HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION HERE.....

[WAHOONBOX]

IF YOU COULD...........OR HAD THE OPPORTUNITY ...........WHO WOULD CONSIDER WALKING AWAY FROM YOUR CURRENT JOB (NOT FAMILY ) TO BECOME A COCKPIT MONKEY FULLTIME.....OR WHO WISHES THEY COULD WORK A PIT FOR A LIVING

150 .....14 HR DAYS MIN' OF OFFSHORE FISHING PER YEAR .... FOR PAY

WHO WOULD DO IT........? TELL ME THE TRUTH!

NOW IF YOU DID MAKE A CARRER CHANGE.....YOU MOST CCERTAINLY CAN-NOT CHANGE YOUR USERNAME TO: EXAMPLE>>> "WHITEYNBOX.....OR PROHEATNBOX.....OR GRADYWHITE273NBOX ......HOUDININBOX OR ANYTHING SIMILAR

[shoefish]

Just call me Shoebox!

I would think that most of us on here have thought about that at one time or another...days out on the water doing what we love the most. From what I gather though, it's pretty tough to make a living at it...and from some of the threads on here about bad tippers, I think I'd end up behind bars

[hunt4fish]

I damn sure wish I could.Maybe when the wife gives the go ahead for us to move to the coast,I would definetly check into other options,than your standard day job.

[Randy Stinchcomb]

if.......IF....I was 30 years younger and single.....yeah I think I would
now, at age 51 (and counting) I'd be much happier just to get my Capt license and fish the rest of my years out at MY pace

[z71offshore]

in my present situation i would do it in a heartbeat. I finish Clemson late december. 24 years old, no wife, no house payment, no truck payment, no kids (whew)... i could reposition anywhere in the world and not have one thing to worry about other than finding somewhere to stay wherever i ended up.

where do i sign up?

[Tunaman40]

OH BOY if I had the opportunity.....................seeeeeeeeeeee ya.

[whitey]

If I didn't have my kid I would do it again in a second but I would not do it in the Northeast. I would go someplace in Central or South America.

[Honey Hole]

Box - Yep, I'd do it in a HEARTBEAT (and did for a couple years). My problems with doing it full time were the hours, the lack of insurance, and the lack of a dependable income (weather, lack of bookings, bad tippers, etc.). If I'd had the opportunity before my family/mortgages/college tuition savings/ etc. came alone... I'd have never given it a second thought.

But, I MUST say, when it's good there's nothing better. It was the happiest I've been at ANY point in my professional career.

Is it physically demanding? Hell yeah! One stint was 29 straight days with a couple two-a-days thrown in and a couple three trip days (night Drum trips).. it was TOUGH. But, I LOVED every minute.

Mentally demanding? Hell yeah! Trying to keep the same enthusiasm on the 29th day that you had on the first day is the challenge. Just gotta remember that for each trip it's a day that THEY'VE been looking forward to for a long time... and hopefully, one they'll remember for even longer.

Will you get rich doing it? More than likely, NO. But I know a whole lot of happy poor people!

[Water Damage]

Marty - interesting post since I am very seriously looking into getting out of my "real job" and running boats full time. I no longer enjoy what I do and love every bit of what I do with the boat. I have stepped into the charter end of things part time to test the waters since I have always been warned that I would hate making my hobby become my job. So far I can honestly say I have loved every trip - maybe we have just been blessed with good clients, who knows?? I know it is a tough life, I know it is a lot of work, and I know there is not tons of money in it - BUT, time I kill myself to keep up at work and then pay for and do the work I do to fish now - there ain't no money left anyways!

as for working the pit - honestly a few years ago I would have jumped at the chance - but I am finally able to admit that I am not as sharp in the pit as I used to be. I am a step slower and in my opinion that is not a great scenario. Sure, I can still hold my own and will not shy away from anything or anybody - but I do not feel (for me personally) that quitting to work the pit full time would be the right decision for me. That being said, I am better at running the boat, finding the fish, etc...

its a tough choice for anybody. I have decided to push forward and finally do what I have always wanted to. Life is too short to do something you no longer enjoy doing. I am finally trying to take my own advice to all my employees - if you are not happy here then you should quit and find something else to do that makes you happy. Money is not everything.

Good question man - be interested in seeing the responses

[Ace1st]

Yeah, This time last year, I was waiting on a huge commission that was tied to a $30,000,000 closing on a high rise oceanfront project. Already had it all planned out, single, comfortable, I was going to Central or South America for a while to mate or captain a vessel in Paradise. Couldn wait!! Chasin Fish Tail, Margaritas and Senoritas was on the menu.
Then, I met this brown haired, blue eyed baby doll and funny how all my plans changed. New house, new baby on the way and a "Project" boat in the shop. So yes, coulda, woulda, didn't and probably never will now! maybe after the little one goes off to school we'll try again.