A great fishing trip is both fruitful and enjoyable. You can catch fish and have a great time when you have a good fishing boat and a great fishing boat captain. Keep in mind that you are going in the middle of the sea and you need someone who knows the sea. The captain will choose the fishing spots and take you there.
However, keep in mind that when anyone can get a license and call himself a captain, not every licensed captain is going to be a great host. So, you should be able to assess the knowledge, experience, attitude, personality and abilities of the captain.
This is what you are going to learn today. Following are the traits you should look for in fishing boat captain:
Experience
The captain takes charge of the vessel. He navigates the boat to take you to prime fishing areas. Understanding of water conditions, fishing seasons, and fish behavior, along with the ability to maneuver the vessel when the sea gets rough; all these come with experience.
Even when he is licensed, you cannot have an undependable part-timer at the helm. Don’t count on someone who takes the role of captain only on weekends. Make sure that the captain has been doing the job for at least five years. Hire a full-time, dependable skipper.
License
According to the Florida Fishing and Wildlife Conservation Commission, a captain must acquire a Charter Captain or Boat License to carry paying customers for fishing. And, the captain must comply with U.S. Coast Guard requirements. Fines are stiff for unlicensed captains carrying paying customers.
It’s illegal. The license specifies the number of passengers the licensed captain can carry. A captain having Charter Captain license does not need a separate license for recreational saltwater fishing. When you are hiring a captain, always remember:
- The captain must be licensed.
- The captain must not carry passengers more than the number specified on the license.
- The captain must not use his Charter Captain license for commercial fishing.
You don’t want to be a part of anything that is illegal.
Knowledge And Fishing Skills
Knowledge is required to be at the right spot, use the right lures and baits for different species and to stay out of legal troubles.
Let’s cover the legal aspect first. You cannot catch protected fish species. There are legal consequences of fishing endangered species. Not only this, even the use of lures and bait is regulated. The use of some specific baits and lures is illegal to catch specific species. So, make sure that the captain has the knowledge of these regulations and restrictions.
When it comes to fishing skills, the captain should be aware of the eating habits, movements and behavior of different species. A knowledgeable captain can share some angling tips and techniques with you.
Modern fishing boats are using high-end technologies to identify and catch fish. Sound depth finder, fish finder and many other devices are used for navigations, computing positions, creating maps, marking fishing spots and a lot more. So, in addition to having the experience, the captain should know how to use these high-end technologies.
Most importantly, he should be able to handle situations such as a passenger experiencing sea sickness.
Social Skills
Catching fish is a part of the overall angling experience. So, it is good to have a cheerful captain with great social skills. A funny and easy to talk to captain can make you feel at home. Can you spend an entire day with a too serious person and that too in a confined space? A great fishing boat captain always engages and entertains people on board. He should be patient and accommodating to answer many questions you have. A great captain is compassionate, enthusiastic and has excellent communication skills.
