InTheBite

  • Home
  • News
    • All News
    • Featured Stories
    • General News
    • Captain of the Year
    • Tournament Results
    • First Builds
    • Splash Reports
    • Old Salts Rule
    • Tackle Tips
    • Dock Talk
    • Crew Records
    • Conservation
  • Tournaments
    • Calendar
    • Captain of the Year
    • Champion’s Cup
  • Shop
    • All Products
    • Subscriptions
    • Back Issues
    • Shirts
    • Hats & Visors
    • Miscellaneous
    • Release Rulers
  • Classifieds
  • Job Board
  • Contact
    • Contact InTheBite
    • InTheBite Media Kit
  • Log in

Spotter Power In The Tower

March 2, 2015 By InTheBite Editor

tower manSpotter Power: The Eye in the Sky

by Dale Wills

One definition of passion is when you put more energy into something than is typically required to do it. It is more than just enthusiasm or excitement. Meet Mike Kasten, a tower spotter with eyes like a frigatebird. He personifies his passion by spotting fish in a spread before anyone else.

Kasten’s love for spotting fish began in the Florida Keys several years ago when he realized he had a knack for it. I was fortunate enough to work for some of the best captains in the keys sight fishing sails , mahi , and cobia. In 2010, Kasten persuaded Team Galati to give him a shot spotting fish from the tower. “They broke me in by going 26 for 28 on white marlin off Ocean City, MD the first time I went offshore with them and since that trip I was hooked,” he says.

“I never want to take my eyes off the spread or miss a fish. It drives me nuts if the captain or someone in the cockpit sees a fish before me,” says Kasten.

“I love coordinating the communication between the anglers and the fish,” he reports. “My job is to let the anglers know where the fish is and what it’s doing, like whether it’s lazy or aggressive. I also notice if there’s a tangle or if there’s a fish on the dredge that nobody in the cockpit can see. Seeing the fish and alerting the angler gives them an extra second to engage the fish versus letting the fish engage the angler. There are certainly a lot of boats that do not have towers and are successful tournament winners but if it’s a close race I am certain that I can be the difference in a few extra fish because I’m up there doing everything I can to help the team win,” says Kasten.

Kasten has also taken the tower communication to the next level by wearing a headset mike that lets him correspond clearly via a Bluetooth speaker in the cockpit, which he says all but eliminates the usual yelling and shouting during the fishing day.

When asked about how far back the long riggers are trolled and visibility of the bait, Kasten explains, “I have the guys fish the longs close enough to where I can just barely see the bait. If they are too far back, the fish usually ends up being a sneak bite and I’m no help. I probably drive them crazy because I’m always saying ten less or ten more feet on the rigger baits. If I can warn them the anglers love it.”

“Nine times out of ten, I see the fish before he gets to the bait depending on the light conditions. If the sun is on my back I can see everything in our spread and a sailfish or marlin sticks out like a sore thumb. If the sun’s in my face and there is a glare, I look for fins cutting through the water or a wake made by the fish. It also helps that I was blessed with 20/10 vision. If a fish comes up either very aggressive or lazy, I’m able to help the angler drop back to try to get the fish to eat but most of the time the fish wants to chase that bait and I try to not have them drop back unless he fades off. There have been countless times we have gotten a bite and not come tight and I will let the angler know if the fish is coming back to eat again and most importantly if they still have a bait. Another thing I help with is when we hook a fish and make our turn, sometimes you can’t tell where the hooked fish is and I’m vigilant at watching to make sure we don’t run over the line. I’ll let the captain know hard to port or starboard and give him a read on where the fish is.”

As you can probably tell, Mike Kasten is taking the job of spotting fish from the tower very seriously and has become an integral part of the Galati fishing team. Kasten adds that you also need to make sure the seas are not too rough to risk injury by climbing a tuna tower in the first place. “It’s something you should get comfortable doing at the dock before you try it offshore. It’s not for everyone but it’s an amazing view and something I love doing.” When it comes to sunglasses, blue mirror Costa sunglasses are his favorite for bright days in blue water. “They make the dark shadows of the sails stick out very well,” he says. “On a cloudy overcast day, I wear amber Costas to brighten things up.” Adding a tower guy can pay dividends. Just follow Team Galati via InTheBite as they compete around the world and remember that Mike Kasten will be riding 40 feet above the boat like a frigatebird waiting to dive on its prey. “Left long rigger!”

A good tower spotter can pay big dividends, especially in tournament fishing where every bite counts. 

Communication is a low key, no-yelling affair which keeps anglers calm during the bite. ati spotter Mike Kasten keeps a watchful eye on the spread from his perch high above in the tower
Team Galati utilizes a Harmon Kardon headset with a wireless transmitter which transmits to the cockpit speakers.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Do you have any comments or questions for us? We’d love to hear from you.

    Filed Under: Featured Stories

    Recent News

    chris brennan pouring wine

    A Captain’s Culinary Guide to Pairing and Preparing

    By Alexandra Stark Thankfully for you, the boss probably hired you for your ability to put him on fish and not because of your knowledge of fine dining. That said, there will be times when the boss and his family and friends will appreciate the … [Read More...]

    NC Billfish Series

    NC Billfish Series Dates

    Tuesday, March 2, 2021—The largest billfish tournaments in North Carolina are proud to present the NC Billfish Series. The eight NC Billfish Series tournaments have teamed up with weigh masters Randy Gregory and George Lott to recognize and award the … [Read More...]

    wild hooker on the water

    2020 Hawaii Division Captain of the Year Capt. Shane O’Brien

    Wild Hooker, 2,150 points Lazy Marlin Hunt 2nd Place – 300 pts. Firecracker Open 1st Place – 500 pts. Kona Throw Down 1st Place – 500 pts. Skins Marlin Derby 3rd Place – 100 pts. Big Island Marlin Tournament 1st Place Release – 500 pts. Haw … [Read More...]

    uno mas team at los suenos

    Uno Mas Takes First at Leg 2 of Signature Triple Crown

    With 33 sails and three marlin equaling a total of 4800 points, team Uno Mas was the winner of Leg 2 of the 2021 Signature Triple Crown. For the Champion's Cup, that gives them 500 points for first place within the International Division. First … [Read More...]

    vela boatworks catamaran gamechanger

    Vela Boatworks Enters the Sportfishing Market with New Catamaran “Gamechanger”

    Some things in life are just meant to be. For Tommy Jones and Blake Kingsbury it was boat building. The two had attended middle school together and were friends all the way through high school but ended up losing touch when they went to college. It … [Read More...]

    Leave a Reply

    Connect With InTheBite

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Sign Up for the InTheBite Newsletter


    Be the first to hear about the latest Sportfishing News, Products, and Services!

    Subscribe to InTheBite Magazine Today!

    InTheBite Magazine Current Cover

    Our latest issue is hitting the docks now! Be sure to subscribe to the hottest bluewater mag on the market. Purchase or Subscribe »

    Upcoming Tournaments

    Wed 03

    The Masters Angling Tournament

    February 28 - March 4
    Wed 03

    Jimmy Johnson’s Quest for the Ring

    March 2 - March 6
    Fri 12

    Quepos Billfish Cup

    March 12 - March 13
    Fri 12

    Pelagic Shamrock Shootout

    March 12 - March 13
    Wed 17

    Los Suenos Signature Billfish Series, Leg 3

    March 17 - March 20

    View More…

    InTheBite Champion’s Cup

    InTheBite Champions Cup Logo

    New for 2021, the Champion’s Cup is an optional paid entry with a winner-takes-all prize format for teams who want to up the stakes in each division utilizing our longstanding tournament scoring formula.

    Captain of the Year Cup Standings

    Captain of the Year Cup Standings Logo

    View the current standings for InTheBite's Captain of the Year Cup... Leaderboard »

    News

    • NC Billfish Series Dates

      NC Billfish Series Dates

      Tuesday, March 2, 2021—The largest billfish tournaments in North Carolina are proud to present the NC Billfish Series. The eight NC Billfish Series tournaments have teamed up with weigh masters Randy Gregory and George Lott to recognize and award the best tournament boats and anglers in North Carolina. The mission of the NC Billfish Series is to promote North Carolina’s... [Read More...]

    • Native Son Takes First in Leg 2 of the "Quest for the Crest" Sailfish Challenge

      Native Son Takes First in Leg 2 of the "Quest for the Crest" Sailfish Challenge

      First Place: Native Son, Capt. Art Sapp Second Place: Weez in the Keyz, Capt. Chris Zielinski Third Place: The Edge, BAR South in Top Spot for Most Sail Releases for the Florida Division Congratulations to BAR South and their six sail releases during Leg 2 of the "Quest for the Crest" Sailfish Challenge. This puts them at the top for... [Read More...]

    • New Updates on COVID Vaccine Requirements in Hawaii

      New Updates on COVID Vaccine Requirements in Hawaii

      Hawaii-Guide.com recently provided a new update to requirements and changes in regards to Hawaii travel and the COVID vaccine parameters. Read the excerpt below or click here for the full article. The Vaccine in Relation to Hawaii Travel Presently, proof of vaccination is not a recognized exemption to the Hawaii travel quarantine. The state continues to evaluate the latest science and... [Read More...]

    • Caterpillar Marine Releases the CAT C32B 2433 MHP Triple Turbo Marine Engine

      Caterpillar Marine Releases the CAT C32B 2433 MHP Triple Turbo Marine Engine

      Caterpillar Marine, Houston, Texas—Following the successful launch of the C32B 2025 MHP engine, Caterpillar Marine has announced the release of the new Cat® C32B Triple Turbo 2433 MHP (2400BHP) high-performance marine engine, with a rated engine speed of 2300 rpm. With an incredible 20% increase in power output, the C32B Triple Turbo engine leverages the same core engine upgrades as the... [Read More...]

    • Palm Beach Inlet Boat Gallery

      Palm Beach Inlet Boat Gallery

        January 16, 2021—Check out the gallery of some of the finest sportfishing teams returning to Palm Beach inlet. Most of the vessels are competing in the Operation Sailfish tournament. Scroll to the bottom for a new video showcasing the incredible speed of these modern-day machines as they return from the competition.  [Read More...]

    Search InTheBite

    Copyright © 2021 InTheBite, LLC · All Rights Reserved.

    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.