Our Captains

Captain Jim started fishing on Lake Erie as a young man; primarily for walleye and perch. His love of fishing led to obtaining his USCG 50 ton Masters Captains License in 2015 and he is also a licensed Lake Erie Fishing Guide. After finding the perfect boat, he began Champion Charters and added a second boat in 2022. He believes in doing everything right every time and that attention to detail makes all the difference. He is passionate about not only catching fish; but having fun doing it.

Champion Charters business was named after Captain Luke and his brother Captain Jake; both were outstanding high school and NCAA collegiate wrestlers obtaining state champion and NCAA champion titles. Captain Luke began fishing on Lake Erie as a young boy with his father Captain Jim Cramer. He began first mating at the age of 12 and continued until obtaining his Captains license at the age of 18. He has been a full time Captain for 9 years, winning the Demeter’s Captains tournament on Lake Erie in 2021. He is one of the best fishing guides on Lake Erie. Now a Registered Nurse, he divides his time between the lake and the hospital.

Captain Dakota grew up fishing Lake Erie with his grandfather. His sport fishing journey began 3 years ago as a full time First Mate working for Champion Charters. In 2022 he obtained his own 25 ton Masters Captains License and is a licensed Lake Erie Fishing Guide. He is very knowledgeable of the Western Basin and many different fishing tactics specific to Lake Erie.

Captain Shawn grew up fishing on Lake Erie for most of his life. He has been working on Lake Erie as both a First Mate and a Captain for the last 9 years. Capr. Shawn loves both drifting/casting and also trolling for Walleye and just being on the water. He is very passionate about catching fish, having fun, and sharing his knowledge about everything to do with fishing!

Captain Don, who has a 25 ton USCG Masters Captains license and is a licensed Lake Erie Fishing Guide, grew up in Northwest Ohio and has been boating and fishing his entire life. Don spent 4 years in the United States Navy, spending most of that time in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and is also an avid licensed diver. Most of his fishing experience has been devoted to yellow perch and walleye here on Lake Erie. (Back in the day when yellow perch were plentiful right off shore and walleye were caught primarily with Erie Dearie lures.) Although times have changed and bait and tactics have modernized; Don is always looking forward to what another day of fishing and being on the water brings.