Maximo Macanas was a graduate of Humboldt State University and a wildlife biologist whose passion for fishing, hunting, conservation and the outdoors shaped his life.
Since his childhood, he spent his days in the rivers, lakes, coastline and forests of Northern California. He understood the water and how it moves. He studied fish, plants, wildlife, and could track almost anything. While working for Cal Fire in Georgetown, he even tracked and found lost teenagers who had become separated from their group, finding them in the night.
On January 31, 2026, Maximo tragically lost his life to a sneaker wave while eeling at the Mouth of the Klamath, where the river meets the ocean – a place he had fished a hundred times before.
The Maximo Macanas Water & Wildlife Safety Foundation was created in Max’s memory to carry forward his legacy by promoting awareness, education and risk recognition in natural environments to help prevent future tragedies.