PYSK: Lyons Bousson, Sr.
A Man at Sea
-Liesel Schmidt
“The heart of a man is very much like the sea. It has storms, it has tides, and in its depths, it has its pearls, too.” – Vincent van Gogh
There are some who, had they been born in a different century perhaps, would most assuredly have been pirates or captains of massive ships traversing oceans in search of far-off lands, so deeply do they love the feeling of being out on the water.
Lyons Bousson, Sr., is one of those men.
While he may not be at the helm of a wooden ship whose sails have felt the winds of a thousand worlds, 53-year-old Bousson has a love of the water that seems to run soul deep. “I have loved the water for as long as I can remember,” he says. “I moved to Montrose with my family when I was two years old, in 1972, and I fell in love with Mobile Bay the first time I laid eyes on her. I grew up throwing cast nets, looking for jubilees, and fishing whenever possible. Time spent on the water has always felt effortless, and it’s the place I am the happiest.”
His pursuit of his captain’s license was a natural step, and Bousson has held one since 2011. In 2017 when his son Lyons, Jr., followed in his footsteps and obtained his own captain’s license, he started his own charter company, Fairhope Charters. “Getting my captain’s license and starting a small charter business was and is my outlet to share my love of fishing, conservation and God’s creation with others,” says Bousson, who in addition to owning the charter company, has worked at Acme Brick and Tile for 23 years and is currently serving as Sales Manager for the Gulf Coast region. “I love being able to share tides with people I may not normally get the chance to meet. It’s a blessing to share God’s creation, and I have made some great friends along the way.”