Even though the last couple of months have been filled with uncertainty, a lot of people have found peace on the water, keeping up their fishing habit. So our Captain Spotlight is back to cover some of the most inspiring and fun stories we’ve heard from our captains and their customers.
Highest-Rated New Listing
From time to time, new listings on FishingBooker just seem to take off. That’s exactly the case with our newly-registered captain, Freddy Thomas of Goin Deep Fishing, from Port Aransas, TX. Freddy, aka “Captain Bubba,” created his listing in mid-May, and in a single month has already grown a loyal fan base with FishingBooker customers.
A brand new vessel, top-notch service on all levels (from providing snacks to vacuum packaging of filleted catch), and most importantly, first-class trophy fishing. It would seem Captain Bubba is offering exactly what customers want right now.
Todd from Houston mentioned in his review that “Capt. Bubba and his wife Darla were easy going and fun to be around.” And Daniel from Lubbock only had words of praise, even though his trip was cut short because everyone else in his family got seasick. “I came away feeling like I’ve known Captain Freddi (Bubba) and his wife Darla forever,” he wrote.
Welcome, Capt. Bubba and let the whole season be as successful as it’s been so far!
Going The Extra Mile for Conservation
Just like so many others, Captain Mark Shannon from British Columbia stopped running charters during the COVID-19 lockdown. This, Mark reports, didn’t stop him from going out on his own, and for a noble cause.
Mark and his crew made the most of this downtime and actively participated in DNA sampling that will help better track Chinook Salmon on their migration route. In the captain’s own words, “In addition to providing key information for the ongoing preservation of stocks, it also means we know where the fish are and what they are feeding on.”
Now that the fishing season is finally back on track, anglers fishing with FishOn Adventures will get to take part in this conservation effort. As well as battling this world-class fish, the customers will also learn how to collect a Chinook DNA sample.
Thank you, Capt. Mark, for going the extra mile and allowing your customers do the same!
Two Citation Wahoo in North Carolina
May fishing was nothing short of superb all over the US. Andrew C. from North Carolina can confirm this. He and his friends spent a day fishing the Gulf Stream under the skilled guidance of Wet N Wild Sportfishing, and the day was a success – to say the least.
Even though the weather was unpredictable, Andrew reported that the fishing action “ …started with a triple hook up, citation Wahoo and two 20+ lb Mahi. It only got better from there!”
Capt. Keith made sure they hit one hotspot after the other, and even the first-time fishermen on board had a blast. At one point, they had all lines hooked up at the same time. The result? Tuna, two citation Wahoo, King Mackerel, and Mahi Mahi for everyone!
“Great memories with amazing people.” Now, that’s what we call a fishing trip.
Hot New Technique in Town
During the long days of the epidemic, Captain Vinnie Sacks of YB Normal decided to explore a new style of fishing that’s been a hit in South Florida lately. Slow-pitch jigging was the name of the game and, judging by his experience, it was a success.
Vinnie reports that slow-pitch jigging “…is a very effective way to catch all types of fish.” Anglers use tackle that’s specially made for this technique, and there are different ways of presenting and using your jigs. The movements you make with your hand and rod mimic the movement of injured baitfish in the water. In fish language, this means an easy-pickings meal, which is why slow-pitch jigging works well for targeting a wide array of species.
Capt. Vinnie hit the offshore waters of Fort Lauderdale in late April, and he wasn’t disappointed. On a full day deep sea fishing trip, using slow-pitch jigging, he landed a Tuna, a lot of Snapper, and a gorgeous Golden Tilefish in the bluewater. What a way to prove that trying out new things can pay off, big time!
Because his slow-pitch jigging effort turned out to be such a good fit for South Florida’s deep waters, Capt. Vinnie plans on doing more of it with his customers. All this while diligently keeping his vessel clean and sanitized for the health and security of his customers.
Have you tried slow-pitch jigging yet? We’d love to hear your experience, too!
A Trophy Bass to Remember
When you see a review that says that an 84-year-old passionate fisherman caught the biggest fish of his life, you pay attention. That’s exactly what happened when Daniel and his father spent two days on a boat with Captain Ander of Bassquatch Fishing.
Under Ander’s professional guidance, Daniel’s dad landed an 8 lb 11 oz Largemouth Bass on Decker Lake in Austin, TX. Daniel was impressed by the captain’s fishing expertise and willingness to teach his customers about fishing tackle and boat equipment.
It seems that there wasn’t a dull moment on board and, when they weren’t reeling in fish, Capt. Ander would turn the trip into a fun learning experience. To sum it all up, Daniel says that this experience will truly be “…a fishing trip we will talk about for the rest of our lives.”
Meanwhile, in South Africa…
The COVID-19 epidemic changed reality as we know it within days and it’s been that way throughout the world. Charter businesses and anglers all over the planet had to adjust overnight and quit their daily love affair with the sea to stay healthy and protected.
According to Skipper Mike Laubscher, owner of the Blue Water Charters from Durban, South Africa, the changes weren’t easy. Mike echoes the worries and challenges so many captains faced during these trying times but is grateful for the productive summer season they had in the first couple of months of 2020.
Before the season ended abruptly, Capt. Mike had some great angling moments with his customers, including exciting Black Marlin fishing in the Durban offshore waters. Still, he didn’t let the time in lockdown just pass by. Instead, he focused on many projects and updating his website. This goes to show that there’s room for growth in every situation, no matter how difficult.
As Mike would say, “One needs to remain strong in these difficult times, and perhaps it is a good time to reflect and be grateful for what we have had until now.” We couldn’t agree more, captain! We hope you’ll be out on the water with your customers soon enough!
It’s great to see that more and more anglers are enjoying fishing again. If you’re still facing Coronavirus restrictions, we hope you’ll be back on the water soon.
Do you have an awesome story to tell? Share your memorable moments in your fishing reports – more good news is always welcome!
