Second Generation Florida Keys Guide and Founder of Two Conchs Capt. Jack Carlson Sr. is a second-generation Florida Keys guide, the founder of Two Conchs, and the father of third generation Keys guides Austin, Tucker, and JC Carlson.
With more than 30 years of guiding experience in the Florida Keys, Jack carries on the fishing tradition his father began in the Keys in 1973.
Since launching Two Conchs in the mid-1990s, Jack has grown the business into a 32-boat operation serving Key West, Marathon, Duck Key, Key Largo, Lighthouse Point, St. Petersburg, and St. Augustine, Florida. He has guided clients to multiple International Game Fish Association (IGFA) world records and has held an IGFA gag grouper world record himself.
Jack operates a Furuno Marine Electronics sponsored 43-foot Freeman powered by four Mercury 400-horsepower V10 outboards, equipped with top-of-the-line Furuno electronics and a Rockford Fosgate sound system. He cohosts Two Conchs Adventures with his sons on Sportsman Channel and World Fishing Network.
His work extends beyond charter fishing. Jack runs Two Conchs Bait & Tackle with his wife and two daughters, along with Two Conchs Gear Wear, offering performance shirts, hats, face shields, collared shirts, towels, and more for men, women, and children. He also owns and operates Two Conchs Marina and Marine, providing public fuel sales, boat engine repairs, and other marine services.
Teaching is a central part of Jack’s work. Through fishing camps in the Florida Keys and abroad, he helps anglers develop their skills and learn new techniques. His international camps have taken clients to Colombia, Panama, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Canada. He has also traveled extensively throughout the Bahamas.
Jack supports charitable causes by donating fishing trips and owns and operates two Florida Keys fishing tournaments.
The Marathon Offshore Bull & Cow Dolphin Tournament has drawn more than 700 anglers, while the Father’s Day Dolphin Derby has drawn more than 200. Both events bring anglers and visitors to the Keys and reflect his commitment to the local fishing community.