Captain Hayden Meier Captain Joe Calandra Captain Riley Driggers Captain Mike Myers Captain Dan Fry Captain Chuck Patterson Captain Jim Benton
Tanaku Lodge Guides
Captain Hayden is the son of lodge owners Dennis and Susan. He has grown up spending his summers at Tanaku Lodge. Hayden has spent many years learning the waters and the fish near Elfin Cove through both sport and commercial fishing. In the off season Hayden, his soon-to-be wife Kaitlin and their beloved husky, live in Boise, ID. Hayden loves teaching people how to improve their fishing skills while listening to good tunes and landing lots of fish.
Captain Joe has been guiding for the Tanaku Lodge in Alaska’s south east since 2005. Joe, a native of Long Island New York, brings his knowledge of chasing Tuna, Fluke and Striped Bass to the Alaska coast.Joe runs the twenty six foot Osprey, powered by twin Yamaha engines. He has traveled and fish all over the globe and brings his fishing experience and personality to the Tanaku Lodge.”I first went to Tanaku Lodge in 1997 on my honeymoon. I was hooked on Tanaku almost as quickly as the halibut I caught. I returned several times and recommended the lodge to anyone interested in fishing ALASKA. It’s funny how things work out.” -Capt. Joe Calandra
Riley comes to us from Maui Hawaii.
Riley got his Captains license in 2017 while running a construction boat in Huntington Beach California. He then moved to Hawaii where he ran fishing and diving charters on Maui for four winter seasons. His summers were spent commercial fishing in Alaska for salmon. Then in 2023 he started running a boat for Tanaku Lodge. His winter was spent in the US virgin Island running private boat charters. We are lucky to have someone here a Tanaku who loves being on the water as much as Riley does. Riley had a great Summer with us last year and we are so glad he has joined us for the 2024 season. Riley is a great addition to the Tanaku Team.
Mike grew up exploring the lakes and swamps of Florida, often surprising his mother by adding yet another small alligator to the pool- and thankfully retaining all his limbs! His passion for the natural world continued as an adult through running various sportfishing boats from New England to Venezuela catching anything that swam within reach. His experiences include tournament wins and placements, extensive billfishing, bottom fishing, and his favorites…hunting for giant tarpon and snook in his home waters of south Florida. Captain Mike now spends his summers at Tanaku sharing his experiences and sportfishing knowledge with Tanaku’s adventurous guests. His sole commitment is to provide guests with the “Tanaku experience”. One rich with memories and smiles to last a lifetime.
Dan has been working as a deckhand and captain in training at Tanaku Lodge since 2012. He is from Salem, Oregon where he enjoys spending his winters with his family. Dan loves taking his two daughters fishing in the off season. Dan enjoys finding the fish, especially landing big halibut.
Captain Chuck started working as a deckhand at age 14. He got his captain’s license 46 years ago. Six years ago he retired and came to Tanaku Lodge in 2017 to guide for the lodge. He was only going to stay for one season but he loved it so much, he is still here. Chuck comes from New York and currently winters in Florida. He loves socializing and talking to the guests and telling his stories about all his life experiences. What he enjoys the most is putting people on the fish and watching them land big halibut and salmon.
Jim has been fishing and exploring the waters of Southeast Alaska since 1980. He first came to Alaska as a small boy with his father to explore the land where his ancestors spent much of their lives. Jim’s great grandfather was a miner during the gold rush years traveling all over the state and his great grandmother was the first school teacher in Dutch Harbor. After falling in love with Alaska Jim began fishing for a living and has done so for the last twelve years. Jim guides daily and may be one of your captains during your stay.
