OK so my boss is retiring in a few weeks. He lives in Ft Myers FL half the year and will be heading down there as soon as he is done. He has a boat and loves to fish and I have been put in charge of buying his retirement gifts from the money collected throughout the facility. I will have close to if not more than $800 to spend on fishing gear that he will use on his boat in Florida waters. Through conversation I have learned that he fishes for a wide variety of fish to include snook, drum, spanish mackerel and whatever else came to his mind. Sounds like he is mostly a bait (shrimp) guy and he tells me he uses a spinning set-up. He also says his boat has a fish-finder. Looking for tackle suggestions from folks who have fished in these waters for these fish.
Also other boat essentials or even some not-so-essentials.

I will likely shop at one of the local tackle shops and want to buy quality stuff.

Thanx for any info and suggestions.

Paul

Get him a Stella SW 5000. The highest quality inshore spinning reel he could own (and about all of your budget). If he knows anything about fishing he will be thrilled.

Find out where he likes to shop for tackle and hit him with a gift certificate. Fisherman want what they want. Nothing else.

Find out where he likes to shop for tackle and hit him with a gift certificate. Fisherman want what they want. Nothing else.

Good point luds, I will defiantly agree with that.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Find out where he likes to shop for tackle and hit him with a gift certificate. Fisherman want what they want. Nothing else.

agree 100%

I thought gift cert too and will run it by the group but it may be deemed a bit too impersonal...

I agree on both suggestions. Get the Stella from Joe at FO, with the understanding that he can exchange it for what he wants from there if not the reel. That way you have an item to present to him.

Get him a quantum cabo reel an a st croix inshore rod, that's pretty much the standard guide set up down there.

Then get him some berkley gulp shrimp and some terminal tackle.

Try and find out where he fishes and grab a marine map, always a good gift.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

STELLA... GREAT GIFT...

He might not spend that much on a reel himself

any remaining gift money could go into a gift certificate
at the local shop in fort myers

These work in Florida too :hee:

http://www.saltys.co/images/saltystinslogo2.jpg

Your boss is a Stella worthy boss - a good boss- -- he'll remember you guys kindly for a long time..

signed,,

Your boss

How's a bout a bargain deal
Brand spankin new in sealed box Cabo60 bait teaser reel with a real nice Cabo boat spinning rod ----Give you a BARGAIN on one or 3----I got 5 of them. OTW Striper Cup weekly prizes.......PM me if interetsed........

Paul - If you are going to go the gift certificate - go with Lehr's Economy Tackle - Dave Lehr is the long-time tackle owner in that region, a great guy and extremely knowledgeable - Fort Myers opens up to Pine island Sound, Charlotte Harbor, Bull Bay and then out to Boca Grand Pass.

Granted it depends upon what type of boat he has, whether it's a flats skiff, or a larger center console that he will take out to the gulf for reef fishing for grouper, snapper, kingfish, spanish mackerel, cobia, triple tail ...

... if he has a flats skiff, he's probably into snook and redfish fishing, as well as the venerable silver king ... tarpon fishermen in that region also pursue them in Boca Grande Pass - just imagine Montauk Point on it's busiest day and multiply it by 100 and that can be Boca Grande Pass during tarpon season.

Fishing in that region is great, as there are a lot more options there. I started fishing there about 1989 and have loved every second of it.

There also is an island restaurant just inside Boca Grande Pass, it's quite well known for the fishing crowd down there, very famous - they have a ton of dollar bills on the walls ... very famous (I Just cant remember it at this time) but maybe a gift certficiate for that would be fun too.

But Dave Lehr is a good one to start with regarding fishing down there - whether it's something for your boss's boat, or some fishing gear for him too. Dave can help you.

the other thought is to book him a guided trip ... while that may not sound like the best option for someone who has a boat, depending upon his experience down there, the boat he has, he can learn a lot, or may want another experience of fishing ... if you want to discuss that further, discuss guides, etc., give me a call. I know a bunch of guides down there.

Lehr's Economy Tackle IncAddress:‎
1366 N Tamiami Trl
Fort Myers, FL 33903-5337

(239) 995-2280

Your boss is a Stella worthy boss - a good boss- -- he'll remember you guys kindly for a long time..

signed,,

Your boss


:rotf2: