Birdsnest
Well-Known Member
I have wanted to post these thoughts on some other threads but they were not totally related so I always held back. But this is related to some recent threads.
I love fishing off shore. And I really like to share the experience with others but over the years I find myself doing it less and less for I find that 1 of 3 things usually happens:
1. The guest gets sea sick and we have to go back to the beach.
2. The guests are guests so they can't really do anything that is part of the trip, ie cleaning fish, washing the boat. I feel like I am doing a free charter.
3. Gear gets lost or gets broken and I am left forking the bill.
Its nice if the guest is a friend of a fishing buddy for he will be there to help everything but the real catch for me is sea sickness. I understand that it happens but I have come to find over the years that people will just lie to get out on a boat and they also just dont know if they do or dont.
I feel like I have kinda become a jerk about this issue for over the last 8 or so years I now make an issue of it with people. These days I am basically telling people that if they get sick we are not coming back(though we always do) and that if we do they have to pay the 30 -40$ for the 14 miles of travel. I am blessed with the ability to fish off shore but I do not get to do it whenever I want so it is my time that I value. I find that the more upfront I am about the issues the less people are willing to go which is good and bad I guess.
It amazes me how people can get sick on the flattest day of the year. I took a family out, close friends of mine with their 2 young boys of the flattest day I ever saw and 3 out of 4 got sick before be got out. I only had time to put the one side down where we instantly snapped off a good halibut and landed a high teener spring before we had to leave due to sea sickness. I have since fished with the father of that group a few times and he is getting good at keeping his lunch in.
Another time I took a friend of a friends father and son out. I was assured that nobody would get sick. I watch for the symptoms:
yawning
putting there face in the wind looking off in the distance
not participating in conversation
changing positions in the boat
denial
Anyway, I am watching the father of these two and I know something is up. We ask him how he is and he says he is fine but I know something is up. we get out there and I put one side down and we fish for a minute with one side down. My buddy asks me if we are going to put the other side down I shake my head slightly "no we are not" because I am pretty sure we are leaving very soon. Sure enough the violent vomiting erupts but it really bad. This man passes out and also makes a mess in his pants. We carry him to the hospital. They say they can do nothing for him.
I always feel bad for these folks who fall victim to sea sickness and I know its not their falt. Some know they get sick and some don't know. The question is what can I do to make it work out for everyone on the boat. What can I do before we leave to best make sure it has the least chance of happening?
This brings me to to point that a guided boat is a beautiful thing because when a guide boat is hired it is there for the customer. The guide boat will gladly go back to the beach for their clients. Most guide boats will do what ever the clients wish.(except run the boat on a plane for 4 hours) This is perfect for the newbee.
Whats the point of this post?
1. I guess I am looking for ideas on how to pre plan/ canvas guests so that the trip works out.
2. This post is just a rant.
3. I hope that maybe a newbee will read this and see that when going on a boat off shore there is alot more to it than just showing up and paying for your portion of the gas.
I think its just one of those things in life. It iz what it izzzzzz.
I am lucky to be able to share the experience and if I continue to share I have to accept the risks involved. The only exception is the tuna trip. I will continue to be very picky about individuals that come on that trip. The one good thing about those trips is the weather is usually perfect but sometimes there can be a slight chop that makes the boat really rocky even tho it is very nice out.
I love fishing off shore. And I really like to share the experience with others but over the years I find myself doing it less and less for I find that 1 of 3 things usually happens:
1. The guest gets sea sick and we have to go back to the beach.
2. The guests are guests so they can't really do anything that is part of the trip, ie cleaning fish, washing the boat. I feel like I am doing a free charter.
3. Gear gets lost or gets broken and I am left forking the bill.
Its nice if the guest is a friend of a fishing buddy for he will be there to help everything but the real catch for me is sea sickness. I understand that it happens but I have come to find over the years that people will just lie to get out on a boat and they also just dont know if they do or dont.
I feel like I have kinda become a jerk about this issue for over the last 8 or so years I now make an issue of it with people. These days I am basically telling people that if they get sick we are not coming back(though we always do) and that if we do they have to pay the 30 -40$ for the 14 miles of travel. I am blessed with the ability to fish off shore but I do not get to do it whenever I want so it is my time that I value. I find that the more upfront I am about the issues the less people are willing to go which is good and bad I guess.
It amazes me how people can get sick on the flattest day of the year. I took a family out, close friends of mine with their 2 young boys of the flattest day I ever saw and 3 out of 4 got sick before be got out. I only had time to put the one side down where we instantly snapped off a good halibut and landed a high teener spring before we had to leave due to sea sickness. I have since fished with the father of that group a few times and he is getting good at keeping his lunch in.
Another time I took a friend of a friends father and son out. I was assured that nobody would get sick. I watch for the symptoms:
yawning
putting there face in the wind looking off in the distance
not participating in conversation
changing positions in the boat
denial
Anyway, I am watching the father of these two and I know something is up. We ask him how he is and he says he is fine but I know something is up. we get out there and I put one side down and we fish for a minute with one side down. My buddy asks me if we are going to put the other side down I shake my head slightly "no we are not" because I am pretty sure we are leaving very soon. Sure enough the violent vomiting erupts but it really bad. This man passes out and also makes a mess in his pants. We carry him to the hospital. They say they can do nothing for him.
I always feel bad for these folks who fall victim to sea sickness and I know its not their falt. Some know they get sick and some don't know. The question is what can I do to make it work out for everyone on the boat. What can I do before we leave to best make sure it has the least chance of happening?
This brings me to to point that a guided boat is a beautiful thing because when a guide boat is hired it is there for the customer. The guide boat will gladly go back to the beach for their clients. Most guide boats will do what ever the clients wish.(except run the boat on a plane for 4 hours) This is perfect for the newbee.
Whats the point of this post?
1. I guess I am looking for ideas on how to pre plan/ canvas guests so that the trip works out.
2. This post is just a rant.
3. I hope that maybe a newbee will read this and see that when going on a boat off shore there is alot more to it than just showing up and paying for your portion of the gas.
I think its just one of those things in life. It iz what it izzzzzz.
I am lucky to be able to share the experience and if I continue to share I have to accept the risks involved. The only exception is the tuna trip. I will continue to be very picky about individuals that come on that trip. The one good thing about those trips is the weather is usually perfect but sometimes there can be a slight chop that makes the boat really rocky even tho it is very nice out.