Early On

Geoff grew up in South Florida, attending Sunset Elementary, Ponce De Leon Junior High, and Coral Gables Senior High. From a young age, he was torn between two big loves: music and fishing. He went on to study music at Miami Dade College and the University of Miami, playing in some of the well-known rock ‘n’ roll bands around Miami, such as The First Impression at the Playboy Plaza on Miami Beach and Ruey Rhodes & Company of the Rhodes Brothers at the 747 Lounge in Miami Springs. But even with all that excitement, life had other plans for him, at least for a while.

 

“As a teen, I was all about playing music and fishing,” Geoff says. “I loved heading out fishing with my mom, dad, brothers, and sister. South Florida was an absolute paradise for a kid who loved to fish, and honestly, it still is. My dad was a banker and entrepreneur and my mom was a real estate broker in South Miami, and on weekends, fishing was our family thing. If my dad wasn’t working, he would load up the boat and take us fishing. Those trips on Biscayne Bay, Fowey Rocks Light, and out to the Stream, are some of my favorite childhood memories”

 

Aside from managing her real estate brokership – Colmes and Daniels Realtor in South Miami, Geoff’s mom’s side hustle was buying and flipping houses. The family moved around Dade County a lot but always lived on the water. Whether it was the Coral Gables Waterway, Biscayne Bay, freshwater lakes, or Florida Bay, Geoff was always fishing. On top of that, the family had a weekend home on Plantation Key (now part of Islamorada), which only deepened his love for the Florida Keys.

 

 

Boats

By the time most kids figured out how to ride bikes, Geoff already had his boat. His mom always told him to stay within sight of the dock, but let’s just say Geoff didn’t always stick to the rules. “As soon as she wasn’t looking, I’d take off to explore Biscayne Bay, Florida Bay, and the Everglades,” he laughs. Of course, when he got caught, the punishment was brutal for a kid like him: no boat for two weeks! Looking back, those carefree days on the water helped shape who Geoff is today. They gave him a love for nature, a sense of adventure, and a whole lot of stories to share.

Stiltsville

In the 1970s, Geoff’s parents purchased one of the iconic Stiltsville homes, structures perched on pilings above the shallow flats of Biscayne Bay. The house was a piece of Florida history and a haven for adventure, though Geoff’s use of it was often less than parental approved. When his parents weren’t occupying the house, Geoff, then a teenager, would concoct elaborate stories about camping on nearby Elliot and Soldier Key. In reality, he and his friends were sneaking into the Stiltsville home for forbidden overnight outings didn’t take long for their antics to catch up with them.

 

Trouble

One evening, a concerned neighbor reported unusual activity to the Coast Guard. Geoff and his crew were busted, much to his parents’ dismay. “I was hard aground for two weeks after that stunt,” he laughed, reflecting on the misadventure. “My enthusiasm for fishing and adventure got me into a lot of trouble back then,” Geoff admitted. “As a teenager, I spent countless nights stranded on flats or stuck in creeks with gators and mosquitoes. Those moments taught me more about resilience and respect for our ecosystem than any classroom ever could.”

 

The Stiltsville home, like many others, was lost to Hurricane Andrew. “It’s bittersweet,” he said. “That house held so many memories, but the lessons I learned from those waters are priceless.” These days, Geoff jokes that the only trouble he gets into is when he doesn’t take his wife, Eliza, fishing. “We’re so lucky to call this place home,” he said. “The Keys have given us an incredible lifestyle, and every day out on the water feels like a new chapter in the same adventure that started all those years ago.”

 

Blowing Rock Guide Company

It was in this part of the North Carolina high country over thirty years ago that Geoff and his friend, Sam Houston, launched the Blowing Rock Guide Company. Their outfitting company was the first of its kind in the area, offering guided fly-fishing adventures, technical rock-climbing, and horseback trips. Reflecting on that time, Geoff says, “That’s when I realized being a fishing guide was my true calling – but I had to do it back home in South Florida, in salt water.”

 

Peak Springs Farm

Shortly after Geoff and Eliza tied the knot, they bought a farm in Western North Carolinas, Ashe County, where they spent their days raising horses and growing Frazier Fir Christmas trees. Their first date was a memorable horseback ride and picnic up a mountain trail in the picturesque Moses Cone State Park. When they weren’t busy on the farm, they volunteered as horseback rangers for the Park Service, patrolling the beautiful local trails.

 

Back Home

Back living in the Keys and after several years as a full-time fishing guide, Geoff realized that single-day fishing trips into the Everglades were simply not enough to quench his thirst for adventure or to provide the kind of experience he wanted to share with his clients. Determined to take things to the next level, he dove headfirst into months of research and planning. Teaming up with his close friend and fellow outdoorsman Mike Burgreen, the two formed a partnership that would redefine Everglades fishing. Thus, Fishabout was born, a venture offering two and three-day outfitted camping trips for one or two anglers. Mike brought his expertise as an outfitter, taking charge of gear and gourmet camp cooking, while Geoff led the way with his guiding skills and knack for marketing the experience.

 

Outfitted Camping in the Glades

Over the years, Geoff and Mike embarked on more than sixty epic trips, using the National Park Service’s ancient Calusa Indian mound campsites, hidden gems steeped in history and natural beauty. But the duo wanted to push the boundaries of what they could offer. They dreamed of creating an even more adventurous, yet comfortable, way for anglers to experience the remote wilderness of the Everglades and beyond. This vision led to the birth of Outback Ventures.

 

Outback Ventures

With two new partners and a shared passion for innovation, they set out to build something truly unique: a custom-designed, 70-foot mothership named Fishabout. Tailor-made for the shallow waters of the Everglades and the far-off Marquesas, the vessel combined comfort with functionality, acting as a floating basecamp for multi-day expeditions. The result was a game-changing fishing experience that blended the rugged allure of the wild with the convenience of modern amenities.

 

Hells Bay – The Novel

Over an adventure-packed five years, Outback Ventures delivered countless unforgettable moments for their clients, capturing the essence of exploration and camaraderie in some of the most remote and pristine fishing grounds imaginable. Their story even caught the attention of bestselling, award-winning author James W. Hall, whose novel Hell’s Bay was inspired by the Fishabout team’s extraordinary exploits. Though Outback Ventures eventually concluded its operations, its legacy as a pioneering force in Everglades and Marquesas expeditions lives on.

 

Present Day

Fly fishing is Geoff’s passion and preferred method, targeting some of the most sought-after game fish in South Florida’s waters, including tarpon, bonefish, permit, snook, redfish, and both largemouth and peacock bass, however, he is quick to remind anglers to keep an open mind. “Don’t marry the fly rod,” he often says. “The best anglers know when to adapt, switching to spin or plug tackle when conditions aren’t ideal for the fly.” An experienced and patient instructor, he also provides expert fly-casting lessons for anglers looking to refine their skills. As an advocate of protecting the fishery, Geoff practices an “all-release” policy, ensuring the sustainability of these waters for future generations.

 

When he’s not out on the water, Geoff balances his busy schedule with a nonstop lifestyle. A former member of the Dana Collins Band, he spent nearly five years performing twice a week. But the late nights of live music proved challenging to juggle alongside early-morning fishing charters, prompting him to take a hiatus from professional music. These days, when not working, Geoff focuses on spending quality time with his wife, Eliza in traveling to out-of-the-way places in their newly purchased Thor-Compass camper van. They also enjoy visiting their daughter Eliza Leigh who lives full-time in Ketchikan, Alaska, and their son, Ben, who lives in St. Petersburg, FL.

 

A self-proclaimed “gym rat,” Geoff is serious about health and fitness, dedicating himself to workouts that keep him in shape for the physically demanding life of a Florida Keys fishing guide. Whether chasing tarpon or poling a skiff across miles of shallow water, staying fit is just part of the job.

 

But Geoff’s interests don’t stop at fishing or fitness. When he’s not out on the water, you’ll find him sharpening his skills as a pistol target shooter, capturing stunning images as a photographer, or piloting his drone with precision as a licensed and insured FAA Part-107 remote pilot. Whether it’s lining up the perfect shot at the range, behind the camera, or from the sky, he approaches each with the same focus and passion that drives his career.

 

For Geoff, life is about balance between adventure and family, work and play, and land and sea. He’s built a life on his terms, blending his love of nature, his skill sets, and his unrelenting curiosity into a lifestyle that’s as fulfilling as it is unique. Whether guiding clients through the backcountry or capturing the perfect shot, he lives each day with purpose and enthusiasm.