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

The Perils of the Paper Captain

October 2, 2020 By InTheBite Editor

By Captain Scott “Fraz” Murie

“Paper Captain.” That’s the term I use for some of these so-called captains that are at the helm of multimillion-dollar sportfishing boats these days. Paper Captains don’t have a clue as to how or what it takes to maintain or operate these vessels.

Let’s be honest—a captain’s license is not a hard document to obtain. If you have any time on your daddy’s ski boat and can pass a physical, that’s about all you need to get that piece of paper to call yourself a “six-pack” captain.

I’ve witnessed some lazy and inexperienced crews before (and if you couldn’t tell already, I don’t like it). It doesn’t take long for their boats to start showing signs of deterioration. These crews think it’s all about the fishing and partying. They either forget or could care less about the importance of maintenance.

Their mentality is “we’ll just call someone to fix anything that breaks.” What’s wrong with this approach? Most of the time, when a boat is maintained properly, it won’t need fixing. Advice for owners or anyone thinking about buying a sportfisher: boats need constant attention.

Always know if your crew says that there is no maintenance to do on your boat, they don’t know what’s happening! If your boat is taken care of, your boat will take care of you and not leave your stranded.

If amateurs are at the helm, the owner always finds out. On average, it usually takes 12 to 24 months for an owner to realize they have clowns running their boat. The sad part is that once you realize what’s happening and part ways with these captains, it usually then costs thousands of dollars to get the boat back into shape.

One thing is for sure, the sportfishing world is pretty small and word gets around fast about these lazy crews. They develop a reputation that’s hard to run from, and eventually can’t find a job in this industry. My advice to any owner trying to hire a captain or crew is to check them out thoroughly. Take the time to ask around. See what kind of experience they have before you hire.

Save yourself the heartache and thousands of dollars. A good captain and crew is the most valuable thing on your boat. The key is finding them.

—That’s my two-minute warning. Fraz

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

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

    Filed Under: Featured Stories Tagged With: boat captain, boat maintenance, fishing jobs, two minute warning

    Recent News

    42.3-Pound Dorado Earns $232,150

    May 17, 2022, Loreto B.C.S —Sunday concluded the third Marina Puerto Escondido Fishing Tournament as 51 Teams competed for over a HALF-MILLION DOLLARS IN CASH PRIZES, the highest ever awarded for a fishing tournament in the Loreto area. According to S … [Read More...]

    Boats Sunk for Artificial Reef in Memory of Capt. Patrick Price

    By Zachary Granat Last year, on Sept. 6, 2021, Capt. Patrick Price passed away after a battle with COVID-19. This month, the MCAC Artificial Reef Fund honored him by sinking two artificial reefs off the coast of St. Lucie County. Two boats, the … [Read More...]

    O-Ring Stop

    Captain Dickie Dickinson Jupiter Fishing Charters Skill Level: Easy … [Read More...]

    Strange Creatures Come Out at Night

      By Captain Kevin Deerman It’s always been amazing to me to see what kind of creatures show up in the lights around the boat at night when tuna fishing off the Texas coast. Over the years we’ve encountered many different types of fis … [Read More...]

    Colombia To Ban Recreational Fishing

    By Zachary Granat On May 2, the Supreme Court of Colombia ruled that recreational fishing was unconstitutional. As a result, Colombians expect a ban on recreational fishing to take effect within one year. The decision comes after the Court’s 2 … [Read More...]

    Leave a Reply

    Connect With InTheBite

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    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 »

    InTheBite Champion’s Cup

    InTheBite Champions Cup Logo

    New for 2022, 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

    COTY / ITB Cup Logo

    News

    • 42.3-Pound Dorado Earns $232,150

      42.3-Pound Dorado Earns $232,150

      May 17, 2022, Loreto B.C.S —Sunday concluded the third Marina Puerto Escondido Fishing Tournament as 51 Teams competed for over a HALF-MILLION DOLLARS IN CASH PRIZES, the highest ever awarded for a fishing tournament in the Loreto area. According to Stenson Hamann, Marketing Manager of the event, "The attendance has grown 85% over its short three-year history, beginning in 2019." Team... [Read More...]

    • Boats Sunk for Artificial Reef in Memory of Capt. Patrick Price

      Boats Sunk for Artificial Reef in Memory of Capt. Patrick Price

      By Zachary Granat Last year, on Sept. 6, 2021, Capt. Patrick Price passed away after a battle with COVID-19. This month, the MCAC Artificial Reef Fund honored him by sinking two artificial reefs off the coast of St. Lucie County. Two boats, the 65-foot Spirit of Palm Beach—renamed the DayMaker—and the 98-foot Last One—renamed the Capt. Patrick Price Reef—are now... [Read More...]

    • Colombia To Ban Recreational Fishing

      Colombia To Ban Recreational Fishing

      By Zachary Granat On May 2, the Supreme Court of Colombia ruled that recreational fishing was unconstitutional. As a result, Colombians expect a ban on recreational fishing to take effect within one year. The decision comes after the Court’s 2019 ban on recreational hunting. Then, the Court held that recreational hunting was animal cruelty and a threat to the environment.... [Read More...]

    • Blue Marlin Blast Fishing Tournament

      Blue Marlin Blast Fishing Tournament

      By Toine van Ierland, Tournament Director Cape Verde on fire! In both 2020 and 2021, we were forced to postpone the tournament thanks to COVID-19, but on the night of April 24, 2022, we finally kicked off the 2022 EFSA European Championship Big Game Fishing Tournament, AKA The PENN Challenge. And what a tournament it was. Expectations Two weeks prior... [Read More...]

    • New State Record for Dolphin Fish

      New State Record for Dolphin Fish

      Georgia DNR, Brunswick, Ga., May 5, 2022—A 53-year-old Midway man is the new state record holder for dolphin fish (Coryphaena hippurus), also known as mahi mahi, after the Georgia Department of Natural Resources certified his catch Friday. James Roberts of Midway landed the 68-pound, 1.6-ounce dolphin on April 26. He was fishing over Deli Ledge approximately 80 miles east of... [Read More...]

    Search InTheBite

    Copyright © 2022 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.