The Captains
Capt. Terry Nugent
Originally from Holbrook MA, Captain Terry Nugent has been fishing the lakes, ponds and ocean waters from New England to Mexico for over 45 years. In 1998 that experience was put to good use and Riptide Charters was born. In addition to being an IGFA Professional Guide, Captain Terry is a USCG Licensed 100 Ton Master with an Assistance Towing Endorsement. As the Navionics Tournament Team Captain, Capt.Terry has several major Striped Bass tournament top 10 finishes to his name and several top 3 finishes in ASA and FLW events. Capt. Terry has proven successful with inshore species and offshore pelagics from the islands to the canyons. He has guided his sports to a Massachusetts Governors’ Cup and back to back 2006/2007 IGFA World Records for Thresher and Blue Shark.
In addition to the accolades, Capt. Terry is best known for helping to mainstream the booming New England School Bluefin Tuna casting fishery. The uncanny ability to put novices and experts alike within casting range of trophy school Bluefin Tuna has made him the face of Cape Cod Topwater Bluefin Tuna. As this world class fishery evolves at an exponential rate, Capt. Terry continues to foster innovation by serving on the design and field testing teams for Raymarine, Hogy Lures and Duckett Fishing as well as creating his own line of inshore Tuna spinning rods (Riptide Big Gun). Terry is also on the Pro Staff for Mercury Marine, Costa Sunglasses and Daiwa Reels.
Capt. Terry is a Certified First Responder and is trained in First Aid, CPR and Automated External Defibrillator(AED) usage. He has completed the USCG Certified Fisherman’s Safety Training Course 4 times.
Over the past two decades Capt. Terry has been sharing his enthusiasm and knowledge gained from a life spent on the water with the fishing public through a variety of media. Capt. Terry has appeared in numerous TV shows from the local “On the Water” on NESN to international TV with Bob Izumi’s Real Fishing on Versus, The Obsession of Carter Andrews and The Spanish Fly on ESPN2 and The Outdoor Channel. Terry has also been featured in several books and publications including “Tuna on the Fly” (Gilmore, 2006), Saltwater Sportsman, Sportfishing Magazine, Center Console Angler, Northeast Boating, On the Water, Field and Stream, Fishing Boats Registry, Coastal Angler Magazine and The Fisherman Magazine.
During the off-season Capt. Terry occupies his time tinkering with tackle, at the local fishing shows and speaking at clubs and seminars large and small. Capt. Terry is a frequent guest speaker for the Buzzards Bay Anglers Club, Osterville Anglers Club, The Cape Cod Salties, CCA, Bass Pro Shops, “BFT” seminar (2008, 2009), Tuna Mania (2007, 2008), Big Game Bash (2010,2011, 2012), and The Saltwater Sportsman National Seminar Series (2006, 2011), as well as his own Riptide Seminar Series (2014,2017).
Being centrally located on Cape Cod allows Capt. Terry to put you on the fish no matter where they move. Remaining mobile, he is capable of launching from one of over a dozen ramps on or around the Cape to ensure that you spend less time taking a “boat ride” and more time fishing where the fish are.
While we don’t mind taking the occasional fish home for the grill, we encourage “catch and release” and hope to preserve our great fishery on the Cape and Islands. Remember…photos last forever, resources don’t.
Capt. Terry Nugent has provided many anglers with their most memorable days on the water catching Bass, Blues and Tuna… book now and give yourself the chance to experience an unforgettable day on the water.
Capt. Shaun Ruge
In 2005 Capt. Shaun Ruge became part of Riptide Charters both as a mate and Captain. “Roo-Gee” as he’s known, is the quintessential utility player. From his uncanny ability to find fish consistently, to shooting smooth video in gale force conditions, to his skills on the rod, to perfect gaff placement every time, Ruge does it all and more importantly does it all WELL. From making bait in the dead of night to rigging boats and gear, Ruge’s role behind the scenes and his tireless prep work are no less impressive.
Capt. Shaun Ruge is a USCG 100 Ton Master based out of Centerville MA. Growing up in upstate New York, Shaun started hunting & fishing at a very young age from sight fishing for largemouth in lakes and ponds, Hudson River stripers, and fly fishing clear water streams in the Catskills for skittish trout. In 2000 Capt. Shaun moved from NY to Winthrop, MA and then to Cape Cod in 2000. He traded his 4wt for a 9 wt. becoming an online fly fishing personality as a moderator with Reel-time.com.
Capt. Shaun has been sharing his enthusiasm and knowledge gained from a life spent on the water with the fishing public through a variety of media. Capt. Shaun has appeared in several TV episodes of “New England Boating” and “On the Water” on NESN. Capt. Shaun can always be seen at local fishing shows and speaking at Clubs and Seminars large and small. Capt. Shaun is a frequent guest speaker for the Buzzards Bay Anglers Club, Osterville Anglers Club, The Cape Cod Salties, The Saltwater Sportsman National Seminar Series 2015, and the Riptide Offshore Seminar Series (2014) Capt. Ruge runs the Eclipse.
