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Episode Show Notes
Captain Bouncer Smith is a legendary sport fishing captain in South Florida with 52 years of charter fishing experience in Miami Beach. But some of the most powerful moments of his career haven't come from catching trophy fish—they've come from watching sick children and their families find joy on the water. In this episode, Bouncer reveals the story behind a Christmas party that changed his life, why a seven-year-old girl gave up her dream rod and reel for a stranger, and how Fish To Make A Difference is giving families something they desperately need: time to just be together. If you think you know what fishing can do, this conversation will show you something deeper.
What is Fish To Make A Difference?
Fish To Make A Difference was founded by Clay Barker and works with Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, Florida, to take sick kids and their families out for fishing trips. The organization focuses not just on the sick children but also on their siblings and families who often get ignored during medical crises.
Who is Bouncer Smith?
Bouncer Smith is a legendary sport fishing captain in South Florida with 52 years of charter fishing experience in Miami Beach. He has dedicated much of his career to giving back through organizations like Fish To Make A Difference, taking sick children and their families fishing.
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Shop Star brite →The Christmas Party That Changed Everything
Late December brought a phone call that would become one of the highlights of Bouncer's 52-year career. Clay Barker called about an eight-year-old girl named Dolly who was in serious trouble with cystic fibrosis—the same disease that had taken her father's life that summer. What happened next involved a white beard, a Christmas party, and a seven-year-old girl named Cara who made a decision that left grown men speechless. Bouncer was asked to play a very specific role, and what unfolded that night became the kind of story you don't forget. The full story of the Christmas party starts at 8:23.
When a Seven-Year-Old Gives Up Her Dream
Cara had been saving money all year long with one goal in mind: buying herself a brand new rod and reel. She had the money. She had picked out what she wanted. Then her father showed her something on the Internet about a little girl named Dolly who really needed a big Christmas. What Cara decided to do with her savings will hit you right in the chest. But the story doesn't end there—because Bouncer and Clay weren't about to let that sacrifice go unanswered. What happened when Cara came down to the dock the following Wednesday is the kind of moment that reminds you why people like Bouncer do what they do. Hear what Cara said when she recognized Bouncer's voice at 12:05.
Hear Bouncer tell the full story of Cara's sacrifice and what happened next
The Families Nobody Sees
When a child gets sick, all the attention goes to that child. The siblings get shuffled off to grandma and grandpa. They've been literally ignored. Bouncer talks about how Fish To Make A Difference focuses not just on the sick kids, but on giving the entire family a few hours where they can just be together—where a sibling can feel seen, where parents can breathe for a moment. He explains why fishing is therapeutic whether you're five years old or fifty, and what happens when a family gets on the water and everything else disappears for a while. This isn't just charity work—it's giving families something they desperately need. Bouncer's perspective on why the whole family matters starts at 7:42.
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SubscribeFifty-Two Years and Still Going Strong
At one point in the conversation, Tom asks Bouncer what keeps him going after 52 years of charter fishing in Miami Beach. Bouncer's answer cuts through all the noise: the love of it, the water, the people. He's met presidents and movie stars on his boat, but the ones that stick with him are the kids. Seeing a kid catch their first fish never gets old. He talks about being at that age in his life where he has time and finances to give back, and why there's nothing better than that. This isn't nostalgia—it's a man who found his calling early and never let go. Bouncer explains what keeps him on the water at 16:10.
This conversation goes deep. Don't miss it.
Key Takeaways
- A seven-year-old girl named Cara gave up an entire year's worth of savings meant for a new rod and reel to buy Christmas presents for a sick stranger—and what happened next will restore your faith in people
- Fish To Make A Difference focuses on the families that get ignored when a child is sick—the siblings, the parents who need a moment to just breathe
- Bouncer played Santa Claus for a Christmas party that became one of the highlights of his 52-year fishing career, and the story involves a girl with cystic fibrosis who lost her father to the same disease
- Being on the water is therapeutic in a way that makes everything else disappear—whether you're five years old or fifty
- After meeting presidents and movie stars over five decades, the moments that stick with Bouncer are watching kids catch their first fish
- Clay Barker founded Fish To Make A Difference after being on Bouncer's boat one day and wanting to create a charity that takes sick kids fishing
- Cara fed the tarpon 35 or 40 ballyhoo before getting her surprise rod and reel, and she recognized Bouncer's voice from somewhere but couldn't quite place it
Final Thoughts from Tom
I drove down to meet Bouncer at his dock at 6AM because our schedules were so tight, and I'm glad I did. You can hear the sounds of the harbor in the background, and there's something raw and real about this conversation that you don't get in a studio.
Bouncer is one of my favorite guests because he's a natural storyteller, and this episode showcases that. The story about Cara and Dolly hit me hard. When you hear about a seven-year-old giving up something she'd saved for all year to help a stranger, it makes you think about what really matters.
This is what fishing can do when it's used the right way. Bouncer embodies what it means to be legendary—not just because of his 52 years on the water, but because of how he's using that platform to give back. Listen to the whole thing. This one's worth your time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Fish To Make A Difference?
Fish To Make A Difference is a charity founded by Clay Barker that works with Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, Florida. The organization takes sick kids and their families out for fishing trips, focusing not just on the sick children but also on their siblings and parents who often get overlooked during medical crises.
How long has Bouncer Smith been a charter captain?
Captain Bouncer Smith has been a charter fishing captain in Miami Beach, South Florida for 52 years. He started working on boats seven days a week and six nights a week right after high school graduation.
Who is Clay Barker?
Clay Barker is the founder of Fish To Make A Difference. He started the charity after being on Bouncer Smith's boat one day and expressing his desire to create an organization that takes sick kids fishing. He works closely with Bouncer to coordinate fishing trips for families dealing with childhood illnesses.
What happened at the Christmas party for Dolly?
The Christmas party was organized for an eight-year-old girl named Dolly who has cystic fibrosis and whose father passed away from the same disease that summer. Bouncer Smith played Santa Claus at the party. A seven-year-old girl named Cara, who had been saving money all year for a rod and reel, used her savings to buy Christmas presents for Dolly instead.
Why does Bouncer Smith continue charter fishing after 52 years?
Bouncer continues charter fishing because of his love for the water, the people, and the experience itself. While he's met presidents and movie stars over the years, the moments that stick with him most are watching kids catch their first fish. He's now at an age where he has both the time and finances to give back through fishing.
Related Episodes
Bouncer's first appearance on the podcast where he shares decades of fishing stories from Miami Beach
More stories about using fishing as a tool for therapy and connection with families in crisis
Insights from veteran charter captains on building a career on the water
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Shop Nuvio RecoveryClay Barker — Founder of Fish To Make A Difference
Dolly — Eight-year-old girl with cystic fibrosis
Cara — Seven-year-old girl who donated her savings
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Captain Bouncer Smith
Captain Bouncer Smith is a legendary sport fishing captain in South Florida with 52 years of charter fishing experience in Miami Beach. He started working on boats seven days a week and six nights a week right after graduating from high school, despite his father's insistence that he go to college. Bouncer knew early on that he was going to be a fisherman when he grew up. Now in the later stages of his career, he dedicates significant time and resources to giving back through organizations like Fish To Make A Difference, taking sick children and their families out on the water. He has met presidents and movie stars over his five decades on the water, but the moments that stick with him most are watching kids catch their first fish.
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About this Guest
Bouncer Smith
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Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker 0: If you want everything you need to take care of your boat, StarBright's got the solution.
[00:01:37] Speaker 1: Amy and I followed very similar footsteps. We both had great parents. And when I graduated from high school, I was already working on boats seven days a week and six nights a week.
[00:02:50] Speaker 0: Hey everybody. This podcast is brought to you by Waypoint TV. So one of the people that I like to follow on Instagram is a legendary sport fishing captain in South Florida. Fifty two years as a charter fisherman in Miami Beach. His name is captain Bouncer Smith.
[00:06:49] Speaker 1: Oh boy. I love dealing with the kids. And you know, it's an interesting thing when you're 25 or 30 years old. Now I'm at that age in my life where I've got time and finances to be able to give back, and there's nothing better than giving back to these kids and their families.
[00:07:42] Speaker 1: Fish To Make A Difference was founded by Clay Barker, and the premise was Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital up in Hollywood. And we would take sick kids and the family out for a few hours of fishing. And we've gone snook fishing at the inlet. We've gone fishing for pinfish with little kids in the bay. We've gone tarpon fishing and sail fishing and whatever it takes to have a good time.
[00:08:23] Speaker 1: And then I had one of the highlights of my life this last late December. Clay Barker called me up, and he says, we've got a little girl who is really in big trouble. She's got cystic fibrosis. Her father passed away this past summer of cystic fibrosis. Well, I had a white beard, so I let my beard grow a little longer. And Clay Barker asked me to play Santa Claus.
[00:09:08] Speaker 1: So we had a Christmas party for this eight year old girl named Dolly. And one of the highlights of the night was there was a little girl named Cara who had heard about this Christmas party. And she had been saving money all year to buy a brand new rod and reel. Her dad said I can't afford to buy it for you, but I'll split the cost with you. Her father read about this girl Dolly on the internet. And Cara said, well, I did really good at saving money this year, but this little girl really needs a big Christmas. So I wanna take my savings and buy her Christmas presents. So she took all of her savings, and she bought presents for Dolly.
[00:11:00] Speaker 1: At as we were driving home, I told Clay Barker, says, you know, we gotta take care of Cara. She gave up her rod and reel, so we gotta get her a rod and reel. So Clay said he would try to take care of it. But the rod and reel didn't get acquired. And then Clay got the flu. So the first day I had a chance, I called up the company that makes this rod and reel and I bought it and had it shipped to me.
[00:11:45] Speaker 1: And then we contacted the father. Can you bring the daughter down here? And Kara and her dad showed up. She had never fed tarpon before, so she fed the tarpon 35 or 40 ballyhoo. And at first she was completely intimidated, and then she got braver as time went on. And then we surprised her with her selected rod and reel, and she was thrilled with that.
[00:13:20] Speaker 1: I'm approaching 71. I've been heavy my whole life. I've been on a boat my whole life. I've really been doing this 52 years. My body is getting very tired. So as much as I want to do more with the kids, I'm limited by what I can physically keep up with anymore. I run charters six days a week and then trying to get a couple kids doing the trips, it's challenging, but I still keep working at it.
[00:14:33] Speaker 0: But Fish To Make A Difference, now that's a television show too?
[00:14:36] Speaker 1: Yeah. They just became a television show here recently. And we did their very first show. They were on SunSports, and they were voted the number one show of the now just finished quarter of television ratings. Number one show on SunSports, number one outdoor show. And I'm sure
[00:15:55] Speaker 1: If you haven't done it, you owe it to yourself to do it. We're coming to Miami Beach Marina, and we look for volunteers to donate their boat time for a Saturday morning. And we bring kids and their families from one challenge or another, and the volunteers take them fishing for half a day.
[00:17:54] Speaker 1: That plus the fact that I have a guy who's worked with me for ten years. His name's Aby Raymond. Just the greatest guy in the world. And as long as I can get down this ramp and over this rail, all I have to do is sit here and he'll do everything else. From rigging the rods, to baiting the hooks, to pulling the anchor.
[00:22:35] Speaker 1: I'm approaching 71 years old. And I can tell you, in hindsight, I wish I'd gone to college. I've been a very lucky successful businessman. But if I'd gone to college, I would have been better at knowing about running a business. I could've known a lot more about approaching sponsors.
[00:30:22] Speaker 1: Well, using myself as an example, by being in the fishing business, I raised a son and was happily married for thirty five years. We always had a roof over our head. We always had dinner. I'm in a position now where I actually have enough income and reserves that I can do things for other people. The other morning, I went out to breakfast, and four coasties come in, four guys in the coast guard. They're not getting paid right now but they're out there watching out for our well-being every day. I called the waitress over, gave her $60, and said they've got those guys' breakfast on me, and don't say anything about where it came from.
[00:31:47] Speaker 1: I was fortunate enough to work for eight or nine different captains very early in my career. Some of them were great marlin fishermen. Some of them were great salesmen because a fisherman has to be a salesman. Some of them were great entertainers. I learned a lot of things, a lot about a lot of different methods. And then because of the career I've had, I went to Italy and taught how to fish for swordfish. I go to the Cayman Islands every year and I run a Swordfish tournament. I've spent five summers in Ocean City, Maryland. I've fished Cape Cod several times. I've been to Saint Thomas numerous times. You get to see as much of the world as you want.
[00:44:24] Speaker 1: Days are great. Just some are greater than others. We go fishing every day. I really thank you for coming up and spending time with me so early in the morning.
[00:44:57] Speaker 0: Man, as always, I love talking to Bouncer Smith. He's got a lot of stories, man. A lot of stories. If you did enjoy this episode, rate and review the show on iTunes. You can go to the podcast site, tomrolandpodcast.com. You can hit me with an email at podcast@saltwaterexperience.com.that a lot of that came back to the fact that every show was dealing with kids who had some challenge or another medically.