OUR CREW
If you’ve been waiting for the opportunity to experience wild Alaskan fishing, wait no longer, our seasoned skippers are ready to guide your journey!
CAPTAIN JOSH
Born and raised in Wisconsin, so you know he loves to fish, is our Early Riser Captain. His love for walleyes, northern pike, bass, perch, and crappies in the surrounding lakes was passed down by Josh’s grandfather.
After working one summer season during college in Alaska, Josh was hooked! He fished as a deckhand for the next two summers in Sitka before finding his way to Homer in 2014, where Josh spent two more years working as a deckhand. In 2016, Josh obtained his USCG Near Coastal 100 Ton Masters license and fished as a charter captain for four years with various companies.
In the Spring of 2020, Josh partnered with Tai Riser to establish Big Butt Charters. Josh is living his dream running fishing charters year-round, from king salmon/tanner crab combination trips in the winter to multi-species (halibut, salmon, and rockfish) trips during the summer season.
When Josh has time off, you can find him with his wife and daughters, cheering for the Packers with his cheesehead, or back in Wisconsin hunting white tail deer.
CAPTAIN JORDAN
From Atlanta, Georgia is our Bait Ball Captain. Always an outdoor enthusiast, he chased the adventurous life all the way to Homer, Alaska. Jordan started as a fish-hauler for Buttwhackers in 2012 bringing barrels of fish up the ramp no matter how low the tide was. At the end of the season, he was asked to fill in as a deckhand where he more than willingly obliged.
Jordan realized how much he loved teaching clients how to fish and the challenging side to different fishing conditions daily.
For the following summers, he worked as a deckhand for several charters on the Spit gaining a wealth of experience and in 2015, he acquired his captains’ credentials. Since then, he has worked primarily as a charter guide, but has used his license for water taxis and wildlife tours as well. His energetic enthusiasm and appreciation for Kachemak Bay is infectious. There is so much history and beauty in this part of the world, and he’s happy when he shares the excitement and curiosity with clients! You can find Jordan on the deck sharing jokes, awful facts about otters, and eating your snacks.
TAI RISER
Tai Riser came to Alaska in the fall of 1993 on a basketball scholarship with the University of Alaska Anchorage, bringing along his new bride. He immediately fell in love with the beauty of the state as well as the fishing. After bringing his wife and children back for a summer vacation in 2017, Tai vowed to spend more time here. His family enjoyed Alaska so much, they purchased property and began spending their summers here.
In 2019, Tai began researching ocean boats and charter fishing. By 2020, Tai was looking to purchase an ocean boat and discovered a captain from Homer was looking at the same boat he was. Tai was in need of a captain, and Captain Josh was in need of a boat. Voilà! Big Butt Charters was born, and the rest, as they say, is history!
"Had an amazing trip fishing for halibut with Big Butt Charters! Captain Josh got us into big fish right off the bat and got us our limit for the day. We had to buy a new freezer!! Good times were had by all and we will be back for more."
"Great day out of Homer, AK for halibut and salmon. Caught our limit of halibut early and trolled for salmon the rest of the day. Saw lots of wildlife also. Jordan was an excellent captain - polite, knowledgeable and informative. Cody did a super job as mate and had all our fish cleaned before we returned to port. We’ll definitely look them up when we’re in the area again." - Nancy, Fort Myers, FL
