Thanks Keith.

First, the good: We did catch fish! No trophy halibut like we were aiming for, but the boys each reeled in something - including a dogfish that, while not exactly the “target,” was still exciting for a couple of teens on their first big ocean adventure.
What was disappointing, though, was the atmosphere on board. The captain was clearly experienced, but his communication style was a bit… curt. We completely understand the need to keep things moving on a busy charter, but when the boys wanted to snap a quick photo with their catch to share with friends, we were told, “Fish or pictures — we can’t do both.” That was discouraging. As a mom, I just wanted to capture those once-in-a-lifetime moments of them holding up their fish with big grins. I wasn’t looking to slow the trip down — just a few seconds to make the memory.
The scenery was beautiful, the gear was solid, and we appreciated being on the water. But a little more encouragement — especially for first-timers and kids — would have gone a long way. Celebrating all the catches, even the unexpected ones, would have made the experience more fun and less pressured.