VI Southern Sports Fishing Biloxi FYI

[friscopaint]

At USMC reunion in Biloxi and was walking docks and saw the VI back in action. We went years ago before Capt. Bobby went of deep end and screwed a lot of people. Met Capt. Johnny, also a marine, and he invited me on board and we had a great visit. He said he's still having tough time overcoming the bad rep Bobby left the boat and gets plowed at shows in Texas over it but told me most of his business comes from Texas.

He's redone much of the boat and had brand new motors on skiffs and new radios, I noticed motors immediately before he mentioned anything. My visit was great and only reason he was there was that days trip was a no show, no calls, no emails, etc....said he tried numerous times to contact them maybe hurricane scared them off but weather was great. Has WIFI on boat too which didn't have when we went on it years ago.

We had group take 3 day trip with Bobby on VI many years ago and it was great but reading here and on TFF he really screwed over lot's of people and Capt. Johnny said he's trying to rebuild the name and business. I personally wouldn't hesitate to go with him, didn't meet Capt. Robbie just saw it on his card he gave me.

He showed me all over boat and said he had out of water restoration on hull and showed me engine room and bilge. I was talking to deck hand with my USMC hat on and he hollered "hey jarhead" so I knew he was at least military and even better a Marine that then went Coast Guard.

He seemed very genuine and customer oriented, did tell me had one of his first trips where guys were just tough, couldn't please them no matter what and he refunded all their money I told him I've dealt with same people in wedding venue business but he did better than me, I give them what they paid for and the rest is on them and their expectations. I can probably guess which part of the country they were from........

To be fair I haven't been out with him and actually had no idea it was still in business after what I read. He didn't bad mouth Capt. Bobby which I thought was classy and told me he won't even if he would like to.........

[Quackerbox]

You should probably edit that post and replace ROBBY with Bobby. Robby owned the 6 and Bobby leased it. Robby was the dope head that ended up in prison got out and ran the boat into the ground. Bobby has no affiliation with his prior boat owner or the 6


Bobby, Austin and another fella run a 6 pack boat now. The Southern sports. I talk to Austin via text or IG about once a month all year

This is Bobbys boat that the 3 of them completely gutted and rebuilt. 12 tbh guys, wives and kids booked 2 boats thru Bobby last year and had a blast. I would fish with Bobby and his crew any day of the week

[toledo]

So is the VI under new ownership? Should have changed the name of the boat if they want to escape the reputation.

[Quackerbox]

So is the VI under new ownership? Should have changed the name of the boat if they want to escape the reputation.

Sounds to me like same owner. New captain.

The VI and another boat (I think backdraft) were owned by the same family. Parents died and were robby and his brother took them over. The brother elected to run his boat and robby leased the 6 out. Robby apparently got into drugs and smoked all the profits and ended up in jail. He got out and apparently off roaded an escalade till it caught fire. Somehow that violated his probation and off he went. Meanwhile Bobby and his crew are band aiding the boat. They finally had enough and finished off the other rig. The 6 sat till Robby got out of jail. This is when thee group here booked a trip they never made cause robby was off doing who knows what.

There was another guy who leased it and ran it with more mishaps from neglect. I guess someone finally has their stuff together. Meanwhile capt Bobby has so many return customers you need to figure for 3 or 4 dates when you book

[snappertapper]

There are several better options that haven't screwed people the last few years. I'll never book a trip with the VI, or recommend anyone else their way.

We have a trip booked in May with the Pelican, and I need to reschedule a trip with Kyle Johnson that got postponed due to weather.

[Mayhem]

Sounds to me like same owner. New captain.

The VI and another boat (I think backdraft) were owned by the same family. Parents died and were robby and his brother took them over. The brother elected to run his boat and robby leased the 6 out. Robby apparently got into drugs and smoked all the profits and ended up in jail. He got out and apparently off roaded an escalade till it caught fire. Somehow that violated his probation and off he went. Meanwhile Bobby and his crew are band aiding the boat. They finally had enough and finished off the other rig. The 6 sat till Robby got out of jail. This is when thee group here booked a trip they never made cause robby was off doing who knows what.

There was another guy who leased it and ran it with more mishaps from neglect. I guess someone finally has their stuff together. Meanwhile capt Bobby has so many return customers you need to figure for 3 or 4 dates when you book

The backdraft is a retired fire fighter and runs out of gulfport. I didnt know that was all the same family. Heard really good things about the backdraft, and bad things about the VI. Hope for them they got it figured out.

[Quackerbox]

The backdraft is a retired fire fighter and runs out of gulfport. I didnt know that was all the same family. Heard really good things about the backdraft, and bad things about the VI. Hope for them they got it figured out.

That's right. The other boat looks exactly like the VI it's just black or blue like the BD