Today we’d like to introduce you to Captain Austin Nikkola.
Hi Captain Austin, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story began in Jacksonville, Florida where I was born and raised, growing up playing baseball and being taught fishing by my father who is also a captain, Captain Kenny. I was raised by my mother Brenda , my Father Kenneth and my older brother Michael. Growing up and we all did outdoor activities that included many camping trips and fishing trips. I caught my first fish at doughnut lake when I was four years old on a camping trip. My teenage years in Jacksonville were playing baseball and fishing with my Father when he was able to take us on rare down times from work. He was and still is one of the best Machinist in Florida. He taught me a lot and is still teaching me to this day.
We grew up trout fishing the downtown Jacksonville area. In my younger years fishing was a side hobby and baseball was my number one passion. When I was in high school, I realized I had an opportunity to take my baseball career to the next level, but unfortunately I lost focus and turned partying into my number one goal. Bars, house parties, 3 day benders to week long benders and all of that put me hanging out in houses with no electricity or furniture, dark places. Places no one should be. Once I realized that I did not have the grades to play baseball I ended up leaving high school early and that’s where I really fell deeper into a darker hole with partying and drug usage. I was in and out of treatment centers, jails, and institutions and wrecked havoc everywhere I went and broke everything I touched.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It took me more than 12 times in different treatment centers to finally realize that enough was enough and that I had to make a change or I’d end up dead like many others have. I finally surrendered in a state ran Baker act facility on my knees in a small room. I remember this vividly like it was yesterday. I was wearing state issued scrubs that were two sizes too large, my shoe strings were taken from me so I wouldn’t hang myself, I was coming of a 3 day drug induced bender, my face was numb, my teeth hurt so bad I had to rub toothpaste on them to try and numb them. Angry, beat up, busted, and bruised. I just wanted the pain to stop. I got on my knees in that room and threw my hands up and prayed on the first night in that facility while crying uncontrollably. I was released 3 days later and my new journey after many attempts prior began. I rode around Jacksonville on a borrowed bicycle 17 miles a day for months to different recovery meetings around Jacksonville and befriended people that were nice enough to start picking me up for these meetings. I managed to acquire a sponsor in these meetings and began working the 12 steps of recovery. Admitting I had a problem was never an issue for me which is the first first step, I always knew I didn’t drink like normal people and the drugs allowed me to drink longer but I couldn’t stop, normal people do not black out and wake up in ER’s while having a catheter rammed in them. I always knew I had problem. Drinking and drug usage helped hide my insecurities and helped give me the courage to open up and be around people.
Later in the 12 steps making amends was by far the toughest step for me, some people were accepting to me trying to better myself while others slammed the door in my face when I tried to make amends. My growth came by being willing to write my wrongs and that’s where I started growing, it took action. The first year of my sobriety I helped start a beach meeting directly on the beach where we would watch the sunrise sitting in the sand while having a recovery meeting. I helped set up that Saturday morning meeting every Saturday for a year straight, I never missed it and sometimes I was the only one there. I was getting established and became reliable again. I prayed every morning and every night before bed, and I still pray daily. I made new friends that were in recovery and we started living life again , but sober this time. I knew my baseball days were over so I dove back into fishing. I’ve always enjoyed making things and being creative so I decided to get back into lure making. I made my first lure in St. Marys ,Ga at my grandparents house during one of my stints of needing a place to live, I lived with my grandparents during some of those dark years and fished with my grandfather on kings bay naval base. I was saved for a 5th time and baptized again at a local church in St. Marys, Ga during those dark years.
I started a lure business in Jacksonville Beach where I was living a newly sober life in my first year of sobriety this time. I applied for a $300 credit card and started buying lure making supplies. I came up with a catchy name, cool logo, and hit the pavement running going to different tackle shops to encourage the owners to put my lures in their stores. After hours upon hours of hand tying lures, and a few failed business partners later, I was able to land these lures in 11 different stores and many different countries. I ended up selling majority of what I had to pursue a career as a fishing guide in the Florida keys. As children my father took us to the Florida keys on vacations and camping trips. I wanted to learn the ins and outs of the charter industry from fishing guides that have hundreds of world records on their resumes but it wasn’t easy. The first guy I tried to work for was a heavy drug user and I ended up leaving there after calling the police to retrieve my belongings. The second person that took me in while I was in the keys was a friend of mine from Jacksonville who relocated there to be with his family and I’ll always be eternally grateful to them for taking me in, it helped me a lot. I bounced around and managed to get involved with a company and business owner that has been a fishing guide in Key West for his entire life and very successful at all of it. I learned a lot about the industry, customer service, marketing, fishing, setting yourself up for success, efficiency, and I made a lot of friends that are captains with this company and many that aren’t. Although things didn’t work out I’m still friends with a lot of them to this day and we still communicate. I moved back to Jacksonville and helped start a charter business with a guy I new from the fishing community prior to moving to the Florida keys. This venture did not work out either due to disagreements between him and I. I put being a fishing guide to the side for a few years and worked jobs to stay a float while saving with the goal of starting my own charter fishing company. I saved enough money to buy a boat, built another website and when I found the vessel I wanted, I drove to Louisiana to pick her up, The Brenda K is her name.
Needing another business name my father and I were sitting on his porch at his river house in palatka pondering business names when we came up with Tannic Water. The St. Johns River is brown from all the tannins in the water. The decaying plant material over time causes it to turn into that sweet tea brown color caused by Tannins.
As you know, we’re big fans of Tannic Water Adventures Inc.. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I took what I learned from everyone I came across and created Tannic Water Adventures. We offer family friendly and affordable fishing charters with top of the line gear and a first class vessel that’s made to fish. I wanted first class and fun in my fishing charters so people can experience the joys of being on the legendary St. Johns River in class.
I’m a USCG licensed merchant Mariner and an inshore fishing guide. We guide people to making lifelong memories with trophy catches, teaching clients proper angling techniques, and the importance of safety and taking care of our vital resources like the St. Johns River.
We are known for first class Fishing Charters and Adventures. We want everyone to enjoy outdoors and what I have been so blessed to enjoy everyday. I’m Living on borrowed time so I’m making the best of every opportunity and you can witness the excitement on our Fishing Charters.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
If you’re stuck in a rut you need to know there is a way out. I was once looking at the bottom of the barrel of a loaded gun with no way out. I found a way out and you can too. I had to stop fighting everything and every one and let the Man upstairs navigate my ship, he hasn’t steered me wrong and I have found my true north, I’m here to tell you that you can to.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.TannicWaterAdvs.com
