By Sylvester “Nunnie” Robinson
Brian Beasley, a 55- year old native of Fort Lauderdale, attended school in the Broward County School system, graduating from Dillard High School in 1985. He started fishing at the age of seven when his mom and dad would take my brothers and me fishing on Alligator Alley for pan fish. As the years went by, he developed a passion for fishing.
After retiring from the Lauderhill Police Department in 2016, Brian decided to get serious about bass fishing, so he moved to North Central Florida on the Harris Chain of Lakes, one of the best fisheries in the South. As he fished these bodies of water, he met a couple of men who were also retired and even more important: they were accomplished bass fishermen who eventually took Brian under their wings, teaching him the rudimentary, brass tactics of bass fishing. As he grew in confidence and skill, he felt that it was time to start competing professionally in the sport.
One of the men who tutored him (Levy Scott) started a bass club which he joined. The club has 15 members of all ages. Brian has been recognized by the State of Florida for catching an 8.1 lbs bass, and on 3/4/23 he took first place in the club’s fishing tournament, catching his limit of five fish weighing 15.96 lbs. The biggest fish weighed 8.06 lbs, his new personal best, qualifying him for additional recognition from the State of Florida.
Fishing kept him out of trouble as a kid, and it helped him learn to be patient and to think critically about approaching and analyzing large bodies of water, thus solving the problem of breaking them down to find the fish. Some of the lakes that he has fished include The Harris Chain, Lake Okeechobee, Lake Eufaula in Alabama, Lake Toho and Lake Kissimmee. Fishing is a great sport for those who like the thrill of feeling the big thump from a big bass on the other end.
