1999, LoPreste - joined by friends and anglers - established the non-profit organization Friends of Rollo (also known as Captain Rollo's Kids at Sea). Its purpose is to keep Captain Heyn's legacy alive by providing ocean fishing and marine life awareness trips for disadvantaged, underserved, physically challenged, and at-risk youth who otherwise might not  have that opportunity.

Through Captain Rollo’s Kids at Sea, LoPreste and his friends sought to share their love of fishing and the marine environment, which was a passion of Captain Heyn's, with as many children as possible. The organization covers all costs, including the boat charter, fishing tackle, and lunch, to ensure the experience is accessible to all participants. Since its inception, the program has introduced over 150,000 children to ocean fishing and conservation.

Over his lifetime, Frank LoPreste has captained and owned several vessels including Sport (‘65-66), Sea Horse (‘67), Fury (‘67), Patrician (‘68-70), Webfoot (‘71), Prowler (‘71), Searcher 1 (‘71-74), Nova (‘75-76), Cape Polaris (‘74-77) and Royal Polaris (‘78 to today).

However, it was on the 109’ Royal Polaris that his fame as a long-range skipper was founded. He made her the fastest long-range sportfisher in the world, equipping Royal Polaris with the latest navigational and fish-finding gear. Her range is virtually unlimited due to her enormous fuel, bait, and refrigerated fish storage capacities. And, she has coursed the wide Pacific in search of innumerable exotic sportfishing adventures, ones that remain available to anyone. What he accomplished while innovating American sportfishing has led to Frank LoPreste’s Royal Polaris to be acclaimed near and far as the world’s finest sportfishing vessel.

Royal Polaris is a great boat, but it is Frank LoPreste who made her and himself legendary. From boyhood deckhand to blue-water skipper, Frank LoPreste has led a life of adventure and innovation on the high seas in service to those involved in the sport of ocean game fishing.

Frank LoPreste on Casting - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJHhs3xUms8

Frank LoPreste on Bite Zone - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9L_XJKo0V4

Friedman on Frank LoPreste - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kohv325Q1AA