If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

I have never seen this question addressed before. What is expected if you are fishing on a charter boat and you drop the rod and reel overboard? Do you pay for the reel? Is it just part of doing business for the captain? I know if I was the fare I would be buying a new rod for the boat.

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

I would think if you dropped it overboard, you now own it. It would be the right thing to do and pay the captain for the rod you lost.

Once on the CA III out of Barnegat Light a guy dropped his own rod and reel in the drink. The boat felt bad for him and gave him a boat rod to use at no charge. He won the pool and gave it all to the mates. Kind of weird day for that guy.

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

Like most I believe, even if the Capt and/or owner insisted that replacement/reimbursement was not necessary I would hold myself accountable and replace it.

Also I do not ever remember using a charter boats equipment other than when on vacation far from home.

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

Exactly!!!! If i gave a customer a Stella reel and a Lomis rod and they dropped it overboard?Sir, you owe me $1200 dollars lol. I supply good equipment but you can't put out super expensive equipment.If you are an avid angler you should always bring your own equipment.:)

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

This happened once when I first started doing charters 14yrs ago.. my sports hands were cold and wet and oops.. we tried and tried to snag the rig but the current and conditions were just not in our favor. He apologized and gladly paid for the expensive rod and reel, and remains a great client to this day!
Paul

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

I am currently in SW Fla. and have done several charters with Capt. Joe Miller, so far this "winter" 4 outfits went overboard, the three that belonged to the captain had to be paid for by the person who lost them. The privately owned gear that was lost was the most expensive, and was lost after a tangle was undone, and the rig was tossed back into the water, an Amberjack immediately took the bait and took off, ripping the rod and reel right out of the angler's hands!!!

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

Best pb in the world!!!! Gina and Will and the crew!! Can't beat um!!!!!!!!

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

Accidents happen.. Last season we had a guy drop a rod.. he felt so bad that he paid for it.. But it happens..

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

From what Ive seen on charter and party boats you loose it you pay foy it.

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

most boats i have been on tell people when they teach them how to use the rental rods, before they begin fishing, that if u drop it, you bought it! passengers cant expect boats to foot the cost of people dropping rods.:confused:

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

When I wrote my reply I was thinking of the the 30 year old Penn Long Beach Rods on the Party Boats. I've never been on a charter in NJ. Went on one in Delaware but I always use my own. I am left handed so I have always used my own gear. I did not think if you went on Canyon Runner and dropped one of their expensive rods and reels. I gues you would have to make a payment deal. Again, after I saw some of the replies, I was not thinking of the real expensive stuff that a boat like Canyon Runner or other charter boats use. I only say Canyon Runner because I was spoken to and seen their gear. I am sure other charters use the same kind of gear.

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

I think I read a few contracts for Charters that state if you use their set ups and lose one it, has to be paid for.
IMHO any charter using top of the line equipment should have that written in.
I personally would own up to paying,if I dropped one.

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

of course you PAY!

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

I can't remember which boat I saw it on but there was a sign posted $90.00 to replace lost rods...I can remember thinking it was more than a fair price and if you drop one over you shouldnt be surprised you have to pay to replace it.

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

I did it once on a charter. Had my own gear and was rigged for live line, but we hit a spot with readings and no bunker. Grabbed a boat rod that was rigged with a heavy soft bait on a spinner. One cast and I didn't have the bail all the way open and it closed after about 20ft of line was cast. Anyway, ripped the rod out of my hands and down to the bottom she went.

Paid the captain, didn't even thin about not paying.

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

Funny string.

Let's see - I've had 2 - 50VSW with custom rods dropped over and 1 16VSX with a custom rod in just the last 3-4 years. That's about $3500 - $4000 in value (the 50 rods had wind-on guides).

Not one of the 3 guys offered to pay anything.

I didn't ask them to pay and honestly if they offered to pay we wouldn't make them because they were amatuers and accidents happen.

But not offering to pay means I've banned them from the boat.

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

Dont quite understand why you would ban them. Did you think they might do it again or did it on purpose. You said if offered you would not have made them pay. How would you do that? But your boat your rules.

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

PAY

In the unlikely event that me or my crew happened to "drop" a boat rod, we would offer to compensate if we had any future intention of repeating the Charter in the future...just saying

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

BIZARRE QUESTION.

In general if you BARROW someone else's stuff and destroy it. Why would you ever think if OK to walk away without paying for their property you just ruined?

Is this a trick question?

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

I was thinking the same thing. Someone borrows my rod, it goes overboard. You better believe you will be replacing it......:D I think, the same goes for any Party boat or Charter.

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

I guess the rule is you drop.....you better get out your wallet, at least for half of it anyway.

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

Let me take this question one step further

What if you break the rod fighting a fish? Do you own it?

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

That I would say is the boats problem for not having better or newer equipment. Generally its not the anglers fault (or a huge fish) that breaks the gear, but just poor maintenance or cheap gear.

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

The only honorable thing to do is to dive in after it.

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

You break a pole while fighting a fish.. As long as you were using the rod and reel correctly then its not your fault..

and chrislars.. i disagree.. I have seen brand new robs snap when people try to lift a big fish and swing them into the boat.... Nothing to do with crappy stuff..

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

"just poor maintenance or cheap gear".
Whoa !!!!!!!! Years ago I had a muscle bound muscle brained angler try to get his snagged line free of a wreck. Instead of jigging the tip gently, he put all of his back and arms into bending the rod to lift the wreck off of the bottom. Of course my graphite rod couldn't take the abuse and snapped mid rod. Poor maintenance ? cheap gear ? not hardly.....poor understanding of fishing ? Yes. Then upon docking he ran off of the boat while his group was doing photos, never offered to make good on the rod, and the boss of his company, who arranged the charter never offered either !

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

We are not so much talking about broken gear we are talking lost gear . But since you brought it up party boats have to go with what gives them the best bang for the buck . Something that is sturdy and can take a beating . Novice/inexperianced Anglers tend to trash rental rods . Penn 60's/Senators and glass rods are good for this job . Would you want your Accurate/Seeker rented out on a crowded Bluefish boat 100 times a year to someone who doesn't know which way the reel faces ? We try to service our reels/refill before every trip . I loaned out my Bogan/Penn 505 four times last Bluefish Season only to have the anti reverse broken once , and the reel backlashed so bad two other times that I had to respool after the trip . ONE TIME it came back in usable condition at the end of the trip . When the reel broke the person offered to have it fixed . I declined and fixed it myself . He is still welcome to use my stuff .

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

@ Chrislars, talking from experience here, it's not the pole. It's the Angler who is fishing with the pole. I had a dogfish on my pole and grabbed the pole mid-way and it snapped right in half. Why, because grabbed the pole where I shouldn't. Don't blame the boats gear. Most of the rental rods are heavy sticks. Just my two cents. :D ;)

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

agree..

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

i have dun that myself.

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

X2. But on the subject of replacing damaged rods, yes I would offer to pay for it in a heartbeat. If it was a high end outfit, Id setup a payment plan no problem. I wouldnt feel right if I didnt pay for another outfit.

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

No just an etiquette question. I completely agree with you and that's why I hate borrowing other people's stuff.

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

I second that.....there is great honor in diving over the rail. If not the skipper's respect, definitely his attention.

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

If you drop anything and break or lose it you should pay for it, shouldn't be any question or thought.

Sad part is, so many people today will blame others and not own up or pay for their mistakes, it is a big part of the reason we are where we are as a nation.

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

Any party boat that I've ever been on discourages people from doing this except when the fish is tiny. Rods snap, hooks pull out, green fish go crazy... If the boat says wait for a gaff, and you still swing away, I would think it would be on you...

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

Here one for you all I have been on a head boat before where the mate dropped my setup over board trying to deal with a tangle....think they offered to pay me back? nope not even a free trip from that party boat so I think unless u sign something saying if you loose it you pay for if hell NO

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

When you are catching blue fish and not keeping them.. I will not gaff the fish... Unless its a 20+ pound beast.. Why kill it.. Swing them over the rail.. and throw em back.. Duck or Bleed style.. Have seen some monsters swung over the rails with no problems.. and of course you get jigs and hooks popping out but its all part of the game..

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

I have, upon occassion, given my rod with a fish(tuna) on to an angler who hasn't, nearing the trip's end, had a fish or even a runoff--only thing I ever said was "don't drop it overboard"...so far, so good...they've gotten a fish and I got my outfit back--once it was the pool fish....On the other hand, I've caused a spinning rod to drop out of an overhead storage while switching outfits...needless to say, the reel stem broke...asked around until I found the owner to pay him, he wouldn't take any payment...that still bothers me.....I can't conceive of not paying--or offering to pay for gear I've broken or lost overboard...
I know on one PB, the charge on "lost" gear is right on there in black & white and I'm sure it's not the only one that has it listed...

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

I'm with ya 100%... why kill what you dont want, I'd risk a jig going flying to save a fish any day... all I'm saying is, if someone snaps one of the boat's sticks doing that after they specifically told him not to, it's kinda tough to say its not the fisherman's responsibility...

Re: If You Drop a Charter Rod Overboard?
 

In hemmingway's "to have and have not" a customer lays a rod [stupidly] across his lap . when a marlin hits the rod is lost . Capt Morgan [Humphry Bogart in the movie ] charges for the rod and the customer agrees to pay . In the movie The customer tries to skip town . Bogie gets him and gets paid . In the book he gets away ......... A few years ago a rod fell from the rod holder of a certain boat while i was putting it up . As a gesture of good will I offered to replace it . the charter wanted cash . twice what it in fact cost me to replace the exact ugly stick baitrunner combo . I gave him a new replacement set up in the hope of maintaing 'good will' . He was still sore . Boggie would have been proud .