Welcome!
My name is Cameron J. Rhodes and I am the photographer and writer at The Buckskin Billfish. Thank you for visiting the site today!
My Background
I grew up on a horse farm in New York as an only child of two veterinarians. As a little kid, I loved salamanders, ponies, dogs, cats, fish ID guides, sharks, poetry, and short stories. I wrote often, rarely finished what I started, and played in the magic of fictional characters.
As a teenager, I spent a good amount of time running away from my true interests and into the arms of varsity sports. I was wrapped up in the culture of my less than mediocre athleticism, and it took me a while to circle back to what I really wanted.
Eventually I rekindled my interest in marine biology and went on to study marine science and biology at the University of Miami. My inclination to write would pop in for visits on occassion. But I would consistently chase those ideas away with chemistry, calculus, cinnamon whiskey, and microwaveable mac & cheese. Although writing still struggled to find a foothold in my life, photography crept in from the sidelines.
While in college, I took great interest in the importance of photography and film in marine conservation and policy and eventually picked up a camera. I’d found another mode of story telling, another tool to share narratives, new places, exciting experiences, and fleeting moments.
These interests later led to a job as a photographer with the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series and a position in federal fisheries management as an outreach and communication specialist in Charleston, South Carolina.
Through these jobs, I have been flooded with incredible content - so many harrowing, funny, and beautiful stories of men and women in the outdoors. I found my feet and started to write them down.
I’m so grateful for the trust folks have shown me as I continue to write and shoot. The Buckskin Billfish would simply not be possible without the inspiring fishermen, hunters, horsemen, and outdoorsmen that I’ve met along the way.
The Story Behind the Name
The name "The Buckskin Billfish" comes about for a number of reasons, some of which speak to who I am both personally and professionally.
My mom, at age 65, continues to be as horse crazy now as every little kid who has ever dreamed of a Christmas pony. My dad, a life-long angler, never turns away from an opportunity to talk fish. I am without question their kid. My interests and passions reflect theirs with such acuity that it flirts with cliche. So, as the child of my parents, I suppose you could argue that I am the product of the buckskin and the billfish.
In addition, the words "buckskin" and “billfish” are colorful and spirited by nature. Whether referring to the hide from the back of a hunted deer, the coat of a gold flecked horse, or an iconic group of fish that has dominated the imaginations of anglers for centuries, these words speak to the mission of the company - to share vibrant written and visual stories about the people tied to outdoor and fishing communities.
Now, what stories can I help you tell?