Dan O’Connor named Captain of the Year for his commitment to Lake Erie and to birds

Capt. Dan O’Connor, left, poses with Ohio Division of Wildlife Chief, Kendra Wecker, after O’Connor was named the Captain of the Year at the 45th Annual Ohio Charter Captains Conference on March 7. (Submitted photo)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

HURON – For many years, Captain Dan O’Connor of D.O.C. Charters fished for the fun of it, but then he decided to spread his wings and fish for a bigger cause. He has been chartering boats for 33 years, but these days, O’Connor donates the fish he catches to Back to the Wild animal rehabilitation center to help feed the eagles and other resident and temporary birds at the center.

O’Connor caught and donated 1,500 fish this year alone, and, since he began making donations, he has helped Back to the Wild save thousands of dollars in food costs. His generosity and his longtime commitment to chartering boats on Lake Erie were recognized when he was named Captain of the Year at the 45th Annual Ohio Charter Captains Conference at the BGSU Firelands Cedar Point Conference Center in Huron on March 7.

“We are grateful to all of the Lake Erie charter boat captains who promote Ohio’s incredible fishery. Captain O’Connor is an advocate for Lake Erie and has provided safe, fun, and successful fishing experiences for countless anglers,” said Ohio Division of Wildlife Chief, Kendra Wecker. “His partnership with Back to the Wild further shows his commitment to the local community and wildlife conservation.”

O’Connor was nominated for the honor by Capt. Peg VanVleet. VanVleet serves as the editor of The Hook, a publication of the Lake Erie Charter Boat Association. She talked about O’Connor’s commitment to Lake Erie and Back to the Wild in the February, 2026 issue.

VanVleet mentioned a Back to the Wild resident eagle who recognizes O’Connor’s car and screeches a welcome when he arrives with fish.

Capt. Dan O’Connor with one of the thousands of fish he caught and donated to Back to the Wild. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“It’s a bond built on trust, consistency, and the quiet generosity that defines Dan’s character,” VanVleet wrote.

Back to the Wild Founder and Executive Director, Mona Rutger, spoke of O’Connor’s generosity when she talked to The Beacon last August.

“He’s a very selfless, very kind person,” Rutger said. “We’re very grateful.”

This winter, Back to the Wild added O’Connor’s name to a brick on the center’s Walk of Heroes.

“Mona told me they put my name and charter name on it, and it says, ‘The Eagles Love You,’” O’Connor said.

O’Connor didn’t expect to be chosen as the Captain of the Year.

“I was pretty surprised, to be honest,” he said. “I was surprised when Peg said I was nominated. I didn’t expect to get it.”

O’Connor’s long history with Lake Erie began when he wanted to take friends on his boat and split the cost of gas. He learned he would need to obtain a captain’s license, so he did and then chartered for over three decades. His passion for fishing led to his passion for quietly helping birds.

“It all started because I bought a boat,” he said.

That one decision has impacted thousands of anglers, the Lake Erie fishing industry, and the rehabilitation of wounded birds at Back to the Wild.

“Captain Dan never asks for recognition,” VanVleet wrote. “But in Castalia, he’s earned something deeper: the affection of feathers and fur, and the respect of a community that knows a true hero when it sees one.”

Read more about O’Connor’s connection to Back to the Wild here: https://www.thebeacon.net/for-capt-dan-oconnor-fishing-is-for-the-birds/.