Citadel RB Garcia Runs Shark Charter Business
The Bulldogs' leading rusher balances his football season with a shark fishing charter service in Charleston.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Football
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The Citadel running back Gavin Garcia is currently managing a shark fishing charter business alongside his athletic responsibilities. Garcia, who leads his team with 625 rushing yards, uses specialized drone technology to deploy bait and lines offshore.
Why it matters
Garcia launched the charter operation to offset the substantial financial investment he made in specialized deep-sea fishing equipment. He balances these commercial efforts with his role as the centerpiece of The Citadel's ground game.
Garcia has recorded 625 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the season. He previously invested more than $10,000 into high-end fishing gear, including drones used to drop bait up to a half-mile off the coast.
The players
Gavin Garcia
He is a running back for The Citadel who previously played at Kent State.
The Citadel
This is a public military college in Charleston that fields competitive Division I football teams.
The details
The 195-pound running back, who transferred from Kent State, utilizes custom drone setups to drop lines into the surf off Folly Beach. His fishing achievements include landing a 1,000-pound, 14-foot hammerhead shark during his time operating in the Lowcountry.
Timeline
January 2026: Garcia arrived in Charleston to begin his fishing activities off Folly Beach.
Spring and early summer 2026: Hammerhead sharks began appearing in the waters near the Lowcountry.
End of November 2026: Garcia plans to cease his charter operations in the Charleston area.
Season Trajectory
This venture highlights the evolving nature of student-athlete branding under the NCAA Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policy. Garcia's ability to maintain high on-field performance while managing a business reflects a broader trend of athletes monetizing their personal time.
Garcia remains the primary rushing threat for the Bulldogs, currently pacing the backfield with 625 yards on the season. His future availability for local charters is restricted to the current season schedule, with operations set to close at the end of November.
The takeaway
Garcia successfully balances the physical demands of high-level college football with the logistics of managing a specialized maritime service. His ability to recoup equipment costs through independent entrepreneurship showcases an increasingly common path for modern student-athletes.
What happens next
Gavin Garcia plans to travel to Florida after the conclusion of the football season to begin training for the upcoming NFL draft.
Further reading
For more on the latest local college gridiron developments, visit Charleston Football.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Post and Courier.
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