Thread: never been on a boat would love to go one day

I was born and raised down here on the Gulf and I've never been on a boat let alone fishing off a boat, if anyone needs a boat hand or would like a fishing buddy out a boat 1 day I'd really love to get there and learn what it's all about, not all that interested in paying someone like $400 for a charter trip because I hear all these charters do everything for you and use electric reels, I want to fight my own fish not have a motor crank it in.

Originally Posted by SaltLife24

I hear all these charters do everything for you and use electric reels, I want to fight my own fish not have a motor crank it in.

You heard wrong. If you want less help, tell the deckhand. No one uses electric reels except for deep dropping and you won't accidentally walk on to that sort of trip.

Originally Posted by Green_Steel

You heard wrong. If you want less help, tell the deckhand. No one uses electric reels except for deep dropping and you won't accidentally walk on to that sort of trip.

And, you'll be way over $400 on those trips.

I've been on several charters over the years, and have never used an electric reel. Don't recall ever even seeing one on any of the charters I've gone out on. And, the deckhands on the charters I've been on, from the time the boat leaves the dock, they are working to get the rods/reels ready, baits ready, etc. Once the boat stopped and lines were dropped, all they had time to do was unhook fish. They didn't have time to do anything else. On the runs between drop spots, they'd work on getting more bait ready, then back to unhooking fish once stopped again. Back at the dock, it was cleaning time, and that is where the work comes into play...they can just about clean a fish faster than you can blink.

Way off base. Seldom do you see electric reels. Oh, they are used in special situations but for the most part hand crank and gut busters one on one you and the fish.

I saw an electric reel on a charter boat once. conversation went like this: Me: y'all use those much? Deckhand: "Nope". We went back to fishing.

I've had similar results as far as the captains doing most of the work. Once we used them a few times they would slowly let you do more...but their job is to get fish on the boat and rarely do the passengers do that as well as the crew.

Offer to help pay for bait and gas, I'm sure somepne could use company some day.

Originally Posted by Mattb

Offer to help pay for bait and gas, I'm sure someone could use company some day.

That's what I do. Nowadays, I only go with friends. I'm glad to pay for gas and bait AND I help clean the boat (and the fish!).

I haven't been on a paid boat fishing trip in 35 years. The last time I went, we weren't catching all that much. A deckhand saw a cobia, took a fish off a customer's rod, put it on his own rod for live bait and hooked up with the cobia, himself and personally fought the fish. The other deckhand gaffed it for him while the rest of the customers looked on in disbelief. I haven't been back on a party or charter boat since.