WHAT CAN I EXPECT ON MY FIRST DEEP SEA FISHING CHARTER

I occasionally get a question from a perspective client asking what to expect on a charter. Having spent most of my life on and around water, I hadn’t thought that some folks just don’t know. The question has been asked so frequently that I thought I would write about it from the perspective of a first time deep sea fishing party.

Let’s start with the preparation and the do s and don’t s. First, like most charters you should pack food and beverages. Don’t forget plenty of bottled water. While you may feel cool from ocean breezes, the sun can dehydrate you quickly, especially if you are consuming your favorite beer. PLEASE DON’T BRING GLASS BOTTLES. The only blood we want to see is from the fish. It’s best to bring food that can be eaten with your fingers. Fried chicken is probably the most popular. I think I have eaten so much chicken that I am growing feathers. If you want sandwiches, I suggest making them in advance. Even in the largest of boats, it can be difficult preparing a sandwich if you find yourself in 6 foot seas. DON’T FORGET YOUR SUNGLASSES. It happens on almost every trip, someone doesn’t have theirs. You miss too much without them. The glare from the deep blue water is intense..

I suggest you limit your evening celebrating the night before your inaugural deep sea fishing trip. The sun and the sea will tire you out and 5:00 AM comes early. Don’t consume too much alcohol the night before. A long night of drinking with your buds almost guarantees a long day and a queasy stomach. If you are taking pain meds containing opiates, try to limit them the night before. Ask your doctor if they are compatible with any of the motion sickness meds. He or she can give you good advice here.

Take motion sickness medicine before getting on the boat. Even if you are a seasoned boater on the bay or river, the ocean is a whole different experience. Don’t be macho man and say “I don’t need that stuff” You may not need it, but no one looks macho when leaning over the gunwale puking their guts out.. There are basically three active ingredients available in over the counter motion sickness meds. The one proven clinically best is Dimenhydrinate, the active ingredient in Original Formula Dramamine. This is my favorite because it works fast for those who forget to take it until they start to feel clammy, and it just works well. It does cause drowsiness, but it beats the hell out of vomiting. The less drowsy formulas use a drug called Marezine. Its not as effective as Dimenhydrinate and you have to take your first dose at least 8 hours before getting on the boat. For most people it still works fairly well. The third is Meclivine or Antrivert. Again it is not as effective and lasts longer like the Marezine but still can cause drowsiness. I am all about generics so look for the active ingredients and save money to tip the mate. See your doctor if you are particularly susceptible. He or she will probably prescribe Scopolamine in some sort of delivery system, either a skin patch or pill.

Now that I may have talked you out of the trip, let’s talk about the fun. Don’t forget to bring your camera. You are likely to see porpoises, whales, sharks of many varieties, turtles, sunfish, flying fish and hopefully some good angling and big fish. Marlin and sharks come way out of the water when hooked and put on quite a show. And of course you will want to take a picture of macho man when he throws up.

The most popular method of fishing is trolling, although chunking and jigging are options for some species. It is not as hot as chunking where you are anchored or drifting, and the variety of species you may catch is greater when trolling. When the bite is good, chunking is a blast and you don’t have time to notice the heat. When it is slow, as it can be until they are ready to bite, you may find yourself in the airconditioning, letting the captain and mate fish and call when hooked up. When a fish hits a line out in the deep, you know it. The reel will scream! Be prepared and have your angler ready. There is nothing more frustrating for a mate than to hold a rod that is stripping line while the party debates over whose turn it is. Let the mate give you the rod. Then take your time. You probably will have a long fight. I have seen anglers get cooperative 500 pound Blue Marlin to the boat in 45 minutes, and small yellow fin in 10. I have also seen great big blue fin tuna keep the angler in the chair for two hours, and an 800 pound blue marlin can keep you busy for 5 or 6 hours or more. Don’t wear yourself out in the first 5 minutes. Keep pressure on the fish and listen to the mate. After fighting your 500 lb big eye tuna or whatever is on the hook for what may seem like forever, you will eventually get her close to the boat. This is when the real work starts. Fish are highly allergic to boats. They seem to know that the guy with the gaff doesn’t want to scratch their back. Usually when the fish gets close she runs from the boat and dives. If it’s a marlin she may jump and try to spit the hook. Its great to watch but your job is to keep the pressure on. Don’t forget that unlike bays and rivers, the rods don’t have level winds. You must keep the line spread evenly on the reel. If it balls up, it will catch the chassis of the reel and the line will break; pretty depressing after fighting the fish for an hour or so.

When the fish finally starts the death spiral, listen to the mate. Take short pumps and try to gather line a little at a time. When the fish is gaffed, give the mate a little line back so he can pull her in the boat. In the case of marlin he will usually just grab her by the bill, pull her in the tuna door and help you hold her for pictures. This has to happen quickly, because conscientious captains insist on releasing bill fish to perpetuate the sport. The longer she is out of the water, the greater the chance that she won’t survive. Remember, she is worn out just as much as you are, and now she can’t breath. The mate will nurse her back to health by holding her in the water while the captain runs the boat to get water running through her gills. When she is ready to swim, the mate will let her go.

There is absolutely nothing like being on a boat in the warm blue waters of the ocean. Catching the fish is a bonus. I promise it will bring home what a wonderful planet we live on. It is simply awesome. You will want to come back again and again. At the dock, spectators and other captains and crew will admire your catch and congratulate you. It is wonderful medicine for the ego.

I hope this has helped the novice deep sea fisherman get mentally prepared and ready for a great event. You will never forget your first trip, and it surely won’t be your last.

See you on the dock.
Captain Lee Denny
Always Wet Fishing
www.alwayswetfishing.com

In the current economic climate, many people have determined they cannot afford to go deep sea fishing. The thought of spending a couple thousand dollars or more for six people to spend on the ocean for a day of fishing just doesn’t fit into a lot of budgets these days. A two thousand four hundred dollar trip divided by six is still four hundred dollars each person, and this does not include any tip or food and refreshments.

Charter rates vary by the size of the boat, the cost of fuel and the appetite for money by the boat owner or manager of the charter company. There are ways to invest less and still have a great day on the ocean. Now, I am not suggesting that a day on the ocean with a first rate captain and mate on say a sixty four foot Weaver Sport fishing boat is not worth the cost. On the contrary, big modern boats are more comfortable, faster and offer more creature comforts than smaller boats. And to be sure, the reputation of the captain and mate are an important consideration when choosing a charter. But if you cannot afford it you either stay home or sit at the beach and get sunburned.

In June the yellow fin and blue fin tuna traditionally move into the waters off Ocean City Maryland. The big blue fin tuna offer the best opportunity for you to save money on a charter. Blue fin tuna this time of year will range from forty pounds to four hundred pounds. Occasionally you will hear of one caught weighing hundreds of pounds more than this. These fish are often found fifteen to thirty miles off shore.

Charter captains consider their time and the cost of fuel in pricing their charters. Reduce the time and shorten the trip and you can get a better price. This is especially true if you book during the week days when the demand drops. Many of the best captains run boats in the thirty eight to forty eight foot range. These boats are often lighter and burn much less fuel than the big sixty footers. With this in mind the cost can be less.

Some captains will offer a half day trip, getting you back to the dock at noon or one o’clock. Since the fish are so close to shore, your travel time on the boat to the fish is relatively short, still giving you plenty of time in the cockpit fishing. While charter operators prefer to book all day trips, if the day is open, a half day is better than a blank. Try to make sure you can get six anglers if you are splitting the cost. In years past I have seen the cost for a half day blue fin tuna trip come in at slightly less than one thousand dollars depending on fuel cost and the other costs to operate the vessel.

In summary, to get an economy rate to go fishing on the ocean, plan you trip when you are already going to be at the beach. This means the cost of the fishing trip will not cause you additional lodging expense. Come early in the summer when the blue fin tuna are running. Book your trip on a smaller boat, yet with a captain with a good reputation for catching tuna. Fish on a week day and ask for a half day rate. There are fewer boats out on week days resulting in less pressure on the fish and usually better fishing. You want this when you only have a half day. Of course you should tip your captain and mate as if it is a full day trip. They spend just as much time preparing for and cleaning up after a half day trip as they do for a full day. The big difference is they will get home in time to have dinner with their wives after a half day trip.

See you on the boat,