The Psychedelic Fisherman-Jimmy Armel

The Power of the Bluefin TunaThe bluefin tuna is an absolute powerhouse of the ocean—built for speed, strength, and endurance. When Tom hooked up on a giant 690lb bluefin, we knew we were in for a battle.The first run was nothing short of mesmerizing—400 yards of line ripped off the reel in seconds, the drag screaming as the fish tore through the water like a freight train. Every muscle in its torpedo-shaped body was built for this moment, and it fought with relentless power.Moments like these remind us why we chase these incredible fish. The raw energy, the challenge, and the respect for a species that has roamed the oceans for millions of years.This is why we fish. This is why we drive eight hours, take a four hour nap, fish for seven hours then immediately drive eight hours home. What an amazing trip. #reels #bluefintuna #fishing #outerbanks #outdoors #starbrite #ambiolifesciences #thesuaspontefoundation #galbreathheatingandair #edwardsgraphics #leakseekers #savannahboathouse #finsfishing #watermanoutfitters #psasavannah #graysfishtagresearch #finsfishing #livelikeskiff @topfans

From Darkness to Bluefin: A Journey of PurposeAs I lie here in the Swell Motel in Hatteras, NC, waiting for the dawn to break and the chance to battle a bluefin tuna, I can’t help but reflect on the journey that brought me here. My fishing career has been a fast-paced whirlwind, born out of sheer survival. For a long time, fishing was the only thing that kept me wanting to live.When I first started American Fishing Charters, someone asked me about my plan. My answer was simple: “If I fail, I’ll die, and I’m not ready to go yet.” Dramatic? Maybe. But at that time, it was my reality. It wasn’t much of a business plan, but somehow, it worked.The pictures you see here are from my second trip to Gray’s Fishtag Research, just five years into my career. That’s when I picked up my first satellite tag—one that would soon be placed in a great white shark. We named that shark Chris Wright, after a brother killed in Afghanistan in August 2010. Chris and I spent 15 months in Iraq together and went through Ranger selection side by side.At the time these pictures were taken, I was in the depths of my second downward spiral. Greg knew. Bonnie knew. I assume my mom knew too. Self-hate fueled me, but the love from my veteran brothers like Ryan Davis and Devin Stickley kept me going. Together, we deployed Knot Lucky’s first shark tag, each of us chasing our own inner peace out on the water.We completed the mission, but it would take another three months before I finally felt happiness inside, and almost three years before I let go of the hate that had been weighing me down like a worn-out pair of boots. It no longer served me, but I was used to it. I didn’t want to let it go.Now, two years and six tagged sharks later, I lie here thinking about how to spread love and healing within the veteran community. I dream of the next time I come face to face with one of the most magnificent beasts God ever created. #reels #fishing #greatwhiteshark #big #fish #reallife #star

Operation Decker: Don’t let one moment define you. Your setbacks are not your failures—they’re your evolution.There’s a reason we call our spot tagging program Operation Decker. Spot tags only record where a great white shark surfaces, but they allow Gold Star families and our supporters to check in “live” and follow the shark’s journey in real-time. Our other satellite tags provide more detailed data, recording the shark’s movements, depths, and water temperatures—information critical for research—but they don’t offer live updates. The spot tag must be applied by hand, directly onto the dorsal fin, making it a more challenging process. That’s why we named this program after Chris Decker—a Ranger who could accomplish any mission, no matter the difficulty.Chris wasn’t just a warrior—he was a friend and a brother. The kind of man who would answer your call at any hour if you needed him. He got me through some of the hardest times in my life and even introduced me to skydiving.We’d been out multiple times without even a bite from the ever-elusive great white shark. Every trip, I’d pull up my chart of over 6,000 fishing spots, but something deep inside kept pushing me toward an area I had never fished before—100 miles from our home port. Because of the distance, I knew this would be an overnight expedition.At 6:30 AM on Saturday, we made the run across calm water to our newfound spot. Two hours in, we had a bite—but I made mistakes, and the fish was gone. We kept the chum line going, and 17 hours later, we got our second chance.The fight with this 1,000+ pound monster from the deep began. Catching a great white is already a challenge, but fighting one in the pre dawn darkness? That took me straight back to Afghanistan—moving seamlessly in the night, the night that we as apex predators own to deliver justice. There’s a calm that comes when you’re in the element you were built for, when you know, without doubt, that you are exac

Operation Decker: A Mission of HonorThis morning, we set out on a 200-mile overnight journey in support of Operation Decker—a mission that means more than words can ever capture.Chris Decker wasn’t just a friend; he was a brother who pulled me through some of my darkest times. A man who completed 11 combat deployments, carrying the weight of war with a quiet strength that few could ever understand. He was that rare combination of sweet and lethal, the kind of warrior God never put into mass production.We lost Chris in a motorcycle accident, but his memory will never fade. And now, his name will live on in the deep.This mission is different. These new-to-us SPOT tags will allow you to track this shark’s movement directly from your phone, something we’ve never done before. But there’s a catch—this tag has to be manually attached to the shark’s dorsal fin. That means there’s zero room for error. Everything has to go right.This is going to be a challenge, but there’s no one I’d rather honor on this venture than Chris and his family. We do this not just for the data, not just for the sharks, but for the men who are no longer here to stand beside us.Decker, this one’s for you.#OperationDecker #NeverForgotten #GreatWhiteSharks #VeteransOnAMission #SharkTagging #KnotLucky #NoRoomForError

Where Life Begins Riding into the sunrise, speakers blaring, the Sportsman glides effortlessly at 40 MPH, cutting across water so smooth it looks like glass. The golden light of dawn stretches across the horizon, painting the sky in fiery hues, as the hum of the engines harmonizes with the pounding beat of the music. The salt air is crisp, the scent of freedom and possibility filling our lungs.The deck is full—a boat full of vets, peopel who’ve seen the worst of the world yet still crave the best of it. Each of us carries our own scars, some visible, others buried deep, but out here, none of that matters. There’s no rank, no weight of the past—only the present, only the pursuit of something greater than ourselves.This is where life begins for me. Not in the noise of the world, but in the silence between the waves, in the laughter shared over a bent rod, in the stories traded between brothers as the sun climbs higher. This is the mission now.Some people spend their whole lives searching for peace. We find it out here. #reels #sunrise #boat #outdoors #starbrite #ambiolifesciences #thesuaspontefoundation #galbreathheatingandair #edwardsgraphics #leakseekers #savannahboathouse #finsfishing #watermanoutfitters #psasavannah #graysfishtagresearch #finsfishing #livelikeskiff @highlight

The Ultimate Rush: Face to Face with the Apex PredatorI’ve gotten to experience a lot of badass things in my 41 years. I’ve gone to war with the most elite infantry unit in the world, felt the rush of freefall skydiving, and jumped out of a C-130 into pitch-black darkness with nothing but faith in my chute. I’ve met some amazing and beautiful ladies, skied the Alps of Austria, and even jumped a border with no passport just to party in Prague. And, of course, there are a few things we won’t mention here… 😏Through all of that—through the chaos, the adrenaline, the moments that made me feel truly alive—I never imagined I’d find myself face to face with a great white shark.But now? I can’t get enough of them.These beasts command respect in a way few things do. When you’re looking at a great white, you’re staring into something ancient—something built for the hunt. Their 1,000-yard stare isn’t just a phrase—it’s real. Cold. Calculated. Pure, unfiltered predatory instinct.No amount of experience prepares you for the raw power they hold. You don’t just see it—you feel it. When that massive tail moves, when they close the distance between you with terrifying efficiency, it’s a reminder of where you stand in the food chain. And when you get into a tug-of-war with the man in the gray suit? That’s when the real fun begins.Every time I encounter one, it’s like I’m experiencing life for the first time all over again. The rush, the intensity, the sheer awe—it never fades. #reels #greatwhiteshark #bigfish #outdoors #ocean #real #starbrite #ambiolifesciences #thesuaspontefoundation #galbreathheatingandair #edwardsgraphics #leakseekers #savannahboathouse #finsfishing #watermanoutfitters #psasavannah #graysfishtagresearch #finsfishing #livelikeskiff

Riding into the sunrise this morning in hopes of catching a great white shark. It’s 28 degrees out, and the deck’s covered in ice—but nothing worth doing is ever easy.Huge thanks to Tom, Kirsten, and the entire crew at Savannah Boathouse for going above and beyond, clearing the ice so folks like us can get out and enjoy the water. Your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed, and we’re grateful for all you do.Now it’s time to chase that dream. Let’s go tag a white! #reels #fishing #shark #starbrite #ambiolifesciences #thesuaspontefoundation #galbreathheatingandair #edwardsgraphics #leakseekers #savannahboathouse #finsfishing #watermanoutfitters #psasavannah #graysfishtagresearch #finsfishing #livelikeskiff

“Face-to-Face with Majesty” 🦈Meet one of the incredible great white sharks we’ve had the honor of tagging. This moment captures more than just the raw beauty of the ocean—it symbolizes the connection between conservation and remembrance.At Knot Lucky, we’re not just tagging sharks; we’re honoring the fallen by naming these majestic creatures after our brothers who gave everything. Each shark carries a story, a name, and a legacy into the depths of the sea.Moments like this remind us why we’re here—to heal, to conserve, and to honor.🌊 Support our mission. Help us tag more sharks, take veterans fishing, and give back.#KnotLucky #GreatWhiteShark #OceanConservation #VeteransHealing #SharkTagging #FishingForACause #starbrite #ambiolifesciences #thesuaspontefoundation #galbreathheatingandair #edwardsgraphics #leakseekers #savannahboathouse #finsfishing #watermanoutfitters #psasavannah #graysfishtagresearch #finsfishing #livelikeskiff

There’s nothing quite like the rush of handling the leader on a great white shark. It’s a moment that feels like pure electricity—your heart pounding, your hands gripping the line, and the sheer power of the ocean’s apex predator pulling against you.In that instant, it’s a mix of respect, awe, and adrenaline like nothing else. You can feel the strength of the shark through the leader, a direct connection to one of the most incredible creatures on Earth. Every second counts—working quickly, carefully, and with precision to ensure the shark is safely handled and tagged before it disappears back into the depths.It’s a humbling experience, one that reminds me how small we are in the grand scheme of things, yet how much we can contribute to understanding and protecting these magnificent animals.For me, those moments are a reminder of why I do what I do—bridging the gap between the ocean and the people who care about it. It’s about honoring the beauty and power of the great white shark while continuing to learn everything we can to help preserve their future. #reels #shark #fishing #big #greatwhiteshark #tybeeisland #savannahgeorgia @topfans #starbrite #ambiolifesciences #thesuaspontefoundation #galbreathheatingandair #edwardsgraphics #leakseekers #savannahboathouse #finsfishing #watermanoutfitters #psasavannah #graysfishtagresearch #finsfishing #livelikeskiff

🍺 LIFE IS A JOURNEY 🦈 In 2016, I was involuntarily medically retired from the 1st Ranger Battalion. My life’s purpose—going to war—was abruptly taken from me. I wasn’t a super soldier; I have no valorous awards and was an average Ranger on my best day. For me, it was about being part of the ultimate team, something bigger than myself, fulfilling the valiant purpose of removing the most evil men from this Earth by detaining or neutralizing them.I didn’t like the garrison army—the haircuts, the uniforms, the ceremonies, the balls. I wanted nothing more than to train for war with my comrades and to go to war with them. There’s something special about being in the ready room: music turned up, checking your radio, your magazines, the tape on your grenades, then walking out to the helos, and loading up with the most lethal infantry force ever created. There’s a reason professional football players and UFC fighters compare themselves to us.War is the ultimate test, the ultimate competition, the greatest way to measure your intestinal fortitude and your weight as a man. There are no referees, no coaches, no fans, and unlike the athletes who claim to “go to war,” not everyone makes it home. When this was taken from me, my world came crashing down.I turned to alcohol, consuming booze until I was physically dependent. My house became a mess, covered in dog feces and trash. I vividly remember passing out drunk and waking up with dog feces between my toes, having lain on a pile of it all night. This wasn’t enough to make me quit. One night, I put a gun in my mouth, and thankfully, my dog Skiff stopped me. A short time later, I quit drinking, nearly dying from the withdrawals.This began my fishing career. Fishing gave me the purpose I had lost and started me on my healing journey, which then led me to Ambio Life Sciences, where I underwent my first round of psychedelic treatment. During my 5-MEO-DMT journey, I realized my purpose in life was to help ot

It’s cold. Brutally cold. The kind of cold that cuts through your soul and makes you question every decision that led you outside. But you know what? It takes me back to my days of training with my Ranger brothers—the hardest, toughest men alive.During those times, when the cold bit deeper, the rucksacks got heavier, and I was convinced my body had hit its absolute limit, I had a mantra. A mantra so powerful, so life-changing, it carried me through the worst of it. Are you ready?“I don’t want to be a Ranger. I want to be a princess!”Say it with me. Out loud. Trust me, life gets easier when you fully commit to it. Pro tip: Repeating it in formation at full volume earns you special attention from your team leader. Oh, and probably a motivational smoke session to go with it. 😂🙈But hey, that’s how you find out just how much your body can handle! Stay warm, friends. And don’t forget your tiara. 👑 #reels #cold #funny #veteran #fishing #starbrite #ambiolifesciences #thesuaspontefoundation #galbreathheatingandair #edwardsgraphics #leakseekers #savannahboathouse #finsfishing #watermanoutfitters #psasavannah #graysfishtagresearch #finsfishing #livelikeskiff @topfans