On Tuesday evening we got the awful news that David Salazar – owner of Casa Vieja Lodge, world renowned captain, devoted husband to Kristen, and father of four young daughters – passed away unexpectedly.

While Salazar’s fishing skills can’t be questioned, what really amazed me was his passion for the sport. He’s seen thousands of billfish come to the boat, and yet he was every bit as excited for each additional one as we were. He’s an exceptional teacher, and coached us through the bait-and-switch with remarkable patience.