A Family History with Gause

More Than Just a Boat

For Cole Hernandez, owning a Gause isn’t simply about the boat sitting at the dock today. It’s about a connection to the water—and to the Gause family—that stretches back decades.

Cole’s 2017 Gause 26 is the third Gause his family has owned, continuing a relationship built through years of fishing, friendship, and unforgettable days on the water.

When asked why Gause, Cole’s answer was simple: supporting local and a longtime friendship with the Gause family.

But the story behind that answer goes much deeper.

The Tarpon That Started It All

About 20 years ago, Cole climbed aboard a Gause Built Boat with his father, and two Gause Brothers for a fishing trip in Boca Grande.

That day, Cole caught his first tarpon.

It became one of those moments on the water that stays with you—and ultimately helped shape where his life would take him.

Twenty years later, Cole has come full circle. He’s now guided well over 100 people to their own first tarpon, giving others the opportunity to experience the same unforgettable moment that began for him aboard a Gause all those years ago.

Three Gause Boats. Countless Memories.

It’s difficult for Cole to separate one boat, one fish, or one day from what Gause has come to mean to his family.

“I could tear up thinking about the memories made and what this boat and the ones before mean to our family, the places it’s been and the many fish it’s been a part of.”

Those memories span three Gause boats and years of adventures—from milestone catches and days with friends to the quieter family moments that become more meaningful with time.

For the Hernandez family, a Gause hasn’t just taken them fishing. It’s been a constant presence through different chapters of their lives.

The Next Generation

And the story isn’t ending with Cole.

Today, Cole’s younger brother, Luke Hernandez, is following in those same footsteps—making his own memories, catching his own fish, and continuing a family connection to the water that began long before him.

From Cole’s first tarpon alongside his father and the Gause family, to more than 100 first-tarpon experiences he’s helped create for others, and now to Luke carrying that passion forward, it’s a story that’s come full circle.

Three Gause boats. Two decades of memories. And another generation just getting started.