Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Rose.
Hi Scott, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I knew from a very early age that I wanted a career in the outdoors, and I founded my business while attending the University of Miami in an effort to avoid a typical 9-5 job. My passion is being outside and teaching people about the sport that I love so much. I run a freshwater fishing guide service targeting all of the beautiful exotic species that Miami has to offer. My trips are 100% catch and release to ensure the future success of our fisheries. The most well-known species that I guide for is the peacock bass, which are a beautifully colored species native to the Amazon river basin. This species brings fishermen/women from all over the continent to have the chance to target them. I spend over 200 days a year fishing the “Urban Amazon,” which comprises the maze of freshwater canals that criss-cross all of Miami.
My guide service in Miami has also allowed me to travel to many amazing locations for work, which is definitely a dream come true. I have spent a handful of summers guiding in Katmai National Park, Alaska, targeting monster rainbow trout on the fly rod. I was lucky to log 150 floatplane trips per summer and lead some trips that simply couldn’t be matched anywhere else on the planet. This upcoming summer, I will be working in Montana, offering a similar fly fishing experience. I am very lucky to host a multitude of international trips to Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, and British Columbia for many crazy “bucket list” fish in some of the most picturesque places on the planet. When I’m not fishing, I enjoy most forms of music, traveling and photography. Make no mistake though, teaching and watching people catch a fish of a lifetime is my biggest passion. I am a big proponent of taking no shortcuts in business, and I am proud to say I built mine from the ground up. My initial boat/engine took most of my savings and it felt like a huge risk, but after pouring my heart and soul into the business for the last seven years, I am proud to say that I have more bookings than I could have ever possibly expected.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I try to never take the success I have in my business for granted because you never know what day everything could change. This fall I was sitting at a red light when a drunk driver fell asleep and drove head-on into the back of my boat, completely totaling it. If not for my boat, he could have killed me or somebody else. I had less than 72 hours before more clients were showing up to Miami, and I had no intentions on telling them to go home. It wasn’t easy, but within a few days, I had another boat up and running for my clients to get back on the water with me. I think that everything happens for a reason and I like to believe that my boat being there helped save someone’s life that night. Running a single-person business requires taking on many roles that fall outside of a typical job title. Besides being a fishing guide and photographer, I also do the following: trip coordinator, secretary, booking, bookkeeping, website maintenance, marketing, newsletter, phone sales, and customer relations just to name a few. I always tell people that the easy time is the part where I am actually working on the water with clients, and the extra hours doing all the rest are what make it a grind.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Peacock Adventures?
My business is one of the primary freshwater fishing operations that target many of the exotic species that live in the canal systems throughout Miami, FL. I offer a professional guiding service for world record class popoca and butterfly peacock bass, clown knifefish, snakehead, and largemouth bass all across South and Central Florida. Between my clients and I, we have currently broken 4 IGFA world records and are pending on a 5th. I believe what sets me apart from many others in my industry is my passion for the fish and wildlife. I am extremely conservation-oriented and do everything in my power to ensure the successful release of every single fish we catch. I also really enjoy pointing out the extremely unique wildlife to my clients that Miami has to offer, such as macaws, peacocks, manatees, and more. My experience in photography is definitely something else that my clients will really enjoy having as a memory to bring home with them. I have thought many times that if I didn’t follow fishing as a career that I would be doing something in the photography field.
I am most proud of creating a brand that has become a network of almost exclusively repeat clients and referrals when it comes to my booking schedule. I have over 200 perfect tripadvisor reviews and it makes me extremely happy to know how many great memories I have helped create for my customers. Many of my guests have told me that their trip with me was one of the best fishing experiences of their lives – it doesn’t get much better than that! If you are visiting the area, trying to learn something new, or just want to spend a casual day out on the water, Peacock Adventures is the perfect fit for you. I know that your main interest is catching fish and I will do everything I can to ensure that happens, but I am also going to make sure that you enjoy your experience and soak up everything that the Miami canal systems have to offer.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I spend a lot of time in my car driving to different locations everyday in order to give my clients the best possible fishing experience. Some of my favorite podcasts are about the outdoors and allow me to learn about fisherman and outdoorsmen in all other walks of life. These podcasts include the Mill House Podcast, the Tom Rowland Podcast, and The Dawgcast With Lawson Lindsey. Regarding apps, I would be completely disorganized without my Google Calendar and Smart Receipts. Smart Receipts is a super-easy way for me to track all my business expenditures and Google Calendar keeps my entire booking/life schedule easily accessible on my phone.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.peacockadventures.com
- Instagram: @ScottRoseFising
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scottrosefishing/
