Offshore Adventures
Photography: Courtesy of Offshore Adventures
The old joke goes that the two happiest days of a boat owner’s life are the day he buys his boat, and the day he sells it.
Not so, counter Park City locals Chris and Melissa Fischer, who count two of the happiest days of their lives as the day they bought their boat, and the day they turned it into a feasible vocation.
Their business began as the ESPN2 television show, “Offshore Adventures,” and has grown into a complete production company, Fischer Productions.
In their pre-television days, the couple had already collected a tremendous crew of world-class free-diving fishers, along with an on-board captain. Their passion for fishing drove them to exotic locations around the world’s waters.
“We would try to tell the stories [of our experiences], but nobody got it,” said Chris.
The solution—and the way Chris could satisfy a growing itch to begin a new business—was to show people their adventures through a television program.
The Fischers partnered with the Red Lobster restaurant chain, which shared their values of sustainable fishing and responsible stewardship of the ocean, and created a show where they cruise their 72-foot yacht fisher, the “Go Fisch,” far offshore in search of amber jack, marlin, snapper, snook and other sporting fish.
The couple’s approach to the outdoor program resonated with younger viewers. Gone were the placid scenes of two men contemplating the meaning of life while the sun rose.
“We behaved more like people who were out with their buddies. You watch as four guys catch a marlin—they’re stoked out of their minds,” said Chris.
ESPN and Outdoor Life Network understood the show’s appeal as well, and both networks have approached Fischer Productions about creating other outdoor shows with a similar infusion of fresh energy.
The pace of each show moves swiftly, from poking around on exotic shores, to fishing, to dinner—all to the strains of contemporary music and quick-paced commentary that parallels the sometimes frenetic fight between human and fish.
The camera follows the crew everywhere—from underwater dives to the preparation of the evening’s meal to the moment ‘the big one’ gets away. Quieter moments, such as an unexpected encounter with whales or local fishers, reflect the relaxing times found in the middle of the ocean.
One of the “guys” catching the fish is usually Melissa, who impresses with feats such as maneuvering skillfully under water without a scuba tank to spear fish while fighting the current.
Free diving and spear fishing highlight two of the crew’s mantras—to fish responsibly and sustainably by catching only the size and species of fish they want to eat and to respect and enjoy Mother Ocean.
As the next season of “Offshore Adventures” begins airing in January, 2006, a new face will grace the boat’s galley—Park City’s own Iverson Brownell will join the crew to serve the day’s catch on each episode’s “Gourmet Galley” segment.
But Chris emphasizes that “Offshore Adventures” will continue to focus not on its hosts or new chef, but on the real star of the show—Mother Ocean.
So why is this outdoor adventure company based in Park City? The Fischers followed family to Park City and found that it had more to offer than just a great place to raise kids. And the “commute” between Park City and the Go Fisch takes less time than commuting from California. “When you can be located anywhere, why not live in a phenomenal place?” Chris asked. “It’s a much fuller life than living and working in an ocean town.”
Monika Guendner is a freelance writer based in Park City whose own offshore adventures usually start and end at the dinner table. The largest fish she ever caught herself weighed a hefty six ounces.
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