Good equipment is essential for any business, and Keys sport fishing charters are no exception. So I have always given great thought to my purchase of boats.

My first bonefish skiff was a 16' flat-bottom wooden boat that the Cuban sponge fishermen used to gather their sponges in the shallow waters of the Keys. They pushed the skiff around with a long pole; attached at one end was a small rake used to break the sponges loose from the bottom.

This type boat was perfect for getting into skinny water with the least amount of wear on my back, shoulders, and arms after a long working day. It was simple and even in today's market of high tech flat boats, it could still compete from a pure fishing standpoint as anyone who has ever owned a boat knows. However, for use by a Florida Keys fishing guide it had trade offs; the boat was fine once you were on the flats fishing, but getting there was a different matter. When there was a light to medium chop on the water, clients would get a bone-jarring ride.

As the sport of flats fishing, and sport fishing charters, became more popular in the mid fifties, boat builders like Willie Roberts started building skiffs that not only could get in the shallow water, but which gave a smoother ride due to a modified vee hull. I believe he was the grandfather of all the flats boats on the market today. Flats skiffs evolved from that wooden boat that the Cubans used to 60,000 plus carbon fiber Kevlar light-weight fishing machines powered by four stroke outboards that run barely above a whisper and burn half the fuel as their two stroke counter parts.

In my career as a Florida Keys' fishing guide, I have owned dozens of flats boats; some better than others. Some had plenty of dry storage, but the ride wasn't as smooth. Some had a smooth ride, but the boat was hard to pole. All boats have their own pros and cons, so you have to pick the boat that best suites your own personal fishing needs. That's what I did with the boats you will see when you come down and fish with me for a day.

My flats skiff is an 18’2” Action Craft powered by a whisper-quiet Suzuki four-stroke engine. It has plenty of room for anglers, gives a smooth dry ride, and can’t be beat for stability

My back country and tarpon boat is a 24’3” Everglades Bay that can accommodate four anglers across any chop in the Gulf of Mexico (or as we call it, the Bay) with a smooth ride to the fishing grounds. The boat has a giant live well that can hold hundreds of pilchards, pinfish, shrimp, and crabs; I have also caught sailfish, tuna and slammer dolphin on it.

Recently, I have added a custom-fabricated leaning post/fighting chair to the bow of the boat for fighting giant tarpon and big sharks. This chair allows you to fight the fish and keep the strain off your back while keeping your balance — important because a fish can sometimes fight for an hour or more. I’ve never seen another tarpon fishing charter boat with anything like it.

Together, bonefish, permit and tarpon are called the “grand slam” of Florida Keys fishing, and I’m ready to guide you to each day’s best spots.