I have enjoyed the privilege of fishing with many guides over the years, so I feel somewhat qualified to say what creates an excellent fishing trip.  I've been on guided trips for peacock bass in southern Florida, I’ve enjoyed catching big bull redfish near the panhandle, and I have been guided on trips for largemouth bass in central Florida. 

 

I’ve also been able to catch feeding speckled trout in the gulf of Florida that violently smashed your lures , and I also been able to experience a guided trip catching very powerful snook parked under mangrove trees in Florida that made a sound like a .22 caliber gun when they exploded on bait on the surface!

 

I’ve been with guides that hunted schools of reds in Savannah , Georgia , and I’ve even been on the Santee chain of lakes in South Carolina to have a guide lead us to some nice catfishing.  I’ve been on deep sea trips off of the North Carolina coast, and I’ve also been privy to chase flounder, specks, and slot red drum in the Morehead City area marshes, as well. 

 

I’ve had some fantastic captains, and I’ve had some that were marginal, at best.  I can truthfully say that Capt. Steve rates at the very top of my list when it comes to choosing a guided trip.  The reasons are quite simple.

 

Certainly, I always want to catch fish, and Capt. Steve can certainly put me onto some serious fishing.  I don’t think that I’ll ever forget going out with Capt. Steve on a bluebird skies type of day with northerly winds in the fall of 2006 and hearing all of the other boaters lament the poor timing of mother nature.  Yet, we absolutely slayed them that day,  catching flounder, specks, black drum, and an absolute bevy of slot redfish. 

 

I’ve never witnessed fishing like that when I truly believed that each cast of my artificial lure would bring in another beauty.  We would have caught even more fish if Capt. Steve would have fished (I was begging him to join us instead of attending to our every need – I guess that he likes to spoil his guests). 

 

But I’ve also learned that a great day on the water entails much more than simply catching lots of fish.  I absolutely always want to feel like my personal well being is first and foremost on the agenda of the captain.  I not only want a safe, dependable boat, but I want a captain who is committed to my personal safety while on the water with him.  Capt. Steve leaves no stone unturned when it comes to my safety, and that type of preparedness leaves me with a feeling of comfort so that I can concentrate simply on catching fish.

 

Another thing that I value is the way that I’m treated by the guide; I want him to adapt quickly to my desires for the day, and Capt. Steve truly excels in this area.  He’s willing to challenge me with a new technique; yet, he knows that I’m simply an amateur with a great love for fishing, so he allows me to make horrible casts with all of the ensuing hang-ups.  We simply grin and move on.  I’ve been with guides who demanded absolute perfection, and it made for a long, dreadful day.  I love coaching and learning, but I’ll also laugh off missed fish (and even the occasional lost fish) knowing that such events are just a part of fishing.

 

Beyond these critical things, there seems to be one more thing that sets Capt. Steve well above other guides when it comes to paid fishing trips.  He is more than willing to share his expertise in ways that I can go back and apply to my personal fishing.  Of course, every fisherman will share the obvious, traditional tips and hints, but Capt. Steve is willing to divulge fishing information that he’s accumulated in a lifetime of fishing that will help me put fish in the boat when I’m on my own. 

 

He’s taught me that fishing is more than going to the latest hot spot with the latest fad in fishing lures and fighting tons of other fisherman doing the very same thing.  To him, it’s about finding good productive water and breaking it down to the places that ought to hold fish..  Thankfully, there’s plenty of such water in North Carolina , and I can’t express the great feeling that comes from employing a few of his techniques and putting fish in the boat.

 

If you love fishing, salt or fresh, like I do, I can’t think of a better person than Capt. Steve to take you on the water and help you put fish in the boat.  You’ll catch fish and you’ll catch a lesson or two that will make you seem like to pro to those that you take out when you’re on your own.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fIVNvHzwoI

Click here to see some great fishing that I enjoyed while employing some techniques taught to me by Capt. Steve.  The wind was howling, but we put into practice what the captain encouraged us to do, and the results made me feel like a pro!

 

Thanks,

Jeff