The waters around Niceville hold different meanings for different people, but for native Jeremiah Mayville, they represent a meeting point of purpose, a place where his roles as educator, charter captain and advocate for children in crisis come together.

• The 44-year-old Niceville High School teacher has built his life around these familiar waters, weaving together his passion for education with his love of fishing through his charter business, Flat Attack Charters. What distinguishes Mayville’s work is how he has transformed both pursuits into vehicles for serving others, particularly children facing their most difficult challenges.

“My goal has always been for anybody that’s on my boat to feel like they’re fishing with a buddy,” Mayville said. “Zero stress. Just having a good time and making the best out of the day.”

That philosophy extends far beyond typical charter trips. For 11 years, Mayville has dedicated every Sunday to taking children battling cancer on free fishing expeditions through partnerships with organizations including Catch A Dream and Sandcastle Kids. These trips have brought him face-to-face with profound moments – celebrations with children who beat their diagnoses and heartbreak with those who didn’t survive their battles.

Classroom to Charter Boat

Mayville’s path began in the same halls where he now teaches. A 1999 graduate of Niceville High School, he returned to his alma mater in 2014 after spending five years teaching marine science at Fort Walton Beach High School. 

• His current 22-year teaching career encompasses marine science honors and environmental science, while he also serves as head golf coach for boys, coaches baseball, sponsors both the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the school’s fishing club.

The blending of his educational background and charter business creates a natural synergy. Marine science, Mayville said, was the ideal teaching assignment for someone passionate about the outdoors, and his time on the water informs what he brings to the classroom.

Flat Attack Charters, which Mayville has operated for 13 years, targets species such as redfish, mangrove snapper, trout, flounder and Spanish mackerel in local inshore waters. Operating from a 22-foot Pathfinder vessel equipped with a 150 HP Yamaha engine, the business accommodates up to four anglers per trip, departing from the Wharf 850 restaurant in Niceville.

Mayville says he takes a deliberately personal approach to his charter business, avoiding booking agencies in favor of speaking directly with each potential client before scheduling trips. This old-fashioned method allows him to build relationships and better understand what each group hopes to experience on the water.

Adapting to Young Anglers

Recognizing that children require different approaches than adult anglers, Mayville introduced specialized two-hour “kids trips” about four to five years ago. These excursions are both less expensive and completely adaptable to young attention spans and interests.

• “If we’re catching fish and they’re having fun, then we can do that. Or we can cruise and stop and fish a little bit more, look at dolphins or whatever they want to do…just to make it fun for kids,” he explained.

His educational mission extends beyond the boat through volunteer work with the Little Adventures program with Visit Destin-Fort Walton Beach. Mayville teaches free classes including “Pin Fish Patrol” and “See Creatures” sessions conducted directly on the beach, where children use dip nets and rakes to catch marine specimens that become the foundation for impromptu biology lessons.

“I’ve had a lot of kids that have done several of them and they come back and tell me this is our favorite,” Mayville said about the beach programs.

A Family Tradition of Service

The drive to serve others runs deep in the Mayville family. His father, Tommy Mayville, recently retired as Fire Chief after 43 years of service with the Niceville Fire Department, establishing a family legacy of community commitment.

Jeremiah’s own children, Bode and Blakley, regularly accompany him on fishing and hunting trips with their mother, Callie. These family outdoor adventures serve a purpose beyond recreation.

• “It gets away from all the technology and distractions and we can just be away from everything and it’s a perfect opportunity for them to have any kind of serious conversations they need to have,” Mayville said about outdoor time with his children.

More Than Dual Careers

For Mayville, the intersection of teaching, charter fishing, and community service represents something deeper than simply balancing multiple roles. It’s a deliberate choice about how to live and work in ways that multiply his impact on young lives, whether in the classroom, on the water, or through volunteer efforts.

“I’ve always had a heart for pretty much anybody in need, especially the kids,” Mayville said. The sentiment captures both his motivation for the Sunday trips and his broader approach to education and business.

His philosophy about work and passion provides the foundation for everything he does: “If you do something you love, you never have to work,” he said.

Those interested in booking a charter with Flat Attack Charters can call 850-218-4477 or email jmayville3@gmail.com.