Spanish Fly is Coming to Waypoint!
written by Evan Anderson
Few outdoor TV shows have been as groundbreaking and influential as the legendary Spanish Fly, hosted by renowned guide Jose Wejebe. And now, after many years, Spanish Fly is coming on-demand to Waypoint Feb. 5th, 2021!
Jose Wejebe began his career as a guide at a young age and immediately stood out in the community as unique and formidable. According to Flip Pallot, who was one of Wejebe’s mentors, he came into the fishing industry at a time of transition between the new guides and the old guides in Florida. “He had more of the old guide in him,” recalls Pallot with a smile, “He fished from Biscayne Bay all the way down to the Marquesas and the Dry Tortugas and beyond. And he knew all of that country which was very very unusual for the new breed of guides.”
Courtesy of Krissy Wejebe
Pallot was introduced to a young Wejebe by acclaimed angler Lefty Kreh. At the time, Wejebe was just a 13-year-old kid obsessed with fly fishing who had been unrelentingly peppering Kreh with questions about the sport. “Lefty, sort of in self defense, gave Jose my phone number,” jokes Pallot with a chuckle, “He called frequently, he was a kid who was just burning with passion for this fishing thing.”
As Wejebe grew up and began his journey to becoming a licensed Florida guide, he needed money to buy a boat, a truck, and a trailer. After Hall-of-fame angler Stu Apte, whom Wejebe had befriended, called Pallot and told him what Wejebe needed in order to get started as a guide, Pallot, who was working in a bank at the time, was able to secure a loan and a credit card for Wejebe to buy his boat, truck, and trailer. It was a decision he would never regret.
Courtesy of Krissy Wejebe
Wejebe first appeared on television as a recurring guest on Flip’s show Walkers Cay Chronicles and demonstrated a remarkable amount of enthusiastic energy. “He was never a normal guy,” comments Pallot, “He was so energetic. And he was a good guide...we had very successful shows every time Jose was in the boat.”
After guiding on his own for some time and appearing as a guest on Flip’s show, Jose decided in the mid-90’s that he wanted to make a show of his own. JM productions, owned by Jerry McKinnis of the show Fishing Hole, agreed to produce it and Spanish Fly was born.
The show gained traction quickly due to Wejebe’s natural gift for television. “Jose was a ham,” Pallot says with a knowing smile, “Jose always knew where the camera was; it was innate in him.” Many viewers have commented on how personable Wejebe was and how he would draw them in as he spoke. “He had this incredible ability,” comments Pallot, “to peer into the camera and talk to the audience as if they were sitting on the dock with him.”
Courtesy of Krissy Wejebe
Spanish Fly ran for 17 years until 2012 when Wejebe was tragically killed in a plane crash. Needless to say, the news of his passing shook the fishing world to the core. “His star was just coming over the horizon,” reflects Pallot, “He was the best of us all.”
Wejebe’s legacy lives on, however, in the hearts of the anglers he mentored and inspired, such as Rush Maltz of Local Knowledge and Carter Andrews of The Obsession of Carter Andrews, as well as the Jose Wejebe Memorial Foundation, which is dedicated to making fishing dreams come true.
Now, after many years off the air, you can finally relive the experience of fishing with Jose in Spanish Fly, coming to Waypoint February 5th, 2021.
