|
 Boater’s Profile
Meet Rolando Willimann, 24, a paddle sport outfitter from Hollywood who has been kayaking about two years.
Where is your kayak kept? At home on the wall.
Describe your first experiences on the water. Did anyone inspire you? The first time I saw the upper Loxahatchee, I was stunned. To think I had passed over that river on I-95 several hundred times in my life, oblivious to the unique and beautiful ecosystem beneath me.
I became obsessed with exploring this state and the seemingly endless supply of waterways you can find here. I paddled often with a friend and co-worker of mine, Flex. His zest for the sport definitely affected me positively and he also sold me my first sea kayak.
Where do you like to take your kayak? Anywhere there is enough water to float it. On my days off, you can usually find me anywhere from Sanibel to Stuart, including the upper and middle keys. I’ve always been partial to the west coast though — the Ten Thousand Islands region is a personal favorite as the fishing is phenomenal.
Everglades National Park falls into the 10K islands region but also encompasses Whitewater Bay, Cape Sable, Florida Bay and the Dry Tortugas, which hold some of Florida’s last pristine wilderness. If you have never seen Cape Sable, the southwestern tip of our state, I highly recommend you make time for a few days out there as there are few places like it.
How far have you traveled on it? I have no idea how many miles I’ve logged in a kayak — day trips are usually five to 20 miles. The longest I’ve been out was for six days and we traveled 80 miles or so. We would have traveled much further but bad weather shortened our trip.
Who goes with you? I fish and paddle with a good friend, Rick, from high school almost every week, and also co-workers like Flex, and people I have met fishing or kayaking the last couple of years. I have actually met a few people through the kayak fishing forums that have become great fishing partners and friends as well. The social aspect of this sport is just another thing to like about it.
How much time do you spend kayaking? Once a week I trek to the other coast and I paddle at night, locally, at least once a week, maybe twice if I’m lucky. Half my vacation time goes to expeditions. The wilderness waterway in Everglades National Park was the last one and now I’m starting to piece together a trip down the full length of the Suwannee River for next year. We should be able to do it in eight days from the Georgia border to the Gulf of Mexico.
What draws you to kayaking? My first word was “water” as a child and I’ve always been drawn to it, so kayaking was a natural transition for me. I have been fishing, surfing, snorkeling and playing in water for most of my life, so putting a paddle in my hand allowed me to do all of these things in much more remote locations, some not even accessible by motorboat.
I have always been in love with the Everglades and once again kayaking has allowed me to truly explore its nooks and crannies before it’s gone. The other big draw is fishing; you will rarely see me in my kayak without a few rods sticking out.
Your most memorable experience on the water? Hard to pick a specific moment, what does stick with me is the night sky over Florida Bay: whether it is a full moon or a starlight night, it never fails to inspire awe and respect for these great open spaces.
Scariest moment? A close tie between being caught in 6 to 8-foot seas off Northwest Cape Sable and paddling through shallows in the fog off of Clubhouse beach early one morning, spooking sharks left and right. Usually sharks are not a concern but when you nearly run over them in shallow water a few times in a short span of time, it can be a little unnerving.
What do you least like about kayaking in South Florida? Summertime trips usually means getting out of bed on your day off at 3 to 4 a.m. to beat the heat and be off the water by 10 a.m. But I can’t really complain; you can kayak all year down here in the Deep South.
What do you like most? Fishing. We live in the sportfishing capital of the world and I will never take that for granted. I can take my kayak offshore when it is calm enough and fish for kingfish, snapper, mahi-mahi, grouper, sharks and even sailfish. Or I can go inshore for tarpon, snook, jacks, pompano, permit, bonefish, sea trout, and redfish — the list goes on and on.
Kayak fishing in Florida is a great way to go out and relax, enjoy the outdoors, exercise and hopefully bring something tasty home for dinner.
|
Who’s who among South Florida’s boaters? Meet the people working and enjoying the boating lifestyle in a monthly feature that asks readers to share just what it is that makes boating in South Florida personal.
If you would like to tell your story, please e-mail editor@waterfront-news.com . Use the words “Boater’s profile” in the subject line and include your name and phone number where you can be reached during the day.
You can also fax 954-524-9464 or write to Boater’s Profile, The Waterfront News, 1515 SW First Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33315.
|
|
|
