Mate on the boat grabbed the line

[scattered_grass]

When I charter a boat, I make it very clear to the mates that if they touch the line or rod at any time in the fight I will set the rod down and clock them across the jaw.

But if someone on the rod is an inexperience tourist and they ask for help, well thats their job. But the mates should ask first before touching the rod or line.

do you lose a lot of fish at the boat on your charters?

[teddyp]

If my wife was on a marlin and the mate touched the line to make sure that she caught a fish of a lifetime I would be happy. I'm not fishing for records here I would much rather make sure she caught the fish.

[Patudo]

I am new to off shore fishing. My wife and I were in Mazatlan two weeks ago and she had a 300 plus pound blue marlin on the line. My question is the mate on the boat started to help her bring the marlin in by pulling on the line. Is this usual? Thank you

In an ideal world handlining a fish would never be necessary but it does happen (all over the world not just in MX) in difficult situations such as - Oversized fish hooked on light tackle, tail wrap or foul hook making it unusually difficult to recover line, inexperienced angler too tired/not coordinated enough (especially after a tough fight) or strong enough to recover line.

The harder it is for angler and crew to communicate with each other (language barrier) and the more tourists/inexperienced anglers the crew normally fishes with compared to more serious anglers, who tend to demand maximum involvement, the more likely it's going to be that when a difficult situation arises the crew will try to ensure the fish is caught (and as little fishing time lost as possible) by taking over from the angler. The same is true of things like hooking the fish, adjusting drags for the angler during the fight, etc.

It's also possible the OP thought the crew was pulling on the line when in fact it was the lure or bait leader. If that was the case then everything was perfectly acceptable.

I remember a few years back a Bisbee winner being disqualified because one angler could not convince the polygraph that he was definitely sure the crewman had grabbed the leader and not the line.

[FreeBird Sportfishing]

As a deckhand, if you were to speak to me like that at any time during a charter, I would make damn sure that you had a miserable day and caught no fish at all.
Surely you can find a way to be more eloquent and still make your point without the terroristic threatening.
The original poster spelled out the situation, and I've seen it hundreds of times.
Many, maybe even most charter customers in tourist destinations are horribly incompetent fishermen.
If you show any competence at all on the rod, you have nothing to worry about, so skip the ugly and have a nice day, and let your hardworking crew do the same.

Amen, as a mate also.. You should not even be allowed to wet a line on the boat if you ever said such a smart azz remark to any of us on board. Ide cut your damn line.

[lemaymiami]

It's been many years since I started out as a mate working out of Haulover and the old Castaways Docks on Miami Beach. That sort of stuff was common on most every boat I worked on, mainly because the anglers were all beginners (I wasn't that skilled myself- but I learned..).

If you don't want the mate handling rod or line, make a point of saying so when you book the charter. If communications are limited (or almost non-existant, a real possibility in some remote areas) you may have a bit of trouble letting captain and mate know what you want... but I'd try anyway. If the boat is one that fishes tournaments you shouldn't have to say a thing but I would anyway if it was important to you.

Skill levels among guys (and a few gals) who work cockpits can vary from highly skilled to non existant. That's why you need to do a bit of research before booking a charter. If you step on any dock and take what's there that day you're rolling the dice... It would be nice if every boat was first rate, but that's just not the case. One of the best indicators that I know of is the general maintenance condition of the boat. If the boat is squared away, clean, and the gear looks well maintained the fishing is likely to be the same. If not, you may be in for a bit more adventure than you bargained for. In the short time I worked as a mate I was lucky enough to work for a few really good captains (and won a major tournament with one, the Lauderdale Billfish in the fall of '73) and a few spectacularly bad ones (two were on their way to their first felony convictions another was found shot in the head up in New Orleans after a "boat delivery" that must have went bad...). In those years working on charter boats was a lot like working in a carnival where I was. You could learn a lot back then, maybe even a bit about fishing....

Hope your next charter is the one you're looking for.

Tight Lines
Capt Bob LeMay
(954) 435-5666

[teddyp]

The problem that I have is when someone charters a boat and thinks that they own it. There are a million stories about bad charters and a few stories about bad mates. Just because you paid for a day of fishing doesn't mean that you can say or do what ever you want to the mate. If I touch your line its for a damn good reason probably cause you messed up. Do you know how many people say they want to hook their own fish and not to touch the line and then hand me the rod when there's a huge birds nest in it? Lots. They're usually the ones that say they will punch the mate out if they touch the line.

[scattered_grass]

The problem that I have is when someone charters a boat and thinks that they own it. There are a million stories about bad charters and a few stories about bad mates. Just because you paid for a day of fishing doesn't mean that you can say or do what ever you want to the mate. If I touch your line its for a damn good reason probably cause you messed up. Do you know how many people say they want to hook their own fish and not to touch the line and then hand me the rod when there's a huge birds nest in it? Lots. They're usually the ones that say they will punch the mate out if they touch the line.

I've never chartered a boat, but always wondered what it would be like in regards to doing your own fishing. Are there boats out there that will let a party rig their own baits and hook their own fish? Reason I ask, we were on spring break one year, I was with some buddies and we considered doing a charter in the keys. We eventually decided against it for money reasons, but I was thinking to myself that I did not want to pay money for some mate to hook the fish and hand me the rod, as I am fairly experienced offshore. I guess what I'm asking is, are there boats out there that will let you charter the boat and the gear and you do the fishing?

[bigfish4me]

I've never chartered a boat, but always wondered what it would be like in regards to doing your own fishing. Are there boats out there that will let a party rig their own baits and hook their own fish? Reason I ask, we were on spring break one year, I was with some buddies and we considered doing a charter in the keys. We eventually decided against it for money reasons, but I was thinking to myself that I did not want to pay money for some mate to hook the fish and hand me the rod, as I am fairly experienced offshore. I guess what I'm asking is, are there boats out there that will let you charter the boat and the gear and you do the fishing?

The majority of charter operations will let you be as involved as you want to be....well the good ones anyway, I would asume as long as you dont come off as a know it all jerk off and tell the mate you will crack him in the jaw if he touches the rod or line......the good mates know its all about the experiance.....thats the nice thing about chartering with good boats that have a great reputation, you get to learn how they do things and why they are successful....be alert, help clear the lines and have a good time.....isnt that why you chartered a boat to begin with.

[teddyp]

I've never chartered a boat, but always wondered what it would be like in regards to doing your own fishing. Are there boats out there that will let a party rig their own baits and hook their own fish? Reason I ask, we were on spring break one year, I was with some buddies and we considered doing a charter in the keys. We eventually decided against it for money reasons, but I was thinking to myself that I did not want to pay money for some mate to hook the fish and hand me the rod, as I am fairly experienced offshore. I guess what I'm asking is, are there boats out there that will let you charter the boat and the gear and you do the fishing?

For sure. You have to tell the crew what you want to do. I was always willing to give people a shot. But remember that mates work for tips and most people tip more if they catch a lot and the boats advertise with Flags flying at the dock. You woiuld be a highly unusual charter customer.

[FreeBird Sportfishing]

And it doesn't hurt to say to your customer, "sir do you want me to......." BEFORE you touch his gear when hes in a pickle.