Some Do’s and Don’ts
- Do:
- Take a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses. You will get a lot of glare reflected off the sea, even on cloudy days.
- Take a camera.
- Wear non marking soft soled shoes.
- Ask if you are fishing under IGFA Rules – You just might catch a World Record!
- Ask, if you want to come up and see the bridge.
- Eat your catch – you won’t ever eat a fresher tastier fish than one that you just landed.
- Respect the boat. Don’t trash it. Rubbish makes its way to the bilge and can block bilge pumps.
- Enjoy the whole day’s experience, not just the fishing!
- Don’t:
- Brag before you go about how many fish you are going to catch. It’s bound to blank your day.
- Step on board wearing high heels or shoes that may damage or mark the deck.
- Play with fishing equipment settings. (Even if you do know what you are doing)
- Put a rod butt down on a teak deck – It will damage the teak. All rods go in rod holders.
- Crowd round the deckie with a camera when he is tracing or gaffing a fish. STAY WELL BACK.
- Bring a hand held GPS. If the skipper sees it, you won’t be going to any of his secret hot spots.
- Access the foredeck or engine room. They are out of bounds unless the skipper specifically tells you otherwise.
- Litter. Never throw any type of rubbish (including cigarette butts) overboard. Turtles eat butts and die.
- March up to the bridge, plonk yourself down in the deckie’s seat and put your feet up on the console. Unless you want a swim.
Crew Talk Jargon Explained
- “Fiddler & Tweaker”: Somebody who can’t resist playing with reel drag settings or ratchets.
- “Nibbler”: Somebody who stares at the outrigger tip when you are trolling 16” marlin lures on bent butt 80s and shouts “I think we just got a nibble!”
- “Plonker": Somebody who asks if they can bottom fish when you are 7 miles out on the Kadavu Trench in 1,000 fathoms of water. (6,000ft)
I once had a guy stand up on the transom with the boat cruising at 22kts, wave at one of our resort dive boats following in our wake and decide to dive in. (My deckie Joe managed to grab him before he killed himself)
Game boats and large quantities of beer do not mix. If you get drunk aboard one of my vessels, I will consider you a danger to the crew who will have to rescue you when you fall overboard. I will tie you to the game chair and drive home. Just so you know.)
