Celebrating the Journey of Rex Lane: From Bede's to the Deep Seas

We at Bede's are incredibly proud to feature one of our remarkable alumni, Rex Lane, who has carved out an extraordinary path since leaving the senior school. Rex's journey is a testament to his passion, resilience, and adventurous spirit. From the sports fields to the world's most remote fishing lodges and beyond, Rex has truly made waves. We're excited to share his incredible story with you.

My Journey Since Bede's: From Football Fields to Fishing Dreams

“When I left Bede's, I headed straight to Maine, eager to play football at Bates College on a full scholarship. My first season there was unfortunately cancelled due to Covid. I went back for my second year, played my first two games, and even scored four goals, before unknowingly breaking both of my ankles. At the time, no one, including myself, could figure out what had happened or why I’d become slower and less agile.

Alongside football, fishing has always been a huge passion of mine. While at Bates, I'd cycle almost daily to a nearby river to fish for Smallmouth bass. After the football season wrapped up, I was offered what I considered my dream internship at the Tropic Star Lodge, renowned as the #1 fishing lodge in the world, nestled deep in the Darien Jungle in Panama. I didn't hesitate for a second and decided to leave college to pursue this incredible opportunity.

After just three months at Tropic Star Lodge, they offered me a full-time role as Assistant Fishing Director, and I also began training to become a Mate on sport fishing boats. I spent two years there, learning an immense amount about the sport fishing industry and honing my skills as a Mate, guided by some of the best in the world. We targeted an amazing array of species, including Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Sailfish, Yellowfin Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Roosterfish, and Cubera snapper, just to name a few.

I eventually decided to leave Tropic Star to explore new fisheries and see what other places had to offer. I landed a job on a private boat in the Gulf of Mexico for the Blue Marlin Tournament season. After that, my work and travels took me all over the globe. I experienced Black Marlin season on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Striped Marlin season in Magdalena Bay, Mexico, and eventually found myself in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, searching for a more consistent, full-time role.

Currently, I've been working on a charter boat here in Florida, targeting Sailfish, Blackfin Tuna, and Wahoo. I've been with this boat for about eight months now – it's also the boat that, ironically, broke my arm in half after hitting a wave at 40mph! But the adventures keep coming. On Father’s Day, we had our first daytime swordfishing trip. We hadn’t had a single bite all morning, and then at 3pm, I saw our buoy, with a bait sitting 1500 feet below it, just vanish. I immediately shouted to my Captain, and we started reeling the fish up. The entire time, we were convinced it was a good-sized swordfish. But as it surfaced, we saw a round, red shape, and we all instantly realized what it was: a “Pacific Opah” in the Atlantic!

Only three Opahs have ever been recorded in the Mid-Atlantic, and I've only found one other that was caught in Florida, which weighed 40lbs. My captain cried, and our customers cried – it was a fish none of us ever thought we’d see, let alone catch. When we got back to the dock, the fish weighed an incredible 148lbs, just 40lbs shy of the world record and more than triple the Florida state record!

This is, by far, the biggest achievement in my fishing career, and honestly, one I don’t think I’ll ever be able to top. It was a huge team effort between my Captain Richard Fairbanks, the other Mate Laurel David, and our two clients for the day. We were definitely in the right place at the right time.

All thanks though goes to my dad. He is the one that taught me how to fish and would fish with me every weekend in England, it’s fitting that we caught the fish on Father’s Day!”

                                   _________________________________________

Rex's journey is a fantastic example of following your passions, even when the path takes unexpected turns. His dedication to his craft, his willingness to explore new horizons, and his incredible achievements in the world of sport fishing are truly inspiring. We at Bede's couldn't be prouder to see the remarkable life Rex is building for himself. His story serves as a wonderful reminder to all our alumni to embrace adventure and pursue their dreams with the same courage and determination that Rex has shown.