Dania Beach, FL—The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) today announced its 2023 Tommy Gifford Award winners, an annually bestowed accolade that recognizes captains, guides or crew members who have made extraordinary contributions to recreational angling through innovation, leadership or outstanding accomplishments in their trade.
As a current owner or prospective owner of a high-performance center console, hiring a captain may not be something that has been a consideration for the term of your boat ownership. After all, one of the main benefits of owning a center console is the relative ease of operation of such a vessel in relation to a sportfishing yacht. The operational costs, maintenance and general upkeep of most center console fishing boats are a fraction of that of a modern sportfishing yacht. So why would hiring a captain be worth thinking about?
Charles “Charlie” Hazouri employs thermal imaging technology in his career today as a marine surveyor. (Photo/Charles Hazouri)
Manning the helm of a sleek sportfisher while hunting big billfish and lots of ‘em is a living-the-dream job come true. Every morning, the horizon’s the limit on what might bite that bait or be teased in by that lure. Likewise, every day is a bucket list adventure, and every night brings dreams of the next day’s record catches and bragging rights. Sometimes, though, life takes a turn. It might be voluntary. Terry Robinson, who captained Tyson’s Pride for over two decades and is now Bass Pro Shop’s saltwater specialist, wanted to spend more time ashore with his wife and son. Other times, a career change comes after the hard knock of a curve ball.
Do you motivate and manage those around you? Do you inspire others to care and take pride in their work? Do you lead by example?
I believe one of my greatest accomplishments and rewards is seeing those that have worked under me move forward and thrive in what is becoming an increasingly competitive industry. I would never take credit for their achievements, but I hope that my leadership and mentorship played a role in their path to success.
(Photo/Bayliss Boatworks)
There are many “good,” but far fewer “great,” captains and mates floating around the industry. The age-old question from owners, captains, and aspiring captains is how to make it to the top echelon, make a name for yourself and maintain that status as a great captain or a great crewmate. For many, the answer might not be what you expect: a symbiotic relationship amongst all the members of the crew, even the owner.
Capt. Randy Jendersee spent the first two decades of his life in the dark about the world of saltwater fishing. It’s no wonder. The television in the Jendersee family’s farmhouse in the tiny town of Corsica, South Dakota, some 90 miles west of Sioux Falls, only received three channels. And that was when the bunny ear antennas cooperated. Early 1960’s shows like “The American Sportsman” and even fresh-water favorites like “The Fisherman’s Friend,” hosted by former South Dakota Governor Joe Foss, didn’t reach the family’s living room.
Capt. Tyler Andresen using a 6” Festool sander with 60-grit sandpaper on the deck.
“I’m sanding my own teak to save the boss money,” says Capt. Andresen from the deck of the 78-foot Rybovich and Sons Persistence. For a captain new to the luxury of teak decks, a DIY attempt at sanding them without a little guidance and know-how can easily turn into a big mistake. If that happens, do what most uber sportfishing captains decide to do and grab your iPhone, search Yelp for a highly rated sub-contractor and continue on with your other boat duties.
Harry Garrecht has had his eyes turned to the wide open blue for a very long time. He started bluefin tuna fishing off Montauk at the age of six and was running out to the canyons with his father by the time he turned 10 years old.
On the days he wasn’t able to go fishing offshore, Garrecht could be found fishing off the dock, where he became a familiar fixture to crews and boat owners that came through the area.
Photo courtesy: Simrad
As much as we’d like to take credit for a great idea, longtime subscriber and boat owner Mr. Saeed Almaktoum provided the inspiration for this article. Saeed sent us a note suggesting such an editorial regarding role ambiguity after reading the 2019 Captain & Owner’s Guide.
“I have a background in the aviation business. If I leave one company to go to another, the standard operating procedures are the same—even from one country to the next. The expectations and the job description are almost identical. We have standard operating procedures and guidelines for every employee to know what is expected of them,” he says. “Strangely, when it comes to boating, a multimillion-dollar business, I could not find a guide that defined the expectations that a boat owner should have of his captain.”
