Mates fishing during charters. OPINION

[Jay]

Hey Jim, Happy New Year Bud! I've been on with you on three trips. You work your tail off, I have no problem with it.

[Fin Reaper]

I enjoy it and every trip I have ever been on where the mates / Capt fishes with us there has been no loss of service

[SaltLife1980]

It is fun to fish with the customers.. I try to wet a line if I can.. Make sure the customers and taken care of and enjoy the day with them.. If they hook up i reel in and tend to them.. No harm.. Or if i catch a fish i always try to hand the rod off so they can reel in..

[ytuna]

If the mate is taking care of everyone's needs I have no problem with them wetting a line. I have been on a fair number of six pack charters where the mate fishes and it has not diminished the quality of my experience. On many boats the mate and captain become part of the social experience to the betterment of all. When they join in the ball busting the day gets better.

The mate still takes care of the nasty work: anchor, cutting bait, cleaning fish, cleaning the boat, unplugging the toilet. If he can do all of that I still catch a few fish thats great.

[Capt. Dan]

I am with you ytuna. If the jobs getting done, dont really see a problem.

[hookset]

Would you rather watch the mate eat food, play on his phone, and read the news paper! Or grab a rod and try to catch because he knows his capt always puts the boat over the meat and he wants at it also! I think a mate fishing shows he loves what he does therefore a good source of knowledge! I have no problem with a mate fishing. Lift em or loose em boys!!!

[hammer4reel]

Problem with letting a mate fish is that most of them are good fisherman, and many guys who charter get jealous when the mate or captain catch more or bigger fish than they do . as they feel they were entitled to a chance at those fish. and since they are the ones paying for the trip I understand that.

There are other charters that like seeing fish caught ,and keeps them fishing at the rail harder on tough days. so its def a two edge sword

[HDMarc]

I've seen in some instances where the boat had 2 or more mates, one of the mates would wet a line and when he caught some fish, he gave them to the customers who were getting the skunk while the other mates were tending to the customers when needed. Seemed to be a good way to send people home with fish when they just couldn't catch em' themselves. This is of course on the bigger party boats, not a six pack charter.

[SaltyAngler]

All for it as long as the customers that aren't as fishing savvy are taken care of. I've always had a blast fishing with mates and captains.

[spyro]

why not ...