A Captain's Perspective

[Joey Dah Fish]

My 2 favorites
This spot sucks
Hey Capt does this boat know how to make a left?

[Fish Stix]

2 best ..... All in good fun... Hahahahaha

Customer looks at the machine(fish finder) points, touches it and says "what's that, is that a striper?" And leaves a finger print on the screen.

"Can ya read the fluke capt?"

Funny post Gerry!

[Capt Jimmy Elliott]

ARE WE GOING TO THE MUDHOLE ?

ARE WE IN OR AROUND THE MUDHOLE ?

I THINK THEY ARE BITING IN THE MUDHOLE


The everyday question.

[fishguy]

You see any fish on the radar?

[tombanjo]

What about pointing to bird life while jumping up and down? "Hey, over there, over there!

[Reel Class]

How about...

"Cap, can I cast this (insert lure name with multiple trebles here) overhand, or up in the bow to those breaking fish?"

"Cap, can we net our own fish?"

"We caught them on the full moon, at high tide, in that spot over there 14 years ago --- we should get over there now!"

[lunkertaker]

I dunno know, but as a father I'll bet Capt's hear what I hear all the time

"How much longer till we get there?"

"Are we there yet?"

"I don't want to go home!"

"When are we going to the super secret hot spot?"

We gotta remember that today is today and the two best days to go fishing are yesterday and tomorrow!

[Fish Stix]

Some of these are just awesome. Fishguy hit it right on the money!

[Looksfishy]

Not a Captain but here are a couple I have heard while fishing an open boat:

"Van Staal and St. Croix never heard of them should have brought my zebco and ugly stik!"

"Capt I accidentlly dropped your rod over board do you have another one I can use."

"Hey Capt. ya know gulp clams are not as messy"

"Hey Capt. would ya teach me how to use that fly rod in the cabin"

[O'Connor]

From a customer perspective:

1.) Job is not harder or easier then most others. Never say your job is hard, bitch about regs, wind or tough fishing to customers etc. Don't like it, do something else. You are fishing fluke fishing in Jersey...not crab in the bering sea. nobody wants to hear a captain complain. nobody.

2.) never ask the customer what they think. we are paying for your knowledge

3.) never yell at a customer unless they are out of line or being disrespectful

4.) communicate your game plan to the customers before you leave the dock. let them know you are heading to the west side of the mudhole, the trip out will be about an hour, free lining the chunks with no weight has worked best etc, etc. a general snapshot of the plan will probably avoid at least a portion of the inevitable questions. the best captain out here in so-cal jumps on top of the bait tank before every trip and makes everyone gather in the stern. tells everyone his plan, introuduces the mates by name, says we will have a few hours ride till we start fishing, then goes over his rules on his vessel etc etc. it exudes leadership and confidence...and feeds the "hacks" need to know what is going on...even if it is just a small piece of information.