REEL Talk Staff ...

Captain Rob Modys: Rob, the host of Reel Talk, is a full time spin and fly fishing guide and holds a USCG 100 Ton Master's License. He's endorsed by Bass Pro Shops, The International Game Fish Association, the Coastal Conservation Association and is the current president of the Lee County Professional Guide's Association. He has been fishing the waters of South West Florida since boyhood and currently guides out of Fish-Tale Marina on Fort Myers Beach.

Website: www.SoulmateCharters.com
Email: captrobmodys@gmail.com

REEL Talk Pro Staff ...

Captain Rick Featherstone: I am Captain Rick Featherstone. I have been deep sea fishing and guiding local waters for 26 years. I love to take kids of all ages out to catch fish they have never caught or even seen before. Helping an angler achieve a personal best, or catch their biggest fish is a great thrill for me. As I head west into the Gulf of Mexico each morning I still get the same thrill as I did the first time. There is something special about being out there. Guiding is a job, but it isn't. Its a special gift to be able to share with others the nature & beauty this area has to offer. There is room for beginners and experts aboard my boat. We offer light tackle sport fishing charters using conventional, spin, plug, and fly equipment. I am a fishing nut and fishing is my passion. I don't fish for the money even though it pays the bills. I just love fishing. I'm the easiest guy to get along with and I will go the extra mile for you. No matter what we are after - be it just bending rods for the kids, or that special fish of a lifetime, it's always a good time for me.

Website: www.magichook.com
Email: Capt@magichook.com

Captain Mike Gavala: I was fortunate enough to grow up at the Jersey shore on the  north east coast where fishing became my passion at a very early age. Starting out in the Barneget Bay and then venturing out to the offshore canyons, which is where I fell in love with pelagic fishing as I became older. I received my Captains license when I was 19 and used it part time to fish for tuna, dorado, marlin and other pelagic species.

After moving to Ft Myers 13 years ago I had to adapt to Gulf fishing. After spending countless hours on the water I transformed the east coast fishing skills that I had learned over the years and developed my skills of the Gulf waters. I absolutely love being offshore, especially when land is not in site. I frequently venture well over 100 miles out in search of the pelagics and bottom fish that patrol those depths.

From black fin tuna , wahoo, all the way to monster gag grouper, and American red snapper - I love to fish, but more importantly, put clients on fish. There is nothing like watching a client have a screaming drag from the freight train of a permit all the way to a bent-over-the-gunnel pull of a large grouper. I enjoy being a Captain, but the real joy for me is making memories for families on an offshore charter.

I work with a few other Captains in the area which provides each of us with the best intel of what is going on offshore. Many-a-day you will see us working together, targeting fish in a certain area to put our charters on world class Gulf fishing.

Website: N/A
Email: baccalacharters@aol.com

Captain David Hoke: David Has been fishing our local waters for over 15 years. Following in the footsteps of his father, he has proceeded to be one of the top young guides in Southwest Florida. His number of repeat customers is proof of this. Capt. Dave specializes in all types of inshore fishing. His focus is on redfish, snook, and big goliath grouper. He also catches other species including trout, tarpon, sharks, sheepshead, snapper, flounder, etc. Capt. Dave Hoke runs three boats: a 22 foot Shearwater tower boat for tarpon and flats fishing; a 17 foot Ranger Phantom for super skinny tailing redfish; and a Ranger 19'1 Cayman.

Website: www.anglersadvantageguideservice.com/
Email: reelfishing@comcast.net

Captain Greg Hood: Greg was raised in Ohio where he bass fished as a boy.  He moved to Florida in 1980 and discovered a passion for saltwater fishing after catching snook and tarpon.  After years on the water and with the encouragement of family, Capt. Greg received his captains license and founded “Tarpoons”.  His passion for fishing is evident with each and every client that he guides on the water.  Capt. Greg is a Pro Staff member of the Southwest Florida Outdoors Television Show, and a Guide Staff for Sterling boats and Fort Myers Marine.

Website: www.tarpoons.com
Email: tarpoons@embarqmail.com

Captain Al Keller: As a South Florida native, Capt. Al Keller has become one of the most  respected names in the fishing industry as a professional guide in the 10,000 Islands and Everglades National Park. Al is a Pro-Staff member and consultant for various outdoor product manufacturers from fishing gear to clothing and has been featured in regional and  national publications as well as on ESPN2, Fox Sports, Sunshine Network and other regional television shows. As a Professional  Angler, Keller competes in the ESPN Redfish Cup, Wal-Mart FLW  Redfish Series, IFA Redfish Tour and the Professional Tarpon Tournament Series as well as in various regional and local events  throughout Florida. Capt. Al Keller is conservation minded and has  professional memberships with the following groups, Coastal Conservation Association, Florida Guides Association and Ducks  Unlimited. He also volunteers for youth charities helping children experience fishing and the outdoors. These charities include:  Children's Pediatric Cancer Foundation, and C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation.

Whether it's on television, or on stage, Keller enjoys sharing his wealth of knowledge about fishing. He has provided seminars at the  Miami Boat Show, Shallow Water Expos, Florida Sportsman Show, Flats Class Seminars, West Marine Stores, and Ace Hardware Stores. He can be seen on Flats Class TV, Reel Animals and Tales of the  Everglades Angler as well as other regional and national outdoors shows. He is also featured in local and national magazines, newspapers, and outdoor websites.

Website: N/A
Email: fishalkeller@earthlink.net

Captain Mark King: Mark has been guiding on Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades for over seven years out of the world famous Roland Martin’s Marina and Resort in Clewiston, Florida. Mark grew up hunting and fishing in Ohio and then made the move out of the cold weather to sunny South Florida. He has experience fishing bass tournaments from Lake Erie to Lake Okeechobee and everywhere in between. Mark is a board member for the Florida Guides Association and holds a USCG license. He is also an IGFA certified guide, a member of the Florida Outdoor Writers Association and is also on the Florida Freshwater Fishing Coalition. Along with his wife Diane, they operate Reel Dreams Fishing Charters and several websites. Mark works with several charities including Operation Open Arms, ChildsWish, and Give Kids the World. As a pro-staff member and consultant for various companies you always get to fish with the very best products when on an outing with Captain Mark. Mark has been featured on various TV shows fishing Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades for bass.

Website: www.markkingfishing.com
Email: mark@markkingfishing.com
Phone: (863) 983-9950

Captains Chris and Lacey Rush: Capt. Chris Rush was raised here in Fort Myers and is the son of Scott Rush, owner of San Carlos Marine. He grew up living and fishing in South Florida and the Florida Keys. He and his family live and work in Fort Myers, FL, but spent weeks of their summers in Big Pine Key, FL. Coming from a family of South Florida fisherman and hunters his target was to become the best. Experienced in all of Southwest Florida's waters as a back bay and offshore guide, Chris has run his business simply by word of mouth. Word spreads quickly when his customers are boating 20 plus pound snook and landing 100 pound tarpon on fly. With over 5 years of endorsement from Orvis his talent for fly fishing for tarpon, snook, reds and much more are a lock. Chris has the patience to provide the right advice and coaching for everyone from small children to CEO's. Chris spends more than 280 days on the water guiding, fishing tournaments and commercial fishing on his days off. Come experience the RUSH of a lifetime with Capt. Chris.

Capt. Lacey Rush was born and raised in Southwest Florida. She is a 4th generation native and her ability to put customers on fish is attributed to the thousands of hours spent boating here locally. She learned how to swim before she could walk and could shoot a speargun before she could read. Lacey has always led an active lifestyle. Her first paying job was working for her dad, Wayne Kelly of “Kelly Fish and Seafood, Inc.” She would spend her summers commercial diving for lobster in the Keys . While school was in session she’d pay to get her nails done using last weekend’s catch of gag grouper! Capt. Lacey has spent a lifetime operating boats up to 35 feet in some of the toughest conditions. While managing Rush Charters and knowing her love of the water and enthusiasm for fishing, her husband, Capt. Chris Rush, encouraged her to become a U.S.C.G. licensed captain. The new Rush Charters was born and can now do multiple boat parties that can accommodate up to 8 anglers. Her hard working spirit with generations of good ol’ southern hospitality and values is what you'll love about a day on the water with Capt. Lacey!

Website: www.rushcharters.com
Email: capt_rush@earthlink.net

Dave Westra: Dave Westra is the owner of Lehr’s Economy Tackle, located in North Fort Myers on the Tamiami Trail. The shop opened in 1954 and has carried on with a tradition of quality service and goods for every angling need. Mr. Westra has an abundance of knowledge about fishing both the fresh and saltwater environments in our area and shares that every week with Reel Talk’s listeners.

Captain Chris Wittman: A Florida native, Captain Chris Wittman is a Coast Guard licensed Master Captain. Born and raised in Southwest Florida, Chris grew up on Sanibel Island and has been fishing Pine Island Sound, Matlatcha, Estero Bay and Charlotte Harbor for nearly his entire life.

An avid outdoorsman, Chris enjoys surfing, scuba diving, hunting and camping, but fishing is his passion. Captain Chris has been the featured speaker at numerous seminars and trade shows and has lectured on “Marine life and Ecosystems" at the “Sanibel Shell Fair”. His diverse experience and knowledge has been a great source of inspiration and learning to those that have heard him speak. He has appeared on WINK  Radio’s  “Reel Talk” and “The Spanish Fly” fishing show with Captain Jose Wejebe on ESPN2.

Website: www.stillwatercharters.net
Email: chris@stillwatercharters.net