Thanks so much for taking the time to give me a recommendation and FIVE stars!  You guys were great anglers and it was a lotta fun having you on the boat!

Thanks so much for taking the time to give me a recommendation and FIVE stars!  You guys were great anglers and it was a lotta fun having you on the boat!

Now I can realize Gus is far better skilled at dishing out harsh opinions rather than fishing or understanding the SPORT of fishing.  I was given 12 hours notice before launch, no communication of fishing experience or skill levels and now realize he is one of many that think booking a fishing trip in the Florida Keys means instant hookups and lots of fish to the boat NOT realizing it is a PARTICIPATION SPORT with the usual challenges that requires effort and skill to compete successfully.  I would venture Gus did not spend a lot of time reading trip details to select the trip that was best for him, instead choosing the cheapest and expecting the best, seldom a winning strategy. 
I told them early on, this time of year the most popular bait is hard to come by but I had scored some crabs so we’d make the best of it.  I did put his young son on a nice sportfish (in spite of the fact that they didn’t bring sunglasses, especially polarized when they were advised to do so in their pre-trip prep message), our PERMIT, a big one, which he hooked and got to the boat but the line was not controlled correctly and the fish got loose.  And yes, that was disappointing but also very thrilling for a while with the possibility of a great catch offering the usual learning opportunity.
I must admit I will NOT consider that Gus’s harsh comments have ANY validity as he discredits himself and any logical thinking entirely by rating my few-months-old custom-built boat, for which I invested over $150,000 for top of the line design and performance, and everyone raves about it – Gus giving it only a 3 – absurd… as was the entire review.  Wanna-be anglers are not entitled to a trophy for just showing up.

Now I can realize Gus is far better skilled at dishing out harsh opinions rather than fishing or understanding the SPORT of fishing.  I was given 12 hours notice before launch, no communication of fishing experience or skill levels and now realize he is one of many that think booking a fishing trip in the Florida Keys means instant hookups and lots of fish to the boat NOT realizing it is a PARTICIPATION SPORT with the usual challenges that requires effort and skill to compete successfully. ... More

WHOA!! Did NOT see THAT coming!  And for him to have come to that definitive conclusion from just one short period of time together WOW.  Bud had written that he wanted to sight-fish and had some experience and was eager to learn but evidently didn’t take my constructive criticism well. It is unfortunate with fishing always portrayed so casually and easy that most don’t understand how very hard it is to actually sight fish and how much time and practice it takes to become proficient at it and reap the rewards with hook ups.  Oh well Bud is not a fan, but makes me so thankful for the many loyal customers who have spent repeat days with me and have come to learn the real me that I have been able to please on board and have sustained me over my 22-year career as a popular Captain and fishing guide because I do sincerely care and try very hard to be sure everyone has an enjoyable time in trying to achieve their personal goals and provide honest instruction in that effort when asked.  I realize I can’t appeal to everyone 100% of the time but whew, that review was BRUTAL!  So sorry my efforts were lost on Bud but I have to look to the critic with some real skepticism as he wouldn’t even give my boat 5 stars when I’d just taken delivery on it having ordered it in January, a state-of-the art top-of-the-line technical design $$$$ and he, perhaps my 5th trip,  complimented me on it several times while on board even leaving me a nice tip but like many others in this day and age became a keyboard warrior later. My final word on this is Matthew 5:39 - ‘turn the other cheek.’

WHOA!! Did NOT see THAT coming!  And for him to have come to that definitive conclusion from just one short period of time together WOW.  Bud had written that he wanted to sight-fish and had some experience and was eager to learn but evidently didn’t take my constructive criticism well. It is unfortunate with fishing always portrayed so casually and easy that most don’t understand how very hard it is to actually sight fish and how much time and practice it takes to become proficient at it... More