Mate's - Finding Crew

[CEShawn]

So when I first started chartering I never had problem finding mates because it was all day trips and planned in advance.

Then when I had my GM26 I didn't need a mate so things were pretty well done.

In my bluefin/canyon days things always seemed to work out as I would use my wife if I couldn't get someone last minute. I landed my largest bluefin with my wife, forget if it was 780 or 820lbs.

So now that I have moved into a larger vessel again and wanting to do multi-day trips again starting to be poised with this problem again. This time however my wife and I have a 4yr old, so that doesnt work out well for filling in last minute anymore.

In the spring its not bad because its day trips and 6hrs. Once commercial bass season and tuna fishing start though back into the same problem. I guess trying to figure out how to find someone more reliable and not have to worry about their schedule, aka college kid, etc. I'm willing to pay if we catch but people need to understand that. Nothing is worse than being down in the canyons on day two and finding a boatload of fish to have to leave for people.

I was almost thinking about putting an ad up at the maritime academy I went to as I would always see it there when I was there but doing my own thing. I almost dont care about fishing skill level or anything, chemistry is what is going to make the difference.

Then of course now almost have to worry about the liability which changes the whole ball game in a sense...

Any other random thoughts like these to share?

 

[steveinak]

Rig the boat to fish it yourself, catch less fish and make the same money, no insurance to worry about, no waiting around in the morning for the crew to show, no attitudes to deal with. I always figured no crew also means your not teaching a future competitor how to fish. I've enjoyed fishing by myself way more than when i had crewman on the boat.

 

[Helen L]

cant fish the canyons solo. big spread, you need hands just to cover the reels. Shawn I wouldnt take anyone that wasnt experienced fishing tuna, and not from a center console. Its hard to find guys that understand what work is when tuna fishing. most think its a party. finding someone that has that love on working on the water is key I think. I would try tackle shops. see if they have a kid who loves the water or just to get the word spread that you're looking. I wouldnt start at Mass Maritime, no offense to them. They wouldnt be around for BFT anyways.

 

[CEShawn]

Agree on the single fishing and the boat is definitely setup for that. Just that once I start doing 8 knots for 12 hours and then on a 3 day trip need someone else there. Steve there is alot to be said about what you did and agree on a level.

Hey, watch that Mass. Maritime comment, just because you go to Mass. Maritime doesnt mean you are there all the time! LOL There are alot of us who were taking semesters off to fish, lol sometimes forced sometimes not!

 

[Helen L]

One of my best friends went to MMA. I was friends with a bunch of his friends....some crazy stories from partying with them.

 

[CCtuna]

Maine Maritime student looking for sea time...some BFT experience and lots of bass experience. Have a house on the cape as well. I know you mentioned no college kids but hey, just something to ponder.

 

[CEShawn]

I always like to employ maine maritime people...ha...inside joke...

Lets talk... PM sent

 

[Hammer Slammer]

cant fish the canyons solo. big spread, you need hands just to cover the reels. Shawn I wouldnt take anyone that wasnt experienced fishing tuna, and not from a center console. Its hard to find guys that understand what work is when tuna fishing. most think its a party. finding someone that has that love on working on the water is key I think. I would try tackle shops. see if they have a kid who loves the water or just to get the word spread that you're looking. I wouldnt start at Mass Maritime, no offense to them. They wouldnt be around for BFT anyways.

"Not from a center console" ????

 

[F/V First Team]

Wasn't the Mass training ship sinking?

I believe that's what they told us on the T/S State of Maine

That was a while ago though, hopefully they've plugged those holes by now

 

[CEShawn]

When you spend 3 days by yourself on a center console catching 2500lbs of yellowfin, come back and turn it around let me know...

First Team, I think they plugged most of the holes by now. Damn cadets chipping in the wrong places.

 

[longislander89]

I'm interested in a fish story. Slow day at work. I'm serious too, not being a jerk. I'd really like to hear the story.

 

[CEShawn]

I think you mean the center console story...

My fishing story... was my best canyon trip with tuna.

I was down in Veatch doing a slow pick on yellowfin. Kept heading east over the first day with nothing special. Midday on the second day got into it really good on a temp break I didnt know was there, why I wanted updated surface temps now while out there. It was a cold finger of water that came down just east of Hydro. Found it because of the fog bank that was basically there. From noon until sunset trolled up an honest 25+ yellowfin all over 40lb cores. We were fishing two 130's by then on the transom, didnt even make it back to the 3rd wake and everything was just getting hit. It was my wife and I on one side and brother in law and friend on the other side. That boat was like a school bus being filled with toys for STUFF A BUS for toys for tots...

Then even with two radars, one on long range and one short range the container ship, John Adams, I think it was snuck up on us. They contacted us on 16, hence why you need to hear the radio in the cockpit. Told me to stay right there. He called because he didnt know what was going on and asked if we had steering problems because we just kept doing circle's and figure 8's. He came cruising in at 24kts. 24 knots is insane to think about it. In 30 minutes on a clear day he would make it to your position from the horizon. Then add in your speed, then add in that usually even the long range radar isn't much past 8 miles.

That goes down as my best canyon trip for tuna...

My best canyon trip for non tuna action was watching my wife catch a 400lb blue marlin, 2 hours later catch a 175-225lb blue marlin, that night we landed our first swordfish. Then we had about 18+ yellowfin on that. Neatest thing I ever saw was a little mako shark maybe 30lbs, smallest thing I ever saw. He chased the ballyhoo wayback on the center rigger for literally 5 minutes. Jumping, splashing, etc. Go to pull the ballyhoo in and it doesnt even have a MARK on it...

My worst canyon trip was trolling for 3 days between Oceanographers and Lydonia with ZERO FISH. Only to see on the last day two tiny tuna attack the spreader bars from the FRONT... That was a long way home and really was messed up coming back on a boat with NO FISH, no FUEL and no ICE. Very bow heavy, thought about filling up the fish boxes with water to give me a better trim...

These are the story's why I head back out there and spend nearly every dime on my boat, and whatever the banks give me for credit, lol...

 

[Helen L]

not center console guys because from my experience they are used to blowing out at 40knts fishing for a day/night/morning and blowing in at 40knts. different kind of fishing. thats what I meant.

 

[longislander89]

Thanks for the read. Sounds pretty epic. I don't think i could do 3 days on a CC. What kind was it?

And shit Lydonia? Might as well be in Canada.

 

[CEShawn]

Yes reviving this thread as I am back in town and starting to fish this week. Feel free to contact me on a private message here and/or [email protected]. Fishing out of New Bedford until Oct 1, then Cape after that. Looking for a min. of 3 day windows. Need to know how to stand a helm watch, that is it.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Almost?

Commercial fishing you don't almost have to worry about liability, you absolutely do. If you are carrying crew and paying them better have a policy. What happens if someone is seriously injured?

 

[CEShawn]

Well it has to be in the 25,000 pages of Obamacare right?

 

[greg]

Liability for crew is very strictly defined under maritime law. It really doesn't matter what policy you set down, or what the crew agrees to. It's relatively meaningless.

You are strictly held to a maintenance and cure standard, which includes covering room and board for the period of time required for them to get back to a state where they can work again (for the duration of their contract). You are also held to cover their hospital and health care costs.

Either you have insurance to cover maintenance and cure or you don't. Either way, you are responsible and fault doesn't even come into the picture. So a crew member can get drunk and lose a hand in your hauler. It won't reduce your liability.

But it is standard coverage since every boat is held to it. You just have to pony up and pay for it.

 

[CCtuna]

Wish i could help you out man! going to school in a week though... Best of luck this season with fish AND crew.

-Riley

 

[Curmudgeon]

Obamacare

Yes it is in Obamacare you have money and you need to give it away.