Aaron is the Director of Bonefish & Tarpon Trust and a Senior Scientist at Mote Marine Laboratory based out of southwest Florida. He received a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College in Maryland, a Master’s from the College of William and Mary, and a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts Boston, and also holds a Coast Guard Captain’s License. He has lived, worked, and fished on both coasts of the US, as well as throughout the Caribbean, where he has been conducting fish research for the last 20 years. His pursuit of effective fisheries and habitat conservation are rooted in his years growing up near Chesapeake Bay, when he witnessed the collapse of the Bay’s habitats and fisheries. In addition to research, he spends considerable effort translating science into fishermen’s terms, and has authored two books, many magazine articles, and has been part of TV shows applying fish science to fly fishing.