Includes:
Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara counties
Ryan Gentry - Central Coast Policy Lead
Ryan Gentry grew up in and around the vineyards and rivers of Santa Rosa, California, but spent most weekends traveling to fish, dive, camp, snowboard, and ride motorcycles and snowmobiles in the many state parks. In his mid-20s, work brought Ryan to Monterey, California, where he immediately fell in love with the area and the sport of spearfishing.
As Ryan got older, he began to take notice of the issues surrounding his favorite activities: the destruction of property by careless users, the unsustainable practices of old, the mismanagement of funds and services by the people entrusted to oversee the lands, and—-most hauntingly—-the active effort to remove hunting, fishing, and recreating on these lands by those who believe conservation can only be possible by heavily restricting or completely removing access. Ryan realized that he must act or lose the lifestyle he admired and loved.
In 2020, Ryan and a group of highly talented individuals started Fin and Forage, a community-based educational group dedicated to helping newcomers to spearfishing and coastal foraging learn the safest and most sustainable methods. Fin and Forage also seeks to build and connect the community so that we can change mindsets and protect the future of the sport. Ryan’s work with Fin and Forage connected him to the CA Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and he quickly realized that the BHA’s platform is critical to building a voice that could speak with authority for the spearfishing community.
Ryan lives in Monterey with his wife Kelsey and son Remington. He manages a masonry contracting company and is an active contributor and board member of Fin and Forage. In his free time, Ryan is also a dedicated martial artist, photographer, videographer, shooting enthusiast and 2nd Amendment advocate.