InTheBite

Dometic Marine Steering Technology Critical to Fishing Success

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hang em high sportfishing

Clay Shidler’s Hang ‘Em High Sportfishing fleet runs 1,400 charter days per year, taking anglers from across the U.S. and around the world out to enjoy the epic variety of fishing opportunities found off the Florida Gulf Coast. They fish inshore waters for popular species like snook, redfish, tarpon and speckled trout, hit offshore wrecks and reefs for big grouper, mutton snapper and cobia, and chase pelagic wahoo, dolphin and blackfin tuna offshore.  During the months of August and September, they switch to fishing out of Marathon in the Florida Keys. Thousands of hours on the water, thousands of miles traveled and enough fishing action to keep hundreds of customers happy each year.

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Hiring the Right Boat Captain

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captain driving a boat

By Dale Wills

Hiring a boat captain is easy. Hiring the right boat captain is another story. Whether you’re succeeding in business or putting together a heavy caliber fishing team, one common thread is this: you’re only as successful as the people you surround yourself with. The process of hiring the right boat captain and crew is no different.

One question that’s frequently posed to me is, how can we as an industry better educate the new boat owner so the enjoyment of their purchase leads to a longer-term passion for boat ownership and sportfishing. We’ve all heard the worst case scenario of an owner selling the boat after two years due to the unforeseen (and often arduous) task of managing a revolving or dishonest crew?

Whether you are a mate or captain, understanding what it means to be a true professional is an integral part of our sport not only for your own career but the bigger picture of a thriving industry. [Read more…]

Keeping the Boss Happy: Advice from Veteran Captains and Owners

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By Jan Fogt

When it comes to pleasing the boss, all the usual applies. Like keeping the boat clean and well maintained, keeping meticulous maintenance records, reigning in any bad behavior on the part of the crew, being prepared for travel and trips, tournaments, etc. In other words, when it comes to the boat, the secret to longevity on the job would seem to be to keep the boss’s life as hassle free as possible while watching out for the bottom line. As most captains will attest, if you can manage all of the above while taking care of fishing, you’ve got a job for life.

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Confessions of a Charter Boat Captain

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The Excel heading out of Kailua Kona to fish the Golden Marlin tournament. The team caught a small marlin on day two of the three day tournament and won a little money for the captain and crew. Photo courtesy Jim Callas

By Capt. Jim Callas

Forgive me Father for what I’m about to write. Many people that acquire the honor of driving a boat for a living start out with their dad, or uncle, or their friends dad or uncle and begin by simply messing about in boats as they say. They may be fishing, or water skiing or in some places engaging in some form of trade or commerce to help out with the family’s bottom line. For me, it started out with my dad, and the Nancy J. The Nancy J was a small wooden boat that dad bought for the express purpose of chasing salmon around the Pacific Northwest. He kept it in our carport of our family home, and I would sit in it for hours pretending I was out at sea conquering hordes of invaders or catching monster fish. Next it was a seven-foot plywood pram that I would row all day long in Puget Sound, if the folks would let met.

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The Best Learning Techniques for Captains and Mates

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By ITB Staff

Like a career in business or entertainment, as a sportfishing professional you must stay relevant. Lawyers, doctors, counselors, and real estate agents must all attend something called continuing education credits to keep their licenses current. While there is nothing like this in fishing, that doesn’t mean that getting a fulltime job on a boat is an excuse to stop learning.

Staying informed of the latest and greatest evolutions in fishing and learning from your mistakes are two central ways of doing this. The following provides a few of the best options to expand your fishing horizons – and build a well-rounded resume – even while working full time.

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“Don’t Be That Guy!” – Captain’s Edition

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By Winslow Taylor

The relationships dynamics involving captain, crew, angler, charterer and owner combine to create complex sportfishing personality web. Combining the fact that all personalities have their quirks and the long hours (and weeks and months) spent living and working together on a boat and you have a recipe for interesting situations—of the good and bad varieties. Some folks do things that they think are “normal” but to another person these things could be strange or make them look like a total jerk. Simply stated a bit of consideration goes a long way.

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The Perfect Mate: What to Look For

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stern of boat

ITB Staff

WANTED: “I am looking for the perfect mate. My previous relationships just haven’t worked out. I need one that is not too young, not too old, that doesn’t cost too much money and that knows their way around the cockpit. I also need someone that is loyal, who won’t jump ship the next time we’re docked next to a pretty Rybovich.”

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Tired of the Travel: Transition Options for Sportfishing Pros

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Typically, the professional life of a captain or mate involves travel, lots and lots of travel. The trips can be short, long, frequent, weekly, daily, hourly, international, statewide, spontaneous or planned. No matter how they stack up, there are many trips. A person choosing a career in the sportfishing industry normally understands this well in advance of their date of hire and is excited for the opportunity. Nearly universally, captains and mates enjoy their time working on the water in their natural habitat.

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So You Want to be a Captain?

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captain at helm

By Gary Caputi

Being a private boat captain is considered by many to be one of the more glamorous and adventurous jobs you could ever have. Imagine being at the helm of a multi-million dollar
sportfishing yacht that travels to amazing places to catch billfish. Not only is someone else footing the bill, you’re getting paid to do it! Even being a deckhand aboard such a boat is something young men daydream about. There is, however, a lot more to “the life” than meets the eye. InTheBite spent time discussing the ins and outs of “the life” with three experienced captains. We covered a lot of ground.

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