Captain Billy Rotne prides himself on being a guide, not just a captain!
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After guiding Mosquito Lagoon and it’s headwater Ponce Inlet for almost 15 years, Capt. Billy enjoys his career more than ever. Guiding more than 200 days a year, the vast majority of his customers are repeat clients and have become good friends. He always welcomes new clients and truly enjoys sharing the experience and history of Mosquito Lagoon and the surrounding areas. From history about NASA, the lagoons flora, fauna, pre-Columbian peoples and geology, expect far more than just a fishing charter on your trip.
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Capt. Billy Rotne is a Florida native with over 25 years experience fishing inshore and nearshore in the east central Florida area. He was born and raised in a house on the water in Port Orange and had his first boat at 10 years of age. Fishing occupied most of his free time and when he was old enough to drive, he was fishing Mosquito Lagoon, Ponce Inlet and the Indian River Lagoon every time he got the chance. He became an avid fly fisherman and soon grew a passion for showing others what this special estuary has to offer. This passion led to Billy starting his guiding career. He still lives on the water and fishes daily, the coastal lifestyle is all Capt. Billy has ever known.
As a child Billy caught his first Redfish at 6 years of age, and they soon became his favorite fish to target. Not much has changed as Billy still favors these shallow water copper predators. They provide a constant challenge for the fly fisherman and when targeting single fish, each and every fish has its own approach and style. He believes these are special fish and hopes to show as many as possible these fish in shallow water and help protect their future. Capt. Billy is an advocate of "Catch, Photo, Release", and provides professional grade photography, because their is nothing worse than a bad picture of a fish of a lifetime.
Our Available Boats
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Hell’s Bay Boatworks Glades Skiff
Our Hell’s Bay Glades Skiff is the ultimate shallow water sight fishing skiff. With a draft of 3”, it allows us to target fish in any areas they may reside. Considered the ultimate skiff in its class, this is the prefect tool for single anglers to escape into the far reaches of the back country with Captain Billy.
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Hell’s Bay Boatworks Professional
Our Hell’s Bay Professional is the workhorse of the fleet. This is the boat most anglers will fish off with Captains Billy. Also considered one of the premier skiffs in its class, at 18 feet long with a 6” draft, it’s comfortable yet capable and is the tool of choice for 2 angler trips. This boat provides a dry ride for its class, silent poling for ultimate stealth, and the ability to fish both shallow and deeper water.
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Yellowfin 24 Bay
Our Yellowfin 24 Bay gives us a larger boat that allows comfortable access to inlet and nearshore waters for up to 4 anglers. With a second station helm, Captain Billy can drive from an elevated position, allowing him to easily spot manta rays, tarpon, triple tail, jacks and other nearshore quarry. The massive front deck can accommodate multiple anglers at the same time. It’s equipped with the latest side and down imaging technology from Humminbird. Overall comfort and ergonomics are superior to many other similar boats. Speeds up to 65 mph allow for quick and safe runs to the fishing or away from threatening weather. The Yellowfin 24 Bay is widely considered to be the premier bay boat in its class, as with Captain Billy’s other boats. Clients deserve to utilize the best boats and equipment available when paying for a fishing charter.
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