Special delivery: Sign up for the free Marlin email newsletter. Subscribe to Marlin magazine and get a year of highly collectible, keepsake editions – plus access to the digital edition and archives.
Some people chase success. Others seem destined to find it. Daniel Miers has experienced a bit of both. Born in New Orleans and raised on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Miers has forged a life rooted in resilience, resourcefulness and a relentless work ethic. From operating fishing charters to running oil-field logistics companies, Miers’ journey to success has been linked directly to his hustle. But in 2022, destiny intervened. I recently sat down with Miers, now the owner of the iconic King Sailfish Mounts, to talk about fishing, families, the “blue skies” he sees in the taxidermy business, and why he’s betting big on his Cajun roots.
Q: What was your introduction to fishing?
A: My earliest memories are of my dad waking me up before daylight to go fishing. He was a dental-school professor, but on the weekends, he transformed. We’d fish Delacroix, Dulac, the trestles, the Chef, all of it. I didn’t realize it at the time, but those years taught me everything—how to read water, understand the tides and chase something deeper than just fish.
Later, I worked every job you could imagine just to stay on the water while I was in school. I sold meat door to door, bartended, landscaped mitigation zones, got chased by gators—you name it. Eventually, I landed a deckhand gig in Venice with Peace Marvel, and that was it. I realized then that if you want to be great at something, you better love it—because someone else out there will, and they’ll outwork you if you don’t.
Q: Who were some of your earliest mentors?
A: My dad, first and foremost. He taught me to read water, not just chase bites. Then there was Peace. That man was wild. He smoked unfiltered Camels and told customers, no joke, he was conceived when a white marlin speared his mom’s belly. But he taught me grit. That job wasn’t for the faint of heart. Eighteen-hour days, no days off, no deckhand to help you clean the boat at night. It either made you or broke you. It was the best education I could’ve had at that stage of my life.
And then there’s Dick Alario. I met him when he was trying to figure out tarpon fishing in Texas. I didn’t know he was the CEO of Key Energy. He gave me a shot and offered me a leadership role I wasn’t qualified for on paper. That offer set my life in motion. It’s why I brought Jason Mahin—my former captain and now operations manager—down with me to KSM. That kind of trust changed my life. I try to pay it forward.
Q: Tell us about your oil and gas career before King Sailfish.
A: After my introduction to the oil and gas world from Dick, I started small—account manager stuff—but scaled up quickly. I ended up running fluid management and logistics operations across the country: hundreds of trucks, thousands of employees—you name it. I loved the challenge and the scale, but the company wasn’t mine. I didn’t wake up thinking about spreadsheets and logistics, you know? I wanted to build something that mattered to me.
Fishing was always the common thread. I took people fishing, and they offered me jobs. That’s how I got in. My career was built on that—on showing up, performing and staying humble enough to learn from everyone around me.
Q: How did you end up acquiring KSM?
A: I was at an event put on by The Billfish Foundation when Ellen Peel mentioned that Raymond Douglas (“Doug”) might be open to investors. We connected and realized we grew up on the same street in New Orleans, just decades apart. The foghorn that he fell asleep to as a kid? I fell asleep to it too. He grew up literally three houses down from mine. I later found out that Doug hired a PI, or something like that, to make sure I wasn’t making this stuff up—that’s how weird it is!
After he realized I wasn’t blowing smoke, we went tarpon fishing in the Everglades, and he agreed to sell me the company—once again, another major life change as a result of going fishing.
Q: What has been your approach since taking over KSM?
A: I promised myself before I bought KSM that I wouldn’t change anything for two years. I’m an action-oriented kind of guy, so it was hard. But I just watched, listened and learned. Then we got to work—new systems, clear goals, improved customer experience, all while preserving the artistry and integrity of the product. This isn’t a factory or a gallery. It’s both. Our mounts aren’t just accurate; they’re emotional. They tell stories. They represent pride, family and tradition. If it’s going on your wall for life, it better be perfect.
And the people we have here feel the same way. For all of us, it’s not just about fish. It’s about people. I’ve seen grown men cry picking up their mounts. And our artists? They live this. They don’t just clock out and go home. They go make more art. I wanted to build a place where people could make a living doing what they love. And that’s what we’re doing.
Q: What’s next for you and for KSM?
A: Well, I told you I was action-oriented, didn’t I? We’re expanding. During my first two years, I realized that there’s all kinds of “blue sky” in what we’re doing, and I’ve built my career on scaling up operations. So we’re building a 25,000-square-foot facility in New Orleans, which will let us grow to meet the demand that’s out there. Our main headquarters will remain here in Fort Lauderdale, and the shop will transition to focus on more custom works. Our roots will always be in South Florida, but New Orleans will just give us the space we need. And for me, it’s a homecoming. It makes all the sense in the world for business, and I’d be lying if I told you I’m not thrilled with this new move and the growth.
I’ve had a big career. I’ve had the chance to run big companies—you know, had real jobs. But this? I get to deal with happy people every day. I’m talking fishing and making people smile. So yeah, I’d say this is right where I want to be.
