Don't fish with Capt. Jeff Rodgers

[Buckmaster]

I booked a trip with this Capt. and told him we had two 6 year olds that we wanted to catch fish. We didn't care about the adults fishing as we rented the whole boat and the trip was all about the kids. In an e-mail he stated that it would be no problem and that he was kid friendly and used to fishing with them. I reminded him over the phone the night before when I called to confirm that all we wanted was for the kids to catch a fish, any fish would do. I told him again when we boarded the boat. He gave NO safety orientation so none of us knew if and where he kept the life jackets and the poles and reels he had would have been difficult for a full grown man to reel in. When I asked what about the two kids he said "It is what it is". I said how about just stopping somewhere and letting them catch junk fish he didn't even respond. I had fished with this guy 2 year earlier and it was fine but this trip he was a complete A-hole.

[Sea Hag]

Wow, that's a shame. I have a guy I've fished with in Hawaii a couple of times. I found him specifically by searching for someone who would help give kids a great fishing experience.

He was awesome! He had several special harness-vests made up in different sizes for small children, and rods with shorter grips. He took us out to one of the FAD's (Fish Attracting Device) that is anchored off Kona that is home to a lot of the smaller sized game fish.

My 4 year-old daughter single handedly landed a 5 pound skipjack (tuna). He coached her along, and never touched the rod.

I've gone out with him without her several times as well, and successfully tagged and released a 150 lb Blue Marlin...