Carl Hartmann
Carl Hartmann is the owner and President of American Angler LLC, an East Coast surf fishing club based in New Jersey. Carl is also a member of Hudson River Fishermans’s Association, Sea Girt Surf Kings, NJBBA and Association of Surf Angling Clubs. Carl started fishing in fresh water as a preschooler hitting the local streams of North Jersey for trout and small/large mouth, bass. As time went on, he eventually switched to saltwater fishing for the abundance of different species, to where he is now…a total love for surf fishing. Through his years of experience, he has won numerous individual and team awards as an extreme competitor including Fisherman of the Year, the President Award and many others. Carl is also known throughout the entire fishing community for creating and promoting the most professionally organized surf fishing tournaments between Boston and Washington D.C. . Over the decades, nearly all of Carl’s tournaments have sold out with many teams left sitting on the waiting list. In 2016, he started his own contingent from American Angler for his own surf fishing teams. By 2019, Carl was able to post as many as five teams of six anglers (30 anglers total) in many of the surf fishing tournaments, using and educating his teams with all of the experiences he has attained. With an online following of over 5,000 anglers, he has achieved superstar status on the surf fishing scene. From fishing the Cape Cod Canal to the warm waters off of Florida, Carl, at the age of 53, believes that his best fishing days are in front of him and acknowledges that there is always more to learn. But, he always gives one piece of advice to all anglers…. you have to always remember to “think like a fish to be successful.”
Carl started using Fishbites about 20 years, visiting the plant in St. Augustine twice in that time period. The very first time he used Fishbites was in Beach Haven, NJ. Carl landed a Striped Bass, Flounder and Sea Trout within a matter of minutes! Since then, Carl incorporates Fishbites whenever competing in tournaments for Northern Kingfish, Bluefish and more. He actively uses Fishbites in the on and off season for all types of shoreline fishing.