Mayor Gary Jarvis

Current

2018-2022

Biographical Information

Captain Gary Jarvis is a veteran of the United State Air Force, a lifelong fisherman, a restaurateur and well-known advocate for a sustainable and accessible Gulf of Mexico fishery. He has captained the Back Down 2 charter boat out of Destin Harbor for the last 40 years and owns one of only 178 federally dual-permitted fishing businesses that fish in both the charter for-hire and commercial fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico. Gary’s fishing experiences have taken him to Ft. Lauderdale; Key West; Cozumel, Mexico; Pinas Bay, Panama; and Marsh Harbor, Bahamas. He is also a partner and owner in three restaurants in Destin – JackaCuda’s Seafood and Sushi, Brotula’s Seafood House and Steamer, and Sunset Bay Café. In his spare time, he is an avid hunter and ice hockey player. Gary has been married to his wife, Pam, for 43 years. They have three sons (Bryce, Tyler and Trenton) and 6 grandchildren (Noah, Garrett, Jackson, Avery, Sawyer and Julianna).

Council Appointments to Local & Regional Committees

Northwest Florida Military Sustainability Partnership - Primary Appointee
Okaloosa County League of Cities - Primary Appointee
Walton/Okaloosa/Santa Rosa Regional Utility Authority - Primary Appointee

Experience

Charter Fisherman's Association: Founding Member and Past President
Destin Charter Boat Association: Member
Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association: Member
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
- Ad Hoc Red Snapper Advisory Panel: 2009-2011
- Data Collection Advisory Panel: 2009-2015
- Ad Hoc Vessel Monitoring System Advisory Panel: 2009-2011
- Reef Fish Advisory Panel: 2012-2014
- King Mackerel Advisory Panel: 2012-Present
- Ad Hoc Red Snapper Charter for-hire: 2014-Present
Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Alliance: Member
National Organization of Charter Boat Operators: Member
Save Our Sector Fishery Management: Spokesperson
Southeastern Fishermen’s Association: Member
Southern Offshore Fisherman's Association: Member