We had a mixed experience with Hearn Fishing Charters. While the trip had its highlights, the captain’s attitude significantly marred our outing.
The captain had moments of friendliness, especially when we caught fish, but his overall demeanor was often rude. As first-time fishers, we needed guidance with the gear, but his abrupt instructions left us feeling uneasy. When we asked for life jackets, he initially sounded rude by telling us not to retrieve them from under the seats. However, he later explained that the seats where the life jackets were placed were heavy and might hurt us, so he provided his own life vests, which we appreciated.
We caught five fish, including two big king salmon. When we caught the largest king salmon, the captain remarked it was the biggest catch of the year, which was encouraging. However, the experience took another turn for the worse when we reached the shore. At the beginning, the captain asked if we wanted him to prepare the fish, and we said yes, not knowing how he would do it. He only cut the fillets and discarded the remaining parts into the water. We actually wanted the whole fish, which led to a misunderstanding between the captain and us. When we mentioned that we needed the whole fish, he gave us the remaining fish, except for the biggest king salmon, which he claimed was infected with E. coli. Despite our insistence to keep it, he threw the fish towards us in a dismissive manner, making us feel unwelcome and disrespected.
Given the high cost of the trip, we expected better treatment and transparency. The captain’s claim about E. coli seemed dubious and felt more like an excuse to keep the fish for himself. Overall, while we enjoyed parts of the fishing experience, the captain’s rude behavior and questionable actions left a sour taste. We hope the company addresses these issues for future customers.