In the pre-dawn glow of a Florida morning, where the air hangs heavy and the promise of fish, Captain Steven Coleman is already on the water.
His boat cuts through the glass-smooth surface loaded with clients eager for a day of memories.
A professional fishing guide and a cornerstone of Vicious Fishing’s pro staff, Coleman is living his dream—a dream forged in the crucible of a life once spent in the shadows of danger as an undercover narcotics officer in southern Indiana.
His story is one of courage, redemption and an unshakable love for America’s waters, a tale that reminds us all what it means to chase a calling and make a difference, one cast at a time.
—A life on the edge—
For 20 years, Steven Coleman lived a life most of us can’t imagine. As a Chief Deputy in the Sheriff’s Office in southern Indiana and later a narcotics officer for 16 years, he walked a tightrope between duty and danger.
“I was a Chief Deputy of the Sheriff’s Office in Indiana. Then I went back into working narcotics for 16 years,” he says, his voice steady but carrying the weight of those years. “There was a lot of cool stuff that went along with it, but a lot of headaches too.”
Those headaches weren’t just paperwork or long hours—they were life-or-death moments that left scars deeper than the eye can see.
“When you’re in a car, undercover, with three drug dealers in a car—all with pistols in their laps—it’s super stressful,” Coleman recalls, his tone matter-of-fact but tinged with the gravity of those memories. “I was so into things as an undercover cop, my wife did everything at home. If you want to be a good cop, you have to make it your lifestyle. It’s hard on the family.”
The hypervigilance, the constant threat of violence, the toll on his loved ones—it was a heavy burden.
“The PTSD is a big thing after you retire,” he says quietly. “It’s not just a military thing, man. Being hypervigilant all the time will take a toll on you.”
Yet even in those dark days, Coleman found solace on the water.
“I spent all of my extra time off fishing in Florida,” he says. “I knew I wanted to be a guide down here 20 years ago and I’m 47 years old now.”
The call of the rod and reel, the peace of a quiet river, was a lifeline pulling him toward a different future.
—A new chapter in Florida—
Two decades ago, Coleman made the leap. He left Indiana behind and moved to Florida, trading the stress of undercover work for the open water.
“I’ve been guiding for 22 years,” he says with pride. “I was in southern Indiana for 20 years, then I moved down to Florida and while I started guiding and getting my feet wet, I kept working as a policeman to make a living.”
It wasn’t an easy transition—guiding is a tough business and building a client base takes time. But Coleman’s grit and charisma made it happen fast.
“I met some people down here guiding who put me under their wing as far as fishing goes,” he says. “It didn’t take long to get my client base. It turns out, thankfully, that people still love to have fun, laugh and fish.”
Today, Captain Coleman is a fixture on Florida’s waters, guiding clients through the marshes and mangroves. His days are long—sometimes 40 days in a row on the water—but they’re filled with purpose.
“Doing what I do now is nothing but pleasure,” he says, his voice brightening. “Guiding is a tough business, but I’m not in a car with drug dealers anymore. So when the fish don’t bite, I’m not spun out. It could be a lot more stressful. Trust me, I’ve been there.”
—From saving lives to changing lives—
Coleman’s journey from law enforcement to fishing guide isn’t just a career change—it’s a transformation.
The skills he honed as a cop—persistence, discipline and the ability to connect with people—have made him a natural on the water.
“Learning how to communicate is so huge in both undercover police work and guiding fishing work,” he says. “I think everything I did in law enforcement was for this. It taught me persistence, consistency and discipline. The only thing I regret about this situation is that I didn’t start guiding even sooner.”
But it’s more than just skills that Coleman brings to his guiding. It’s his heart.
“I’m changing lives now by making memories,” he says, his voice thick with conviction. “I’ve always had a passion for treating people kindly, showing empathy and doing the right thing. Thankfully, I found a way to do that in two different careers. Policing and fishing. Who’d have thought?”
Whether it’s a kid landing their first bass or a stressed-out dad finding peace on the water, Coleman’s mission is to make every trip unforgettable.
“I’ve never been happier,” he says simply. “I thought I was happy when I was in law enforcement, but guiding is truly the dream I’ve always wanted.”
—A heart for compassion—
Coleman’s time as a cop wasn’t just about busting bad guys—it was about understanding people, even in their darkest moments.
“You want to be a hard-nosed cop but you also need a strong sense of compassion,” he says. “You never know what someone is going through, so it’s important, both in policing and fishing, that you remember that. We’re all humans with families and I feel like we lose focus on that far too often.”
That empathy carries over to his guiding, where he’s as much a friend as a captain, cracking jokes, sharing stories and making sure every client feels like family.
The lack of respect for policing in recent years hit Coleman hard, accelerating his exit from the badge.
“The lack of respect for policing made me want to accelerate my exit, to be totally honest,” he admits. “It’s tough when you’re putting your life on the line and it feels like the world doesn’t see it.”
But rather than let it bitter him, Coleman channeled that energy into his new calling.
“I took the good from that life—compassion, discipline and the ability to connect—and brought it to the water,” he says. “Now I’m building something positive, something that brings people together.”
—An American dream on American waters—
Coleman’s story is the American dream in its purest form—a man who faced danger, served his community and followed his heart to a life of purpose.
It’s a story rooted in the red, white and blue, played out on the waters that make this country so special.
“I’m proud to be out here, doing this in America,” he says, his voice swelling with pride. “This country’s given me the chance to serve as a cop, to protect people and now to share these waters with folks from all walks of life. There’s nothing more American than that—working hard, taking care of each other and finding joy in the outdoors.”
Every trip he leads is a nod to that spirit, a chance to show his clients why these waters, this land and this way of life are worth cherishing.
—Trust in Vicious Fishing—
On the water, Coleman relies on tools that match his no-nonsense approach and Vicious Fishing’s No-Fade Braid is at the top of his list.
“I rely on two Vicious Fishing lines all the time,” he says. “60-pound Vicious No-Fade when I’m punching in the thick stuff and 30-pound No-Fade with a lot of moving baits.”
Whether he’s wrestling a big bass out of heavy cover or working a spinnerbait through old orange trees, Coleman trusts Vicious to get the job done.
“I use the 30-pound to fish moving baits around old trees, grass beds and reed heads,” he explains. “I also use it when throwing a spinnerbait through old orange trees. I can control the fish a lot more with that braid in heavy stuff so they don’t get wrapped up. Once you get the bite, you gotta be able to wrench that fish away from the cover around here. The durability of the No-Fade Braid is fantastic.”
That trust in his gear mirrors the trust he builds with his clients.
“Vicious Fishing is about quality, just like I am,” he says. “They’re an American company and they stand behind their product. That’s something I can get behind.”
It’s no surprise that Coleman, a man who’s built his life on integrity, aligns himself with a brand that shares his values.
—A legacy of joy—
At 47, Captain Steven Coleman is living proof that it’s never too late to chase your dream. From the high-stakes world of undercover narcotics to the sun-soaked flats of Florida, he’s traded danger for joy, stress for serenity and a badge for a rod.But the heart of the man hasn’t changed. He’s still the guy who believes in doing right, in treating people with kindness and in giving everything he’s got to make a difference.
“Every day on the water is a chance to make someone’s life better,” he says, his voice soft but resolute. “Whether it’s a kid catching their first fish or a family making memories, that’s what this is about. That’s why I’m here.”
For Coleman, guiding isn’t just a job—it’s a calling, a way to heal the wounds of his past and share the beauty of America’s waters with everyone who steps onto his boat.
As the sun sets over the water, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Coleman’s boat glides back to the dock, his clients grinning ear to ear, their coolers heavy with crappie and their hearts full of stories.
It’s a scene that plays out day after day, trip after trip, a testament to a man who’s found his purpose and is living it with every cast.
Captain Steven Coleman isn’t just a fishing guide—he’s a hero, a dreamer and an American original, proving that the greatest catches in life aren’t always fish.
But the moments that make us feel alive.