Down The Bayou Charters Crew

Meet The Captains | Grand Isle, LA

Captain Joey Maciasz

Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Captain Joey has explored the rich waters of coastal Louisiana all of his life.

Trout fishing and duck hunting weren’t enough for Joey, so he turned to the deep blue. He always says, “There is nothing on this planet that is more exciting than a yellowfin tuna flying out the water chasing bait”. From day one, Captain Joey fell in love with the excitement of offshore fishing. He really appreciates the diversity of the Gulf and enjoys the challenge of targeting different species of fish! If you really want to see him excited, ask him about grouper fishing.

When he leaves the dock, you can be sure he is giving it his all to bring home a box full of fish and some tired customers.

Captain Mikey

Captain Evan Hileman

Evan Hileman, nicknamed Poppa, was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is a true hearted Louisiana sportsman. He grew up fishing in Port Fourchon and Venice, Louisiana. Before his fishing career, he worked on the oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico which made him knowledgeable on all the best fishing spots. He is known for catching billfish and deep dropping for grouper, tile, mangrove. Anyone who comes on his boat always leave with a smile!

Captain Joe Von Thron

Joe VT hails from Jacksonville, Florida, where he has built a career running fishing charters for over a decade. With extensive experience spanning from the West Coast to the East Coast, Joe considers the North Central Gulf his home turf. Joe fishing for Gulf of American Fishing charters. During the fall and winter months, you'll find him in Venice, Louisiana, chasing XL yellowfin tuna.

In the summer, Joe shifts his operations to Down the Bayou Charters where he continues to target tuna in the canyons while relishing the diverse bottom fishing opportunities. He skillfully pursues a variety of grouper and other bottom dwellers, showcasing his versatility and deep-seated passion for marine life.

With Joe's wealth of knowledge and dedication to the craft, he ensures each charter is not only a successful fishing trip but also a memorable adventure filled with excitement and camaraderie

Captain Jack Clark

Jack Clark grew up in Macon, Georgia. He spent most of his youth hunting deer, ducks, and fresh water fish. He came down to Louisiana with his buddies and fell in love with our diversity of fish. He became an official resident of Louisiana in 2021, and has been exploring our rich coastal waters. He specializes in trolling for tunas and making friends with the shrimp boats. He is also known for his vast knowledge about groupers and swordfish.

Captain Helen Johnson

Capt. Helen is from Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she grew up fishing the Tennessee River. Upon receiving her Master Captain’s license, she moved to the Lowcountry of South Carolina to pursue her passion for fly fishing and redfish in the salt marsh. After years of experience running charters in South Carolina, she made the move to Louisiana to further continue that calling. When she’s not on the water, Helen spends her time working on and restoring boats, including her own Maverick Mirage ii. Above all, she finds the most joy in encouraging her anglers' growth and helping them achieve their goals.

Captain Thomas Carbone

Thomas Carbone was born and raised in Slidell, LA. He grew up on Lake Pontchartrain fishing recreationally and commercially. He always wanted to be a captain and share what he grew up doing with others. He is currently a full-time firefighter in New Orleans but enjoy nothing more than taking people fishing on my days off. He specialty is catching bull reds

Captain Owen Belknap

Capt. Owen Belknap is an experienced angler with years of experience chasing offshore and inshore fish in the north central Gulf. He has developed a passion for chasing trophy redfish in the shallow marshes surrounding the Port Fourchon area. Capt. Belknap currently runs a 17 Maverick HPXV and enjoys teaching his anglers not just to throw a fly, but to become anglers who can read fish and respond accordingly.

Captain Owen

Captain Owen has spent the last decade honing his skills in offshore fishing across multiple sportfishing destinations. His primary domain has been the northern Gulf of Mexico, where he passionately pursues a diverse array of species, from elusive blue marlin to exotic grouper. Owen finds great satisfaction in the region's rich biodiversity, relishing the ability to target numerous species from a single location. With his extensive experience and deep-seated love for marine life, Captain Owen continues to thrive in the dynamic world of offshore fishing.