Hatteras Offshore Fun Fishin' Trips

[dfishman]

Most of us are really trying to make a living at this.You are just charging expenses?Really

[alexcraig]

Most of us are really trying to make a living at this.You are just charging expenses?Really

Yup. I'm 62 years old and I figure I've got maybe 2 or 3 years of offshore fishing left in me at most.

I'm not interested in getting into full-time chartering. I simply love fishing blue water and want to do as much of it as I can while I'm still hearty enough to handle it.

I know things are very tough for the residents of Hatteras these days to include the local charter fleet. Here's a link to a thread which I believe will show you my heart is in the right place.

http://www.thebassbarn.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=190689

Also, you probably know Capt. Jim Ashley. If so, give him a shout and he'll tell you I'm a straight arrow.

Edit: I sure hope things get better sooner vs. later; however, given the philosophy of the current crew running things in Washington, I'm afraid it will be much later. I've been wrong before and I certainly hope I am this time.

[Sunburn]

I guess you just don't get it!!!!!!!!!!!! They are running businesses down there if you just charge for fuel and expenses you are putting a strain on thier business, Jackass. Does the marina know your doing this? Your going to make alot of friends.

[alexcraig]

I guess you just don't get it!!!!!!!!!!!! They are running businesses down there if you just charge for fuel and expenses you are putting a strain on thier business, Jackass. Does the marina know your doing this? Your going to make alot of friends.

Sorry. You've got it wrong. Before you throw profanities around and jump to conclusions you should look into the specifics.

Most of the crews that fish with me are old fishing buddies of mine that wouldn't come to Hatteras if I didn't invite them.

The vast majority of the rest of them have made it crystal clear that they'd either trailer their own boats, fish inshore or in the surf.

Unfortunately, their bugets are so tight they just can't afford to Charter. Charter bookings are not way down because of my actions, It's the economy. Even so, I referred 4 crews I couldn't accomodate to full time Charter Boat Captains last week alone. Also, I hired a full-time local Captain to help us run the boat from Stuart, FL up to Hatteras.

How much money have you added to local economy in Hatteras in the last few weeks?

Take a look at the thread I referred to in my last post.

http://www.thebassbarn.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=190689

There's little doubt I'm adding to the revenue stream for a number of local businesses.

[dfishman]

If most of your "crews" are buddies,then why "advertise all over the internet?You will be taking money from a fleet that works hard to pay bills & feed our families.We don't have retirement checks coming in the mail.We have to try and pay our expenses & run our households off of our business.Our fleet is not like the Florida fleet that consists of a lot of retired men just looking for something to do & just get their expenses paid.

[alexcraig]

If most of your "crews" are buddies,then why "advertise all over the internet?You will be taking money from a fleet that works hard to pay bills & feed our families.We don't have retirement checks coming in the mail.We have to try and pay our expenses & run our households off of our business.Our fleet is not like the Florida fleet that consists of a lot of retired men just looking for something to do & just get their expenses paid.

I'm simply trying to fill the holes in my schedule while I'm down there. Further, I'm doing my level best to fill it with crews who otherwise could not afford to fish offshore.

I could show you a littany of posts I've received from guys who've stated they just can't afford the cost of charters these days.

While I'm at it, I'm constantly encouraging them to charter with you full-time guys who need to support your families.

Lastly, I'm a fair weather fisherman. I've taken all the butt-kickins I need for one lifetime in lumpy seas. There have been at least two occaisions recently that I know of where I've referred crews to a full-time Captain who were all revved up to fish when the wind was blowin' because I didn't want to go to sea.

You don't know me and I don't know you, but I can tell you right now I'm stirring the pot and that will bring more business for you full time guys than it will cost you. Hopefully word will filter out that I'm the sort of guy who shoots straight.

Before I became semi-retired I ran a successful sales/marketing operation and I know how it works. I'm more than happy to try and generate more business for you folks as a function of my trying to put together a few additional crews for fun fishin'.

[dfishman]

Talk to the Hatteras Harbor Charterboat Association about your plans.I know in the past 20+ years you have to apply for membership BEFORE you can run charters out of the marina.At least send a letter of your intentions.

[Sunburn]

Jeeeeze Alex, take off the beer goggles and understand what fish man is trying to explain to you. You're taking potential customers away by under cutting them. Get off your trip about boosting the economy. You're not! The only thing you are booswting is your ego . You're a liar to boot. You are soliciting trips all over the net.

[alexcraig]

Jeeeeze Alex, take off the beer goggles and understand what fish man is trying to explain to you. You're taking potential customers away by under cutting them. Get off your trip about boosting the economy. You're not! You're a liar to boot. You are soliciting trips all over the net.

Strong words Sir.

I never said I wasn't posting on the net. However, I'm not soliciting charters for profit.

I was up front with the marina about my intentions.

I also told them I'm willing to join the association and pay the fee to contribute some additional funds to the local economy even though I have no interest in running a full-time charter boat operation. If traffic improved dramatically I might run a few to help defray expenses after I was in the association. Unfortunately, I don't see the economy picking up anytime in the forseeable future whereby there'll be a substantial increase in traffic.

None-the-less, I wish you & fishman all the best.

[Sunburn]

Man, I guess you have never heard of make - up charters. Being the big captain you are with 20 plus years expirience, ya think you would have. Whats a make-up charter, Alex? Yea thats right those people that you are charging only fuel and bait would be those that would make-up the crew. Block head!!!