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Pay to Play: The Cost of Sportfishing

June 29, 2022 By InTheBite Digital Editor

boat cost

Owning a boat is undoubtedly expensive and that last check you sign before driving your new boat home is just the tip of the iceberg. Budgets are in the eye of the beholder as operating costs can vary greatly depending on how many days, weeks or months the boat will be in use and also how extensive your travel or tournament participation will be.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Boats, Featured Stories, Fishing, Maintenance, Operations Tagged With: boat cost, boat maintenance, boat owner, Charter Fishing, sportfisher, sportfishing

A Fishing Story from the Miss Annie

April 13, 2022 By InTheBite Digital Editor

fishing on the miss annie

By Barry Weshnak Miss Annie owner

When I was eight or nine years old my dad started taking me fishing off Long Branch pier in Long Branch, New Jersey for fluke during the summer and at night during the winter for ling and whiting. It was so cold that the nylon line would freeze between the water and the reel.  We drank a lot of hot chocolate and enjoyed our fishing time together. In my teens, my future brother-in-law, Frank, me and a buddy of ours who had a wooden skiff with an outboard motor fished off Monmouth Beach for stripers. The love of saltwater fishing took root as a family affair.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Adventures, Featured Stories, Fishing Tagged With: billfishing, boat owner, fishing, marlin, miss annie

Life After Being the Big Skipper

February 23, 2022 By InTheBite Digital Editor

the big skipper

By Captain Scott “Fraz” Murie

What is life like after being the “Big Skipper?”

What do captains do when they want to quit traveling and spending many months each year away from home? Well, I have observed that many captains who have been at the helm for 20 or 30 years, have changed careers so they can stay at home and do things they never had the time to do as a traveling captain. Things that may seem simple to people in other professions—like spending time with family and friends, personal travel, and attending some sporting events—are sometimes not possible for traveling captains.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Advice, Careers, Featured Stories Tagged With: boat captain, boat owner, fishing career, offshore fishingl, retirement

Something’s Running: Crew Turnover

December 7, 2021 By InTheBite Digital Editor

boat crew headed out to sea

By Captain Scott “Fraz” Murie

I’ve witnessed a few crew changes over the last several months on some pretty nice sportfishing boats. Let’s face it, crew turnover is inevitable. Sometimes a mate will take a job opportunity to try his luck at the helm. Other times a mate will be fired or quit for one reason or another. Maybe an owner will fire his captain and mate at the same time hoping for a fresh start. Whatever the circumstance, it is a small world in this business. At times like these, it seems everyone has an opinion or theory on why so-and-so got fired or quit. It becomes quite dramatic, akin to the Housewives on the Waterfront with all the dock talk.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Advice, Careers, Featured Stories, Fishing Tagged With: boat owner, crew turnover, fishing crew, fishing jobs, sportfishing

Hiring the Right Boat Captain

September 9, 2021 By InTheBite Editor

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…]

Filed Under: Advice, Careers, Crew, Featured Stories, Fishing, Owners Tagged With: boat captain, boat owner, Charter Fishing, fishing jobs, Offshore Fishing

A Day in the Life: What it Takes to Be a Successful Mate

August 19, 2021 By InTheBite Editor

Wiring a nice blue marlin is just one of the highlights for a full-time deckhand.

ITB Staff

It’s been called ‘the toughest job you’ll ever love:’ being a world-class mate on a top-flight sportfishing boat. These guys are the unsung heroes of the team—while the captain and anglers can take all the fame and glory they can handle for a tournament win or running 250 charters a year, the mates quietly go back to work, cleaning the boat and prepping for the next day. It takes a special kind of person to consistently perform well in this environment.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured Stories Tagged With: boat crew, boat mate, boat owner, Charter Fishing, Offshore Fishing

Five Stars: How to Make the Most of a Charter Experience

August 11, 2021 By InTheBite Digital Editor

ITB Staff

A career in the fishing and boating industry means that you will, at some point, be hosting charter guests on your vessel. Whether they be complete strangers or your boss’ best friends, charter guests generally have a few things in common. They are known for having enough money to charter yachts for fun; generally tipping well, and; sometimes they can be quite difficult to please. With guests come a set of rules and regulations that are not taught in your Coast Guard Captain’s License course. Making them happy can mean not only putting the charter on fish, but also catering to their requests. As needy as they may be, making a clear and concerted effort can go a long way. Here are a few pointers on keeping them smiling:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured Stories, Fishing Tagged With: billfishing, boat owner, Charter Fishing, Offshore Fishing

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

June 9, 2021 By InTheBite Editor

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.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Advice, Careers, Featured Stories Tagged With: boat captain, boat owner, Charter Fishing, fishing etiquette, Offshore Fishing

Double Zero: The Importance of Hiring a Crew

May 5, 2021 By InTheBite Editor

50th International Billfish Tournament, San Juan, Puerto Rico

By Capt. Scott “Fraz” Murie

Double zero is the term we have used in this business for as long as I can remember. It stands for owner/operator, or boats with no crews. Having a boat without a dedicated crew doesn’t make sense. The owners of these boats may think they are saving money by hiring a wash down and wax crew to keep their boats shiny two days a month. Some owner/operators think that’s all there is to it!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Boats, Featured Stories, Operations Tagged With: boat captain, boat maintenance, boat owner, fishing payroll

Fostering a Prosperous Captain-Owner Relationship

December 4, 2020 By InTheBite Digital Editor

captain on bridge of boat

By Captain Kevin Deerman

I’m certain the glaring reason that many of us chose this profession was for the opportunity to fish and travel to new and different locations. Though we must always be ready to deal with unexpected obstacles, fishing and traveling should be the easiest and most welcomed qualities of the job.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Advice, Careers, Featured Stories, Fishing Tagged With: boat captain, boat owner, charter boat, fishing careers, Offshore Fishing

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