Captain Lonnie “LJ” Johnson, 65, well known through the angling community and creator of G-Eye Jigs, touched countless angler’s lives in ways that are impossible to sum up. His energy, laughter, and generosity reached every person lucky enough to cross his path. On November 13 he was last seen leaving Chesapeake Beach aboard his boat. It was found idling, empty, on the opposite side of the Bay on November 14, and LJ remained missing until his remains were located on December 4. Details of what happened remain unknown. The following is a rememberance from some of his friends and fellow volunteers with Combos for Kids. No tribute can name everyone, but if you ever fished with him, talked to him at the ramp, or received one of those “try this” tosses, you’ll see your own moment in these words.
Bob Bruns recalls: “On the water, LJ unselfishly shared his knowledge. Spotting a familiar boat he’d mention the hot soft-plastic color and size, toss over a couple pre-rigged G-Eye jigs, and quietly let slip exactly where to be at sunset—a little farther north, up to the marker, close to the channel edge, or wherever the big ones were setting up. ‘Hey ________, try these!’ By day’s end, LJ had photos of kids and grown adults holding fish with great big beaming smiles: proof that the right jig in the right hands at the right spot was all he ever wanted.
Even the word ‘unselfish’ has ‘fish’ tucked inside it—because that’s who LJ was. A guy who always made sure everyone else was catching fish before he worried about himself. LJ would say ‘go to the bow… fish are under the boat… they’re on the right side,’ and when you hooked one he’d always say ‘make sure the line and leader are the length of the rod, and as soon as it’s netted, open the bail.’
EJ Harman, executive director of Combos for Kids (and a manager at Anglers Sports Center), fondly remembers LJ’s incredible heart and passion for giving back, especially to children: “When Combos for Kids was founded in 2021, its mission was to use fishing to bring joy and create lifelong memories for kids and their families. From day one Captain LJ was there supporting the program. For LJ, nothing compared to the pure joy of seeing a child’s face light up as they caught their first fish. Those moments weren’t just memorable; they were everything to him. He poured his heart into every child’s experience, and his generosity, kindness, and love for making others happy will never be forgotten.
It didn’t matter if you were just starting out, a regular on the water, or a seasoned captain—LJ answered every question patiently, never making anyone feel small or stupid. But if your line was still out of the water while fish were around? He’d give you that gentle nudge: ‘What are you doing over there, bro? Get that line in the water!’ And if you were still struggling, next thing you knew LJ was right beside you, quietly helping until the rod bent.
The very first thing LJ told every guest after good morning was ‘Phone, wallet, keys—stick ’em in the console before they end up in the drink.’ Then we fished while LJ stealthily guided us, slathering every pre-rigged soft plastic with Pro-Cure from those handy shoe-polish bottles he kept filled for quick use, tying topwater lures with his favorite Canoeman loop knot on backup rods already rigged and ready, all while scanning his side-scan sonar, sweeping the horizon with his binos, eating Munchies, and watching us fish… well, attempt to fish.
Whenever you heard LJ’s voice—at the ramp, at a seminar, or in one of his videos—he was usually watching someone else having fun rather than fishing himself. Of course he loved holding the rod, but guests and friends always went first. He got more enjoyment watching others catch fish than catching fish himself. Back in the day when LJ was a guide, if you were near his boat while he was grilling hamburgers on the transom he’d flip one over to you, too, no hesitation and no invitation needed. He shared everything the same way: lures, spots, knowledge, or a hot burger straight off the grill.”
In recent years, with keeper rockfish so precious, LJ embraced the Ike Jime method—and never stopped learning. While most of us muddled through YouTube or trial and error, LJ brought Andrew Tsui, founder of the Ike Jime Federation, aboard for a personal lesson. As Walt Tomczykowski remembers, “LJ shared every refinement: the spike, the wire, fresh paper daily, a full two-day wait minimum, and his delicious ginger-soy steamed rockfish recipe. He even walked my wife and I through our first prep over the phone, then talked us through the meal, ending with, ‘Keep refining it… like fishing, it only gets better and better.’”
Captain Steve Griffin agrees: “LJ was the finest mentor and role model any of us ever had.” His influence pushed Steve and his partner Drew to keep sharpening their own skills so they could share them with everyone who loves this fishery. “Every single trip with LJ we learned something, whether it was a new pattern, testing the latest G-Eye underspin, or the pure joy of watching a kid hook their first rockfish.”
The same is true for other light-tackle captains he mentored—captains Travis Long, Mark Hotze, Shane Cole, and many more—who fished beside LJ and now carry his approach every time they leave the dock. Captain John Magruther and his son John Jr. remember heading in at Point Lookout when they ran into LJ. Minutes later he had them loaded with his latest lures and colors to help John get dialed in. Watching John now pay it forward forged an instant bond and like everyone LJ touched, they swapped family stories, fishing stories, and tales of the one that got away… though not many got away when LJ was around.
Combined with his passion for Combos for Kids, these moments created memories that were unique in detail yet shared by the entire Chesapeake Bay fishing community.
LJ’s home port was Chesapeake Beach. The waters outside Chesapeake Beach were special to him and his beloved wife Cione, who passed away in 2019. They shared many memories in a location that remains secret, unless you were fortunate enough to be on LJ’s boat and see the mark on the plotter. Any boat that fishes that spot will still catch fish.
Dave Sikorski and CCA Maryland are discussing plans for another special spot, a reef to be named in Lonnie’s honor. Dozens if not hundreds more could have shared their stories—LJ touched that many lives. The memories will last forever, and as his friend JJ Vigil says, they were always good ones. Bob Bruns puts it perfectly: “LJ’s spirit will always be on our boats, riding along with the laughs, the fishing, the catching, and those great big smiles.”
“The most important thing I learned a long time ago was, it’s not all about a cooler full of fish. It’s really about going out on the Bay with family and friends for a special and memorable day. There’s nothing more satisfying to me than when someone asks ‘Hey, remember that day we went fishing?’ as I’m looking at a big smile on their face. Mission accomplished.”
-Lonnie Johnson
LJ’s legacy lives in the stories we share, the lessons he taught, and the joy he brought everywhere he went. His spirit will continue to guide and inspire us, and he will always remain a part of our lives in every way that matters.
Editor’s note: Captain LJ was one of the most friendly, generous people I ever met. I didn’t know him well enough to write a tribute worthy of his true character, so I turned to a mutual friend for help. He compiled this rememberance but wished to remain anonymous, stating that “no individual byline should appear, because this tribute belongs to everyone LJ helped.”