I THINK THAT WAS A GREAT ARTICAL BECAUSE THE AUTHOR IS 100% CORRECT. I'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE THE CHIEF AND THE NAUTILESS, OUT OF SHEEPSHEAD BAY AND THE OLD PAL OUT OF CARNARSE. SOME OF THESE BOGUS CAPT. SUCK. I FOUND A CHARTER OUT AT SHINNICOCK, JIM DELANO OF THE PEACE OF MIND THIS GUY WORKS HIS HEAD OFF, YOU GO HOME WITH FISH IF HE HAS TO HOOK THEM FOR YOU. IN TODAYS WORLD WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT HALF DAYS AND FULL MONEY, IF YOU GET BONED ITS TERRIBLE AND I FEEL FOR ALL THE GUYS THAT HAPPENS TO. TO ALL THE GUYS OUT THERE TIGHT LINES

-- JOE DEL CASINO

In reality a captain is a person who at least had 180 days experience on the water, passed a physical, passed a drug test, and 4 groups of testing.( Not easy tests either.) I agree with what you are saying and I get the meaning of your article. ( I read it twice) And its great when you get people to voice their opinions. But what your saying happens in all vocations. There are some good and some bad. I think you should tell the "Captains" when you are disatisfied first and the people second. I earned a "Master Captain near coastal" License and it was no easy task. However I have no intentions of operating a chartering business or operating a vessel under my license. I wonder why? Keep up the good work! I do enjoy your site.

-- Master Captain Glenn Lefurgy

I agree one hundred percent to what you've said about the so-called captains unfortunately allowed to run boats on our waters. There are other factors that make a person a captain. The most important is operating a vessel in a safe and reliable manner, knowing the rules of the road, obeying them and using all the knowlege that was supposedly in your brain when you "passed" the Coast Guard exams. I don't believe many of the Captree "captains" could navigate their way out of a paper bag! Hey, they don't even know when or how to sound a fog horn. Radio protocol? I hear more four letter words from their mouths than words of wisdom. More important than finding fish & collecting fares is safely transporting our family and loved ones to and from the dock for a safe & enjoyable day on the water, being responsible for your wake, being able to handle emergency medical situations, respect others, etc.! Regards,

-- Captain Don

I've fished with many "Capt."s, like you Dave, and one of the hardest fishing men is Captain Bob of Captain Bob's fishing Fleet out of Mattituck and Montauk. Last trip Aug. 26th, out of Montauk, we fished the whole incoming tide on the rips for Bass. He had the spots and chummed, himself, for over 4 hours straight. The fishing was a pick (7 Bass in the boat for 4 guys) but he worked his ass off for those fish. Turned out at the dock that we had fared far better then most out there that day. Oh and by the way, This was the first time fishing with Capt. Bob that I did not limit out on Bass. Thank You "Captain" Bob.

-- Wolfmanbil

Dave, While I agree with you that there are many people who run charter boats that really aren't very good fishermen the fact remains that they ARE licensed "captains" and therefore have the right to that title. Their main concern is and should be the safety and well being of the people who sail on their boat. As far as not knowing what they are doing in the fishing dept. I think time will tell and those with good reputations will come out on top. You call yourself a "reporter" but you wouldn't mention the names of the boats or captains whom you think didn't measure up. I think this does a disservice to me and other readers of your column who come to your site for honest information. I think you should be a little more forthcoming with this information and not just be a "lipservice" for the captains and boats that you like and think do well, because if you don't you are just as much of a "CON" as those captains that take your money and just take you for a boatride. Thanks for your time and I enjoy your site. I look forward to your reply.

-- Husk

At only 26 years old, I've experienced party boat trips all over Long Island, Mass, Fl, and even California, at least 1-2xweek (weather permitting) for the past 10 years. Ever since I've had a drivers license I make it my business to visit different ports in pursuit of different species, and a change of atmosphere. In this time I've learned a lot, and it is very easy to differentiate real Captain's from those who are strictly businessmen and money makers. I'm never dismayed when a real Captain attempts to find fish and things don't work out. However, nothing pisses me off more than going on a trip where there are no excuses, except for a lack of effort. One hour of a dead fluke drift is way too long, and shouldn't happen. I don't know who caused you this pain, but I'm sorry that this happenned. Lastly, we can't overlook those instances when crew's suck! They're a major part of the party boat experience and as a teacher, it is especially discouraging to witness " mates " neglecting the needs of youngsters on party boat trips. Just a few thoughts I enjoyed getting off of my chest. Tight Lines and good fishing!

-- Ctheo74

dave i am not here to knock anyone but i have had my share of bad experiences too. on the viking 1 going out for a 3 day trip in a hurricane 2 getting tagged with a 10 fuel surcharge after arriving at the boat 3 going out to montauk 3 times last season on a friday after being told they were going striper fishing and getting stuck at the dock bscause they said they didn't have enough people after the fact thus wasting a 2-1/2 hour ride. 4 having the boat swing over a wreck because the captain didn't want to put two hooks out (more than once) 5 have the mate try to sell me my own fish at the dock after i caught 5 stripers so i wouldn't have to fish again tomorrow 6 have the mate try to sell me some one elses cooler because he was drunk and forgot it. 7 raising the price of a bass trip to 67 $ to take you on a 4 mile boat ride to great eastern. 8 booking 50 people on a tuna trip making it almost impossible to enjoy catching anything if they could get it in. 9 in spite of all that i still enjoy the viking and crew. we all have our own opinions on what the right thing is and we all have our bad share of trips i went on the laura lee last week and got one sea bass and a winter flounder that i had to throw back. any way you got me started with hatteras trips and i enjoy reading your reports. 2 weeks ago out in the hudson canyon we got 16 yf tuna to 80 lbs 9 albacore and a mako hopped in the boat about 125 lbs after it was hooked. hope to run into you again soon so we can play some cards. we are going out on the explorer tomorrow night.

-- SPLNEW

Interesting point of view. I went out 3 times in Captree and got skunked. I won't go back. I have not caught a fish on the Laura Lee yet. Miss point lookout is a good boat. I am going out for blues tonight. Captain Al in Point Lookout is also good for blacks and bass. regards.

-- Joey

Dave - I know you do not want to say who you were out on ...but we all know there are plenty of "them " out there .... I just want to mention that I have never had a bad trip with Capt Bob Weigand on the Flamingo .. this man knows ...his father Capt Walt knows and you can't go wrong with them. I remember Al Coley of the Betty W as well another gentelman who knew his stuff. I have a 21ft cntr consul now so I rarely go out on the party boats of my younger days ...but I am sure to do at least one trip on the Flamingo every fall ..should be good weakfishin soon . I have had bad experiences on the Super Spray from Freeport and the Helen H which used to go out of Sheepshead.but this was years ago...Also would say Capt Pete on the Klondike is a super hard working guy who will always get on the fish( just too bad there are 105 guys on his boat everyday in the summer !!). Thanks for listening to my two cents.

-- morning dew

just on a trip to morehead city nc fish on the continal shelf,the captain was on the horn telling us at what depth to fish at and what was caught at this spot was down on deck helping with tangles and telling you try this or try that.he would get on the horn and tell you what was going on the whole trip he is a good captain in fact a great captain captain pizza,the continal shelf morehead city n.carolina

-- John Decker

Its about time someone started telling it like it is! I"ve been chartering for 28 years and can truthfully say that anyone who steps off my boat at the end of a charter has gotten every possible chance that could be offered for them to catch whatever species they hired me to find for them! Recently ther has been an influx of 6 passenger boats thinking all they have to do is get a Captain or a Capts license and this gives them the right to take money from people to "go fishing". Unfortunately these boats give the full time Captains who need this business to survive a bad name. These imposters usually only cut prices and dont sail more than June through September or until the people wanting to go fishing narrows down to Fishermen who can smell a rat a mile away. I am truly sorry to those novice fishermen who are taken for a ride by these imposters. I suggest that those unsure of whos who call a tackle shop or even two in the area they plan on going out from to get an opinion of knowledge. THANKS FOR THE HONESTY!!!!

-- Capt. Mike Barnett F/V CODFATHER

HEY DAVE I AM ONLY 16 AND AGREE TOTALLY WITH U.I SEE ALOT OF FISHERMAN WHO CONSIDER THEMSELF TO BE CAPTAINS BUT WHEN IT COMES TO PRODUCING FISH THEY JUST PLAIN SUCK I FISH OFF THE CAPTAIN MIKE IN HOWARD BEACH QUITE OFTEN AND MIKE IS A HELL OF A CAPTAIN WHEN I GET OLDER I WANT TO BE A BOAT CAPTAN BUT UNTIL THE I WILL NEVER CONSIDER MY SELF TO BE A CAPTAIN OR ANYTHING CLOSE-MIKE IS LIKE MY IDOL BECAUSE EVERYTME HE GOES OUT HE GIVES 200% HE NEVER GIVES UP-NOW THATS A REAL CAPTAIN AND AS FOR TONY -WHAT A GUY!! THESE ARE TO AWESOME GUYS WHO KNOW THERE STUFF-ALL THESE PEOLPE WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES TO BE CAPTAINS ARE JUST FOOLING THEMSELVES-I PERSONALLY THINK THAT THEY ARE JUST A BUNCH OF MONEY HUNGRY GUYS WHO WILL DO ANYTHING FOR A QUICK BUCK-ANYBODY WHO HAS TO STEAL ANOTHER PERSONS JOB TITLE TO MAKE THERE SELF LOOK GOOD IS PATHETIC-LETS SEE SOME OF THESE WANNABES PUT IN THE HOURS LIKE MIKE AND TONY HAVE AND SEE HOW THEY COMPARE- I THINK THIS WAS A GREAT TOPIC FOR THE SITE AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE I AGREE 100% WITH YOU PLEASE WRITE BACK GOOD FISHING AND GREAT HEALTH SINCERELY,

--JOE KOLLMER

great little article. i fish mostly from party boats. when you fish often you can tell a shoemaker from a REAL CAPT. You seem really upset from the tone of your article. I am glad you had the courage to write a article like that. Keep up the good work, your website is informative and fun. thanks,

--From a REAL FISHERMAN

I have a difficult time understanding what the point of your article is. I agree with 99.9% of what you said, but, who does your observation help. In reality, there are many variations of Captains, ranging from those with the knowledge and desire to those without either. I think I know at least one Capt. that fits into each catagory. Unfortunately, these Capts. don't wear identification badges so..... If your article is just an observation, you're "right on" Great site!!!!!!!!

-- Marty Stempel

I am too old to go for cod or tuna but I did drive out to Montauk in July to try my hand at porgy fishing which I enjoy very much. The mate told me his middle name was "service" but he forgot to tell me his first name was "no" The bait was frozen crap that was problem staying on the hook. The mate cut open the bag and and it was each man for himself. The boat does not give out pails for your fish or any kind of container for the bait.Needless to say hooks and sinkers were extra. The fare was $47 for adults and no senior discount. I have fished the north and south shores of long island for over 40 years and this is the only partyboat that does not offer a senior discount. I never saw the "Captain" until the boat docked and I don't know if it was Steve. I did catch around 40 fish but many others only had a handful. For less money I can fish for porgys on the Peconic Star, with a senior discount and get fresh shucked clams and mates who put fresh water in your pail and help out if you have a tangle or any other problem. I also fish on the Superhawk from Point Lookout and the Captree Princess out of Captree and give both of these partyboats high marks. You asked for feedback and you got it!!!!!!!!

--Jerry

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