Flip Pallot, beloved outdoorsman, guide, and pioneering figure in American sportfishing, has passed away. Known to many as the “total outdoorsman,” Flip’s lifelong love affair with the waters of the Everglades, Biscayne Bay, and the Florida Keys defined both his personal journey and his professional legacy.
Born with a natural draw to wild places, Flip grew up exploring South Florida’s waters alongside close friends John Emery, Norman Duncan, and Chico Fernandez. After graduating from the University of Miami, he served from 1962 to 1967 as a linguist in the U.S. Army, stationed in Panama, where he discovered the thrill of fishing in exotic destinations. Following his honorable discharge, Flip worked in banking before following his true calling—guiding anglers through the Florida Keys and Everglades. His guiding career spanned more than a decade, filled with adventure and discovery, until Hurricane Andrew in 1992 prompted him and his wife, Diane, to relocate to Central Florida.
Flip’s influence extended far beyond the flats and mangroves he loved. He became a household name through outdoor television, first appearing on *The American Sportsman* and *Outdoor Life* before launching *The Saltwater Angler* and later hosting the groundbreaking *Walker’s Cay Chronicles*. Airing for 15 seasons, the series is remembered as one of the most visually stunning and influential fishing programs ever created, particularly within the fly-fishing community. He also contributed extensively to leading fishing publications and authored *Mangroves, Memories and Magic*. His enduring friendship with fellow legend Lefty Kreh was celebrated in the acclaimed two-disc set *All the Best: A Conversation with Flip & Lefty*.
Flip’s vision also shaped the fishing industry itself. In 1998, he co-founded Hell’s Bay Boatworks, revolutionizing technical poling skiffs and setting a performance benchmark that endures today. He lent his expertise to some of the most respected brands in the sport, including Sage, G.Loomis, Temple Fork, Simms, Tibor, and Costa.
Through it all, Flip Pallot remained more than a fisherman—he was a storyteller, innovator, and teacher who inspired countless anglers to connect more deeply with the waters and wild places around them. His legacy will live on in every rising tide, every push of a skiff across the flats, and in the countless lives he touched through friendship, mentorship, and adventure.
Flip is survived by his wife, Diane, and a wide circle of friends, colleagues, and admirers who will cherish his memory.
