Scott Hickman
Galveston, TX
Capt. Scott Hickman is the owner/operator of Circle H Outfitters and Charters. He is a full time hunting and fishing guide with 27 years experience, specializing in Cobia, Snapper, Amberjack and King Mackerel trips.
His interest in the health of the Gulf of Mexico and the fisheries it supports led to his volunteer work with the sanctuary and several other groups. He is actively involved on the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council Migratory Pelagic Advisory Panel and Reef Fish Advisory Panel, with an interest in finding solutions for a better charter business plan in the Gulf his top priority.
Scott has been a member of the Sanctuary Advisory Council as a Recreational Fishing representative since 2013. In this role, he has been extraordinarily active in making certain that the sanctuary is aware of and responsive to concerns of the recreational fishing community. While advocating for his constituents, he has provided a reasonable voice on the council stating what his constituents would prefer while acknowledging that the ultimate realities might be different because of the variety of user groups and the needs of the natural resources.
In addition to participating in the Sanctuary Advisory Council meetings, Scott has actively pursued improvements to sanctuary information collection in his service on the Advisory Council's Visitor Use sub-committee.
Scott has also made certain that recreational fishers have a voice in the proposed sanctuary expansion and provided critical information to sanctuary staff regarding recreational fishing interests. He has worked hard to make certain that the proposed expansion plan is the best possible fit for recreational fishers and others.
All of these contributions have contributed to expanding and enhancing the credibility and visibility of the local site and the sanctuary system as a whole, especially among the recreational fishing community.
Scott attended both Texas Tech University and Sam Houston State University studying Wildlife Management and Criminal Justice. He also served in the United States Marine Corps and Texas National Guard.
Scott Hickman was also the 2016 National Marine Sanctuaries Volunteer of the Year