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© St. Petersburg Times, published May 31, 2002
The outdoors world lost one of its most colorful characters Tuesday when Merrill "Canoeman" Chandler died at home after a long illness. He was 72.
Mr. Chandler, who wrote articles for outdoor magazines and co-hosted Capt. Mel Berman's Web site and radio program, was an avid angler who fished exclusively from paddle craft. The Vermont native was a member of the Old Salts Fishing Club as well as the Florida Outdoor Writers Association. He also worked as the district representative for the Stuart-based DOA Fishing Lures. But he will be best remembered as the "Canoeman," the man who proved that you don't need a big boat to catch big fish.