by Anthony J. Denavarra (Author)
What do you say about a guy like Gene Turner except that there 'is' no guy like Gene Turner. This is the man who brought cast nets to Tampa Bay. We were using hoop nets to get our bait. He pioneered efforts for conservation of our fishing resources and was one of the most influential persons in stopping gill netting in local waters. He built Turner Crafts. He developed many techniques for king fishing still widely used such as the 'Gene Turner stinger rig'. He helped start local tournaments. He has many inventions which make fishing more efficient and successful. He is well respected among most people in the fishing community. He was called 'the father of kingfishing on the west coast of Florida' by King Gator, Sid Rice.