EXPERT INTERPRETATION:ROFFS™ is designed to help you catch fish. The ROFFS™ Oceanographic Fishing Forecasting Analysis is composed of a map and a text summary that are designed to direct you to the fish. The map provides a representation of the ocean conditions that we expect you to find during your fishing trip. The text portion is unique discussion of the forecast. The analysis is the result of studying the ocean conditions for several days while focusing on the most current, 12-24 hour period. We provide an overall review of ocean conditions and furnish details on the locations where the conditions suggest that you will find productive (or non-productive) waters. This is based on our time-tested and field proven analysis techniques.  Subtle changes in the ocean conditions often have great consequences when locating fish.  We are focused on detail.

EXPERIENCE & TRAINING:Mitchell A. Roffer incorporated Roffer's Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service Inc. (ROFFS™) in 1987 after receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science where he studied the effects of the ocean environment on the distribution and catchability of a variety of fish species using oceanographic data derived in-situ (ships, buoys, etc.) and remotely using satellites. ROFFS™ employs the top ranked oceanography graduates and image analysis experts, who are active fishermen to conduct and improve the fishing oceanographic analyses. We are experts in understanding how ocean conditions affect the distribution and catchability of fish on a daily basis. We remain active in NASA and NOAA funded science with other research scientists and application developers.

TECHNIQUE:We provide an integrated fishing forecasting analysis designed for fishing. Providing comprehensive fishing forecasting analyses is an intensive process that requires expertise in a variety of scientific disciplines including fisheries biology, physical oceanography, satellite remote sensing, image analysis, and computer science to name a few. ROFFS™ has developed advanced image analysis techniques, particularly when working with water motion and clouds. This allows us to provide useful information more often than others. We do not limit our analyses to simple sea surface temperature contour maps, pretty color images, models, or altimetry data. Often a simple sea surface temperature map or a pretty color image will only provide a combination of cloud cover, other atmospheric effects (e.g. uneven humidity, fog, haze) and computer artifacts from automated processing of the satellite data. It certainly will not allow you to understand the changes in the short-term history and motion of the ocean currents which are critical to fishing success. ROFFS™ uses infrared, ocean color_chlorophyll, altimeter, radar, current meter, and meteorological data which are integrated in our analyses.

SERVICE & RELIABILITY:You receive personalized attention when you call ROFFS™. We have several telephone lines for incoming calls, and you speak with a knowledgeable person, not an answering machine or computer.  We are open five - six days, and sometimes seven days per week, 10-15 hours per day.  ROFFS™ strives to never miss sending an accurate fishing analysis or leave a customer dissatisfied. We often extend our hours to serve our clients. After we send our analyses, our fisheries oceanographers are usually available to discuss the analyses.

EASE OF USE:We are a service oriented business and enjoy helping people.  We are flexible and user friendly. We provide a color fishing analysis over the internet via our website (www.ROFFS.com) or electronic mail. We also send a black & white version via fax. With ROFFS™ there is no need to learn a complex computer program. Our file sizes are small and cost effective for satellite based e-mail systems. We have spent several years developing and refining the background bottom topographic charts which cover the areas that a majority of the fishermen want to use. These background charts are easy to read. We upgrade these charts as often as possible. Top

COMPARED WITH ROFFS™, WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE ?

PRETTY COLORIZED IMAGES:Others are providing colorized satellite images or sea surface temperature traces which are claimed to be equivalent to our analyses. Single satellite images can not provide the important information about water motion that we provide which is critical to forecasting fish concentrations. Observing water motion from satellite imagery is not trivial. ROFFS™ provides the same temperature and water color information provided in color-enhanced satellite images. However, we highlight the significant data and reduce the superfluous information. We provide an interpretation of the satellite data and integrate other oceanographic and meteorological data to provide a comprehensive fishing product which is unequaled. In all cases we have seen to date, our analyses contain more useful information than any single color image product. We use numerous images with the highest temperature and color resolution with the most accurate calibration to conduct our analyses. Images provided by others do not provide such resolution, accuracy or precision. We have the experience to differentiate between the real ocean features and clouds or other artifacts created by a variety of atmospheric interference. ROFFS™ receives and uses the infrared (temperature) and visible (water color, chlorophyll, and turbidity) data from all functioning NOAA, as well as, NASA (Terra and Aqua) satellites in addition to the other radar, satellite, ship, and buoy (public and private) data.

OCEAN FORECAST MODELS OF OCEAN FEATURES AND CIRCULATION : From our experience the present generation of ocean models do not provide useful results for finding fish. While the resolution has improved, accuracy and reliability have not. The models are useful for general guidance, but not for pinpointing fish. The location of the water mass boundary features that control the fish distributions are not correct. When considering ocean forecast models one has to reflect on the accuracy and reliability of weather forecast models that have been developed much longer. How accurate and precise is your local weather forecast? Top

THE BOTTOM LINE - VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY

VALUE: ROFFS™ provides an inexpensive fishing forecasting analysis considering the quality of the product. Our clients tell us that they find fish most of the time (85%) at our suggested "hot spot" locations, particularly those  “spots” that have existed the longest. Clients often find fish on the way to our "hot spots". When you consider the costs involved in searching for fish, the price of our analysis is well worth the savings in fuel and time. Knowing that ROFFS™ takes every step to make every fishing day a success is important We know that every fishing trip is important to you.

Why limit yourself to dock or radio rumors, static sea temperature or chlorophyll based plankton maps, colorized images or from the internet, or “super-secret” fishing reports, when we provide expertise, professional experience and service? ROFFS™ is the only service that forecasts where the fish will be concentrated when you are fishing. We are focused  on finding fish and quality service.

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