Meet the Team
Rob Thompson
Rob has worked at sea for the last 30 years running both his own commercial, charter and private angling vessels not only in the UK but all over the Atlantic chasing many species of Marlin as well as Tuna. When not fishing Rob works as Master on Hydrographic Survey Vessels in the Offshore Renewable Industry.
Passionate about everything to do with the UK’s Tuna Fishing he has been part of both the Thunnus and Chart studies since their inception. It’s Rob’s dream to see the UK build a World Class Tuna Fishery for visiting anglers from around the world. Rob works with all sectors of the industry to make this happen.
Rob has recently been accepted in to the International Game Fishing Associations ‘Captains Programme’ following his career in fishing thus far. He is one of a select number of UK skippers to have achieved this accolade.
Harrison Toms
Having known Harrisons grandfather, Rod for the last 20 years it was a pleasure to also get to know his son Glenn and grandson Harrison when they moved their boat to Lymington in 2020.
Harrison has fished with his family locally in the Solent since he could set foot on a boat and in recent years has travelled to the SW each summer and autumn to fish for Sharks (granddad is originally from Looe). Despite his young years he is no stranger to large fish. In 2020 Harrison caught a 350lbs Bluefin Tuna on his Shark gear aged just 15 years old and managed to get it boat side in under an hour!
Already qualified as a Day Skipper, ‘Harri’ is now studying for his Advanced Power Boat Certificate and will continue to Yacht Master over the coming seasons.
Viv Shears
Viv is known throughout the UK as not only one of the largest Carp Farmers in the country but also a leading fishery scientist. A former lecturer at Sparsholt College there is little that Viv doesn’t know about fishes and their workings.
When not harvesting monster Carp Viv runs a successful Bass Fishing Charter operation with Skipper Rob own their vessel, SxSW based in Lymington, Hampshire. Having fished in many countries around the world Viv is no stranger to big fish and has a wealth of experience of our Bluefin Fishery after spending 2 seasons as part of the Chart Programme.
New for 2023 Viv has also opened Tuna Tackle UK to check out his tackle range (we use it aboard Eloise) just click the link below: https://www.tunatackle.co.uk/
Luis Whalley
Luis has been involved in the maritime world since leaving school 18 years ago, after achieving his PADI scuba diver instructor award he then went on and bought his first pleasure boat, sometime after that he then decided to turn his passion in to a career and has been working as a commercial skipper on both fishing vessels and offshore workboats. Luis also used to carry out educational talks on marine conservation at schools and also in the corporate sector with a keen interest on the global stocks of Bluefin Tuna.
After catching his first Bluefin last year Luis is more passionate than ever to spread the word on the importance of securing such a beautiful animal to exist in harmony with us humans for many more generations to come.
Charlie Garland
Charlie has fished since he could walk and walk he can, regarded as one of the UK’s most adventurous and forward thinking Bass Anglers. Scaling the huge Cliffs of the North Cornish coast is second nature to Charlie as much as launching his commercial bass boat from a massive surf beach.
Charlie has been involved in the development of the Tuna fishery since the very earliest days back in 2017, working aboard pioneering boat Deni Mei with Craig Hall he has been involved in the deployment of more Satellite Tags for the Exeter University lead ‘Thunnus’ programme than anyone else. Charlie experience of handling these fish, their behavior and most importantly how to work the deck smoothly and safely is second to none.