I agree that there was a problem on FishingBooker. The folks there kindly helped me set up tour descriptions but made a mistake on the 5 Hours Custom Charter by adding “just bring your rods and reels”. The 5 hour Custom Cruise is not the fishing tour. In accordance with government regulations, each passenger is responsible for baiting, labelling, setting, retrieving and managing their equipment and harvest. Because this requires instruction and takes considerable time, our advertised fishing trip takes 8 hours. I understood that there had been a mistake and decided to do the best I could within the 5 hour constraint. I explained this to Matt beforehand and also told him that the tides were atrocious and not right for catching halibut but I would try my best. I’m confused about the food and private charter complaint. My booking information clearly states that these are shared trips. Private charters are available but must be pre-arranged and are priced differently. My promotional material states that I will serve coffee, cookies, tea etc. and I did that. We serve a hot dog lunch on the 8 hour fishing tour but this was not that. The 5 hour tour is usually a cruising/sightseeing tour that leaves at 8:00 a.m. and returns at 1:00 p.m. so lunch is not advertised or supplied. Matt arrived half and hour late and I stayed out an extra hour (at no additional charge) to try and catch more fish so we went later into the afternoon than expected. I’m sorry that they were hungry but they were advised that they could bring coolers, snacks and anything they wanted on board so there was obviously some misunderstanding of the services available. My passenger cancellation policy is very clear so I’m not sure why he’s complaining about that.
The currents and tides were horrible. If it were up to me all days would be clear, sunny and flat calm but I’m not the guy in charge of sea conditions. It was running like a river complete with rip tides and back eddies and I had novice fishermen on board. The “honey holes” had produced a few fish that were too small to keep and had to be thrown back. I don’t have magic powers to keep a boat stationary in those conditions and lures were snagging on the bottom because they didn’t know how to work their rods and adjust their lines. There were other places I would have rather fished but I was working with a 5 hour time constraint. I did let them try to fish but it wasn’t working out.
Matt was running the hydraulic hauler and sucked the snap into the pulley. At the time he said it was his fault. I tried to back it up and correct the problem but wasn’t able to save the trap. He was running the equipment but blames me because I couldn’t fix the situation. The real cost of the lures and equipment lost was over $100. but I only charged him 50% of the replacement cost.
Matt didn’t catch any keepers fishing but did go home with prawns and crab so I don’t understand why he says he went away empty handed. I have never had a trip where we came home empty handed. Sometimes we catch prawns but not crab or fish but not crab or whatever but we always come home with something.
I’m thankful that he tipped my deckhand because it’s hard as hell to find passionate, motivated young men willing to work hard and he deserved it. As for myself being a Salty Dog? I’ll borrow a line from the immortal Popeye:  “I yam what I yam and that’s all that I yam.”

I agree that there was a problem on FishingBooker. The folks there kindly helped me set up tour descriptions but made a mistake on the 5 Hours Custom Charter by adding “just bring your rods and reels”. The 5 hour Custom Cruise is not the fishing tour. In accordance with government regulations, each passenger is responsible for baiting, labelling, setting, retrieving and managing their equipment and harvest. Because this requires instruction and takes considerable time, our advertised fishing... More