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.
Photo courtesy Will Drost
By Ric Burnley
When I was young, my father gave me some great advice: “Let the tool do the work.” I was probably yanking on a hook with my pliers or trying to hack up bait with scissors when Dad gripped my wrist, looked in my eyes, and told me to stop fighting my tools. Since then, I’ve been a tool geek.
New Lines
By Ric Burnley
A good mate is worth his weight in gold. From wiring a blue marlin to serving cocktails, the second in command on a professional sportfishing boat has many jobs to master and many people to please.
So, how do you quantify the value of excellence? How do you compensate a person for unwavering dedication, extensive technical knowledge, a crushing physical toil and a winning attitude? Paying a mate what he’s worth would quickly run most operations out of financial resources. With all the adventure, excitement, drama and sheer fun of professional fishing, at the end of the day, it all comes down to a wad of cash passed from the fisherman to his best friend on the water. [Read more…]
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.
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.”
The distance between your hands should not exceed the length of your forearm. When done correctly arms need to be bent, down low and by your side. Photo courtesy Kelly Dalling Fallon
As a traveling mate, you never know when and where fishing will take you. You can be releasing 35-pound sailfish one day and get the call to go to Bermuda the next. Even for those with a wealth of experience, leadering big fish on heavy leader can be a dangerous proposition. Before tangling with a sea monster, there are a few things you should know.
By Joe Byrum
Like almost every industry, the current sportfishing landscape looks completely different than it did 40 years ago. While time changes everything all of the time, in the last five years alone advances in technology and equipment have inspired the development of outcome-driven techniques, altering the state of the mate in a particularly impactful way. With the widespread adoption of innovation, the individuals involved in our sport have changed as well, be it for better or for worse.
We all know the importance of having a competent crew. The vast majority of sportfishing operations employ a captain and at least one mate to even leave and return to the slip safely, not to mention rig baits and tackle, clean the boat and accommodate the day’s fishing group among many other integral tasks.
To further address the mate profession through anecdotal accounts, I interviewed esteemed captains around the country for a deeper understanding regarding workforce training, leadership development, crew longevity and how things have changed over the years.
When it comes to the dependence on technology, work ethic and perseverance of millennials, everyone loves to speculate…
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By Dave Ferrell
It’s really a thing of beauty to see a top-shelf mate (or a couple of them) set up a spread and work it throughout the day when the fish are really snapping. Whether snatching perfectly-rigged ballyhoo out of the cooler and threading them back through the dredges and shorts with speed and efficiency; coaching the team through a double or triple header with clear communication and professionalism; or taking the correct gaff shot to finish off that tournament-winning marlin, a mate’s job changes from day to day, month to month and year to year.
Their list of duties runs long and deep and all the good ones work extensive hours with a seemingly never-ending supply of energy.
For a variety of reasons, no two mates are exactly alike. Each one comes with a certain skill set, work ethic and general disposition. All of which can be influenced by the people and experiences they see every day as they mature and grow into the fishing business. Certain places on the planet – as a rule, ones near a good and varied fishery – seem to produce more than their fair share of excellent captains and mates.
This is not to say that excellent mates or captains can’t from anywhere; as you’ll see in the testimonies below, attitude and eagerness to learn go a long way for any up and coming deckhand. Still, the fellows lucky enough to grow up where they fish a lot of days, or catch a lot of fish using a wide variety of tactics, will always have a slight edge if they are worth their salt.
No matter where your boat leaves the dock, there will always be a few mates that stand a little taller than the others. The following captains and mates share a bit of insight as to why that is so.
A native New Yorker, Capt. Mark DeCabia provides great insight and background into the skillset of a crewman from the North East.
Pounding out a living on the long runs and relatively short tuna season in the North East, Capt. Mark DeCabia and the boys who fish the far-off canyons from New York and New Jersey rarely take a day off…weather be damned. Alongside his tuna fishing exploits from his Canyon Runner days, DeCabia, like a lot of Northeast fishermen, has a strong commercial background that influences how he runs his crew. “I fish about 280 days a year.
When you grow up in the North East, you start every day at 4 a.m. and you fish in all kinds of weather. You get used to long days and harsh conditions and some guys just aren’t up for that,” says DeCabia.
“Perfect example…I recently told a new guy down in Florida that we were going to start at 6 a.m. the next day. He got here at 6:30 and had a cup of coffee and we didn’t start getting things done until 7:30! I had a different set of teachers. Every single guy I ever worked for – guys like Phil Delaney and Chris Williams – we started every day before the sun came up and we stopped when the sun went down. We had a farmer-type work ethic. Everything gets done or gets fixed. We would start a new project with just two hours left in the day…typical New York and New Jersey… go, go, go!”
A well-rounded, skilled mate is a prerequisite for having a photo-worthy bait box.
DeCabia fishes the sailfish season down in Florida during the winter months and sees the differences between the two places first hand. “The guys in Florida take way more pride in their boat…we don’t focus as much on how the boats look because the season is so short. You get set in your ways up there in the NE and the crews down in South Florida seem to have a broader knowledge about rigging ballyhoos and the like. Everything we see down here has a bimini on it. In New York, nobody knows how to do those little things like that.”
The long runs and long days that come with fishing in the NE takes a toll on both boat and crew alike. “Down in south Florida it’s much easier to keep a boat nice and working properly,” says DeCabia. “There’s only one West Marine in Long Island and they never have anything. I make sure I travel with a ton of spare parts. If you break something in Florida, you can usually get the part you need that day.”
With so much ground to cover, the most successful boats that fish in the North East are going to be the ones that get out almost every day. This makes guys tough. “The commercial fishing honed my skills, and we usually do very well,” says DeCabia. “The key is going every day. I commercial fish from April 15 to July 4, so I know where the bait is, what boats are out fishing. To keep stacking fish on the deck you have to know the moon; know when the fish are going to move. I do a lot of seminars in Atlantic City, Boston, and Connecticut. I’m talking to the same 350 guys I compete against…spoon-feed them the info. But if you don’t know how to apply it, it won’t matter. The difference is, me and my guys are out there every day. It takes a different breed to fish up here. I don’t know if that’s good or bad…it’s hard on all of us, but we get the job done every day.”
Capt. Devin Potts knows fishing in the Gulf – he has the tournament checks and hardware to prove it.
Capt. Devin Potts runs the 66 Spencer, Sea Mixer, out of Orange Beach, Alabama. Devin has spent his entire career running boats in the Gulf of Mexico and says he’s fished out of every “orifice” along its coastline.
“Most of my experience has been right here in the Gulf, but I’ve fished with a lot of different mates from different places,” says Potts. I can definitely say that without a doubt, the better dead bait guys are going to be on the Outer Banks, Ocean City, Maryland or Stuart, Florida. We borrowed Richard Wright from Capt. Newt Cagle one year and Wright helped us win first and second place tuna. [Wright got his skills running back and forth between North Carolina and Isla Mujeres on the Obsession]. I still talk about it to this day. We had a big fish come up on the chain and stayed on it so long we were able to get a big leader on a 30 and pitch it to the fish. Wright fought the fish, a 160-pound yellowfin, for an hour and fifteen minutes. He won the tournament for us in buzzer-beater fashion. He won’t be coming back though, that fish was back breaker!”
“In the Gulf of Mexico, you have to be well-versed in all facets of fishing,” says Potts, “dead baiting, trolling lures and live baiting.” Generally speaking, you troll lures to cover ground and find good water, then slow down and use dead baits when you do. And if you mark a fish, or find a school of tunas on a rig, then you catch a tuna and out go the live baits. “A mate here needs to know a little bit about a lot of different styles…you have to be a fairly well-rounded fisherman. One advantage North Carolina mates have is they have a great skill set when it comes to tuna fishing. If you can find and catch tuna, then you can find marlin here in the Gulf. Those NC boys are tuna killing machines and they can make tunas bite when others can’t…they can make magic happen. It makes sense because it is that tuna knowledge that pays the bills back home. The charter customers want to catch tunas and these guys can run eight lines all by themselves to get it done.”
No matter where the mate comes from, Potts likes to pick up mates that come with a healthy dose of charter fishing experience.
“You learn a lot of people skills and get a personality in a hurry when you are chartering every day…if you don’t, it will get in your wallet. Charter mates don’t mind the grind, they keep a smile on their face, they don’t mind the silly questions and they keep focused on the task at hand. I shouldn’t have to tell him a whole, whole lot. If I’m going to go away a two-day tuna trip, I want him to come to me and tell me what he’s got and what he needs so I can say yeah. I shouldn’t have to say do this and do that…they should have acquired those skills already. The fishing will always come and go…one day you’re the hero and one day you’re the zero…but keeping the people happy and into it always trumps missing a few.”
“And if you do miss a few you can’t have a complete meltdown. It hasn’t happened to me, but I’ve heard about it. This is a happy place, we want to keep it all smiles. Shake off the bad things and move on in a professional manner. You need to get along with the boss and make sure the guests enjoy the boat. A boat is not a necessity…if it becomes a pain in the ass, it will be the first thing to go.”
A well-rounded waterman, Capt. Charles Perry is a great resource to explain the skillset from North Carolina.
A true legend in the sportfishing game, few captains or mates enjoy the rock-solid reputation of professionalism, integrity and generosity as Capt. Charles Perry. He’s one of the best there is on the leader with a heavy fish on the other end and if you hear someone saying something bad about him you should just turn around and walk away because that fellow is no count! He’s fished in all the good places and alongside the best.
“One of the things I can tell you, and I’ve traveled quite a bit, I’ll get calls from all over the world, from different people, asking about getting a mate,” says Perry. “They will ask for them in these terms; ‘Do you know a Hatteras or Oregon Inlet mate that you could recommend for a job?’ I’ve had two captains who’ve been around a really long time; Matthias Henningsen in Ascension, and Zach Conde in the Canaries, ask me just that way. After I said that I’d look around for him, I asked Henningsen, out of curiosity, ‘Why do you want one of those?’” “He said, ‘Well, I’ve never fished there, but I know they fish long hours, they have to catch all kinds of fish, and they deal with different people every day. That’s exactly what I want. If they can last in Hatteras or Oregon Inlet, then they must love what they do.’ That made a lot of sense to me.”
Perry, however, sees talent the world over.
“Everywhere I go the good mates will stand out. Guatemala has some really good mates. The young man that fishes with Jason Brice down there, Yefri Garcia, now travels all over the world with Gary Carter. He’s been to Madeira, Portugal and Australia. The top mates from any country usually start to travel and fish other places, which only makes them even better in the long run. But traveling isn’t a necessity, you can still stay in one place, enjoy the sport and be good at it. Carlton Arai, who fishes with Mcgrew Rice on the Ihu Nui in Kona is a perfect example of a guy that’s stayed in one place and that is universally loved by tons of people! He’s really great in his home town,” says Perry.
An early start in North Carolina and several seasons in Australia were the key to getting a good education for Perry. “I’ve been fortunate enough to start traveling and fishing fairly early on. I had a job for eight seasons in North Carolina, and I’d get spend four months out of each year in Australia. Even when I went on to work for Stewart Campbell, he kept me on retainer. The more people you fish with the more things you learn. There is so much to know now, so much new stuff all the time.”
Perry got a quick and thorough bait handling education during those seasons spent in Australia on the Great Barrier Reef and found out the mates there were no joke.
“I went in there with a bit of a chip on my shoulder, but it got knocked off real quick. In Australia, all the top guys are really good,” says Perry. “They have to catch bait, process bait, and catch big fish. I loved it. It’s a challenge. Most of those guys travel now and as a whole, Australia puts out some great fishing people. All the captains there were mates beforehand, and I certainly think that time on the deck makes a better captain.”
A globetrotting captain and wireman, Marty Bates has seen and done it.
A native of New Zealand, Marty Bates started his career chasing giant striped marlin and swordfish in the prolific waters around home before making the jump to Australia to catch big blacks. After getting a bunch of experience on big fish, he wound up splitting his time between the Azores and Cape Verde, running boats in some of the world’s best blue marlin hot spots.
“No matter where you come from, I think everyone has strong points and weak points,” says Bates. “In North Carolina, you have to be very quick on the deck, the guys are very fast, and they know how to fish a lot of different styles. The guys on the Reef come with the bait experience. Nobody takes care of their baits and rigs them up like they do in Australia. In New Zealand, we are good at catching big swordfish – some pushing 1,000 pounds – and really big striped marlin. We don’t fish much ballyhoo for our stripes down there!” says Bates.
“A lot of guys will probably call bullshit, but to me, white marlin fishing and sailfishing with the dredges and ballyhoo are pretty much the same thing. But that’s not really what I do. I’m always fishing for blue marlin,” says Bates. “I was an observer for Ronnie Fields once and those guys fishing for white marlin, with all the bait rigging, those south Florida guys are pretty damn good. The North Carolina guys are on it as well. I always like to see different styles of fishing and those guys have some pretty slick ways of doing things.”
Recently, Bates spent some time down in Panama and he came away with a deep respect for some of the local tuna fishermen in Central America work the porpoise to catch tuna.
“Paul Gerlach’s captain, Chicho, is an excellent tuna fisherman. He’s really good at finding the front of an enormous school of porpoise and getting his baits in front of the tuna. Every time I tried to figure out which way they were going, I’d choose the opposite direction! That’s old-school local knowledge. He’s one of the best tuna fishermen I’ve ever seen,” says Bates.
Bates went to the well in North Carolina and got a North Carolina deckie named Chase Travis to work the deck this upcoming season. “Ninety percent of my charters come from the United States, and I know this guy will know what he’s doing and treat people right.”
An in-demand freelancer, Capt. Brad Goodrich is a hired gun from the Florida Keys.
With the true Keys’ fishing attitude that includes everything from “grunts to granders,” Capt. Brad Goodrich built his career by being pretty good at a lot of different things.
“Everybody brings something to the table. I’ve been fortunate that being from the Keys, I’ve been able to travel and work in some great destinations, like Isla Mujeres, Costa Rica, Bermuda and all up and down the East coast. Not all the Keys guys I know have had those opportunities, but they could all handle it if they wanted to. A good Keys crew member has to be able to do it all. You have to be able to catch live bait, throw the cast net, target and use the right bait for the right time of the year. On any given day, a good Keys mate might be asked to fish from two to eight different styles of fishing. You go from catching bait in the morning on hair hooks, bottom fishing for a grouper, chumming for yellowtail, kite fishing for sails, trolling offshore for dolphin or tuna or deep dropping for swords. You might be asked to do three or four of those on a single day. And you have to be proficient and prepared to do all of them at all times.”
“I want to make it clear that I’m not bad-mouthing anybody else. Different areas require different styles and methods. The North Carolina guys are great at what they do…great at catching their targeted fish. But they aren’t starting out with live baits, and then trolling dead baits later on. Down in the Keys, we dead bait fish in the summer, but in the wintertime, we are live baiting with kites, sabiki-ing 100 baits each morning or throwing a big cast net…it’s just part of the job.”
Goodrich also says the mates in Central America get the best training imaginable. “A lot of those Costa Rican guys are really, really great at dead bait fishing. They are just experts at seeing fish in the spread and hooking them. They just get a ton of opportunities and it shows. A guy on the East Coast may see good numbers from time to time…a 100 or 150 billfish season is a good year. The guys in Central American can catch that many every four days! If you have a basketball team of killers in the cockpit that can really swing a rod you can catch 100! You just can’t beat that kind of experience.”
“That same kid that’s so great at catching and releasing sails, might not be the guy you want on the gaff,” says Goodrich. “Especially if you have a North Carolina guy back there who sticks little kings, wahoo and tunas all day!”
Goodrich thinks that ego gets in the way of a lot of mates’ development. “I had an experience five or six years ago on a brand-new boat that was fishing a tournament. I went down to the boat and was looking through it
when the other mate came aboard. He was a younger kid about 20 and I was 31 or 32 at the time. He had a bit of a chip on shoulder and after we introduced ourselves and I told him I was from down in the Keys.”
“He said, ‘You guys do a lot of that fag rag fishing down there don’t ya?’ I was a little shocked, but I said, ‘Yeah we do a lot of kite fishing.’ He continued putting it down. I finally told him that there’s a lot more money in live bait tournaments than in dead bait ones and that the difference between me and him was that I knew how to fish both ways, and that I wouldn’t have to ask him how to do it when I went home. He was hell-bent on the idea that live baiting was stupid. I’d much rather be a jack of all trades than a master of one. He finally got the idea when they handed us a second-place brown bag in one of Skip Smith’s tournaments,” says Goodrich.
By Capt. Jen Copeland
You know them: the seasoned, fish-where-I-want, when-I-want types seen at all the top spots. The ones who get the absolute best out of every fishing experience while making a career of it – without being tied down – essentially having their cake and eating it, too. But for these rock stars, this “dream” life can come with a price.
It’s not all two-hour lunches and hanging out with your friends. Most freelance tours of duty are long and it can be quite intimidating to roll up and expect to immediately fit in with a team you may have never worked with before.
The following is a profile of three high-flying, in-demand freelancers. From an owner’s perspective, the addition of a freelance mate could just help get you to the winner’s circle or onto that fire bite you’ve been dying for. They can also lend an extra hand to provide some relief for your weary crew. These guys make many personal sacrifices, but the benefits it provides them are worthwhile. Their accounts may give some insight as to whether it’s a good fit for you.
Bringing on a hired gun like Brad Goodrich (right) can fine tune your overall presentation or help with special projects— billfish on a fly or record fishing applications.
While Brad’s outgoing and positive personality gets him to the most exotic locations on the sweetest rides, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t worked for it. He has spent twenty-plus years of his life learning in order to set himself up for a career that is well-rounded and about as stable as a freelance career could be. While fishing is his mainstay, Goodrich has the ability to grind it out, anywhere, doing almost anything boats.
With a solid work ethic and the ability to find common ground with almost everyone, Goodrich believes “if you go where you’re needed, listen, continue to learn and work hard, it won’t go unnoticed.” This is a small business in an even smaller world, and you are always being examined – by your peers, the captain down the dock, or by the owner.
And since word of mouth is your calling card, Goodrich believes being well-rounded, positive and professional will keep you getting the jobs you want.
Andrew Kennedy pictured with proof of the value he brings to the table.
Fishing with the late Captain Paul O’Donnell, Goodrich caught his first blue marlin at the age of eight. When he was 12, that same O’Donnell let him ride along on his Skipper, a 50-foot Sonny Briggs. Allowed only to watch, Goodrich did what any young boy would do – batter O’Donnell with question after question. It was his time with O’Donnell that Goodrich credits the very reason he became a fisherman. Brad’s meticulous maintenance experience came from working in Islamorada for veteran Captain Rob Corradi on his 1966 48-foot Willis Craft, Southern Comfort.
Brad learned all that goes into keeping an immaculate boat from Corradi – stem to stern. “Rob could do anything,” he says, “he’s a real ‘boatman’ – able to fix, build, patch, paint, or varnish as good, or better than, any high-dollar boatyard around.”
Southern Comfort was Brad’s last fulltime job – over 10 years ago. Brad realized he was turning down good-paying freelance work while waiting for a perfect job. “I saw myself missing out on too many good experiences,” says Goodrich. “I knew I had grown enough to successfully be my own boss. I knew exactly what I was looking for and I didn’t want to settle.”
With potential tournament and travel opportunities waiting in the wings, Brad began to market himself as a professional freelancer. Picked up by Key Largo Captain Mike Dykes, Goodrich got the first glimpse of a traveling freelance mate’s life. Soon after, South Texas’ Captain Brian Phillips gave Brad an opportunity that has lasted some seven years and running. “The success we have shared surpasses any other operation I’ve been a part of,” says Brad. “I learned most of my international knowledge and travel experience from him.”
Several foreign ports and many Panama Canal transits later, Phillips and Goodrich still work together, having shared five seasons and nearly a million dollars in tournament winnings in the Gulf.
With the many moving parts on a tournament sportfisher, there is plenty of opportunity for a professional freelancer to improve your game. Photo courtesy Los Suenos.com
Today, with four young daughters to provide for, Brad does his best to keep busy and stay fishing. Able to go from dead-baiting or lure fishing in the summer, to live-baiting for sailfish in the winter, and everything in between, he does what he can to limit the uncertainty that results from not having a stable, fulltime income. “Kids don’t stay little just because you have to keep going away for work,” says Goodrich. “It takes time to learn how to live without when times are slow,” says Brad.
Having the ability to save when needed and spend when able is a constant in the life of a professional freelancer – especially one with a brood the size of Goodrich’s. “Sometimes you get to pick and choose where, with whom, and when you fish, but sometimes there is no choice…you must work.”
While the financial advantages that come with working for some of the best teams in tournament fishing are always a possibility, Brad recognizes that in the slow season boats move locations, go to the yard, or simply need a little love. “These sleds need year-round attention, so whether I’m waxing, doing deliveries or filling in, I’m still relevant; still seen.” Keeping yourself out there is very important in the freelance world, as it would be virtually career suicide if you are out of sight, because then, you are out of mind.
Veteran freelancer Mark McDevitt has seen it and done it. His perspective and experience is
invaluable.
At age 28, Andrew hasn’t deviated too much from his early childhood. He’s always had a rod in his hand…and a blonde on his arm. Growing up on the New River in Fort Lauderdale, Kennedy started fishing at the age of 15 on the Bahia Mar charter dock. As a teenager, Andrew quickly learned fishing was his true passion. At 19, he was lucky enough to land his first private, traveling job for Captain Jason “Tiny” Walcott on his 61 Viking, Blue Eagle.
Even at such a young age, Kennedy was serious about his career and he would stop at nothing to become successful. Eventually, he found freelancing to be the perfect way for him to do that. While anyone can freelance for a season, Andrew believes a certain personality is necessary to succeed in the game fulltime.
There is always fear of the unknown when stepping into a new operation for the first time. You must fit in, work hard and work smart to be worthy of hire. If you don’t, then you simply will not be invited back. Luckily for him, Kennedy’s strong personality comes with no identity crises, so what you see is what you get.
A freelancer’s work station. Every boat has one.
Andrew says he’s mostly “by-the-book.”
He comes with an innate ability to pick up on the most minor of details. Careful observation of the fulltime crewmembers allows him to blend in without losing his own individuality. “Situational awareness is major factor when you are tossed into a well-oiled machine,” he says.
“From the boat, to the tackle, to the fishing scenarios, being aware of what is important to the crew – and the owner – is vital.” By paying attention to each situation, Andrew becomes an asset that reinforces an already solid unit. It is then, and only then, do you become worth it.
“You must take care not to be too abrasive,” he says. “You must show the utmost respect to the fulltime crew – no matter the age or skill level.” Kennedy continues, “You are there to help by applying your knowledge in a way that is well-fitting and beneficial to them, whether you are live-baiting or deadbaiting, lure or record fishing, you must be willing to gel and be confident, without stepping on anyone’s toes.” Andrew was raised up in the ideology that the best way to market yourself is to work hard every day and to never be too proud to do anything.
From ballyhoo rigging to tournament strategy to spread placement, an infusion of qualified cockpit help
can take a good operation to the next level. Photo courtesy Los Suenos.com
In 2015, Kennedy’s fulltime team opted not to fish their scheduled summer tournament circuit. A call to Captain Walter Harmstead on the Viking 72, Goin’ In Deep, netted Andrew one of his best career experiences so far.
“The first day of the White Marlin Open, we managed to harvest a 551-pound blue one, which ended up winning the category that summer.” With a $779,000 blue marlin on deck, Kennedy was able to financially contribute to help his sick and recently widowed mother. “I truly believe my father blessed me with a miracle that day,” he says, “and I could never be more grateful for it.”
With a blossoming freelance career, and a personality which is sure to take him far, Andrew’s hunger for the sportfishing industry drives his quest to accumulate knowledge. He’s developed an everlasting love for travel and competitive fishing: “I want to be at the top of the game – respected, appreciated, and eventually feared – as a tournament fisherman.”
Already a great angler, wireman, and general crewman, he takes the time to learn from every opportunity, in any ocean. Andrew also has a grip on what it actually takes to be a good captain – a goal which he hopes to obtain in the next five years.
In the winter of 1984, 19-year-old Captain Mark McDevitt found himself to be the smallest fish in the biggest pond. Faced with the decision of following his summer charter boat job to Palm Beach for the winter or go-ing back to school, the Cape May party boat deckhand made the first big career decision of his life. With huge ambition, McDevitt was immediately demoted to wash down boy when he arrived in Palm Beach. He found himself surrounded by the most prestigious charter boats and crews of the time, and McDevitt quickly realized his captain’s license wasn’t worth the paper it was printed on.
“I was in for a real culture shock,” he recalls. “I didn’t have the deck wisdom or skills to compete with the guys who were familiar with the Florida fishery, so I washed boats, cleaned engine rooms and slung wax around while trying to get on the water.”
It wasn’t long before Mark found himself in the capable hands of Captain Jerry “Stash” Soltysik on the 36-foot Rybovich, Tintinajo.
“It was a quick education on a classic,” says McDevitt. “I looked up to Stash as a father figure, having a major impact on me both professionally and personally. I owe him much gratitude.” Working for many topnotch captains over the years, Mark not only proved his worth, but found his own ride on Beach Haven native Tom Garvey’s First Class.
After eight successful years of New Jersey, Palm Beach and Mexico seasons as captain, McDevitt’s situation changed.
“Life throws you many curveballs,” says Mark, who found himself on the receiving end of one during his latter days aboard First Class. Fighting for – and ultimately receiving – primary custody of his then-toddler daughter, Madeline, McDevitt was forced to make another life-changing decision. With his new circumstances, and young daughter in tow, freelancing became his “most digestible track.”
“The good Lord had given me a gift, so there was no way I could be wandering off to Costa Rica or any other exotic adventures for long periods of time,” says McDevitt. In order to maintain the balance of his new situation, prioritizing his time became his primary focus.
“I guess you could say freelancing chose me. It was the only option I had, and in retrospect, it was the best career decision of my life.”
The timing couldn’t have been more perfect for McDevitt when he stepped onto the bridge of John and Betty Raimondo’s 57 East Bay, Sea Mistress. Mark recalls the genuine grace and concern he was shown by the Raimondos: “I was in the middle of a personal battle, and they allowed me to work a flexible schedule so I could tend to other important things, outside of fishing. I have so many great memories with that rig, but the highlight would have to be winning the 2001 White Marlin Open with a 79.5-pounder on her.”
The years that followed netted Mark and the Sea Mistress an excellent record on the tournament circuit. “I have nothing but peace and love for John and Betty,” – proof, once again, that karma is real. To say that McDevitt’s career followed the perfect path would be an understatement.
Rarely does a career shift brought about by change in one’s own personal situation result in decades of successful fishing ventures. “When you look back at the things you have accomplished, the relationships you have cultivated while making money at it, you realize the blessings are genuine.” And when comparing sportfishing to other careers, Mark believes we (as sport-fishermen) live multiple lifetimes in this special fraternity.
“We all have a niche,” Mark believes, and “if you’re passionate about it, it will work – don’t fight yourself, just go fishing.”
As we continue to galivant our way around the fishing world, living the dream, McDevitt has already lived it. He has memories that most of us have yet to dream of, and at 53, most of his career aspirations have been fulfilled.
Having worked for some of the best fishermen, boats and crews for over 30 years, Mark McDevitt is a true pro – the full package.
“Honestly, I’m ready to start paying it forward,” says Mark. “I’d like to think some of my experience may be appreciated by the next group of young bloods in this business…I’ve learned a lot of good stuff from the teams that would have me, and hopefully the next generation has the capacity and discipline to absorb what is a free education on the water. Some will be really good, and some won’t…but never turn down an opportunity to learn from the crews who are willing to take you, paid or not.”
The one thing professional freelancers acquire from their chosen career is experience, of all kinds…and fast. From learning the ins and outs of different boats, to spreading their knowledge to others through osmosis, the hired gun is likely to be one of the most competent, well-rounded persons on your boat, and hiring one could take your operation to the next level.
If you’re a professional captain or mate, there is a definite need for freelancers, if you can stomach it. It’s a hard life, but can result in infinite rewards. With your nose to the grindstone, your ego in check, and a willingness to adapt, a professional freelancing career could be for you.
It takes a special personality to be successful in this line of work, but by being outgoing, respectful and grounded, and having a varied background, there will always be a need for the hired gun, the fly-in guy, or the professional guest…as long as there are boats.
