Manage expectations
The trip was an overall net-positive, but with a couple caveats. Neither the Captain nor the mate were super friendly at first, but both warmed up as the morning progressed, and overall that was not a factor. The boat itself was a bit smaller than expected, which was okay– we were a three-person party, so it's not as though we needed a lot of space. That being said, inside the cabin had the pilot's seat, as seat for the First Mate, and a table with seating for two (for a three-person party). The size of the boat also meant that it was tossed a bit more than a larger boat probably would have. As guests, we probably would have benefited from a heads up regarding the catch limit beforehand. Again, nothing that the crew could have done about that, but again, it's about managing expectations. For example, the rockfish were biting, and we quickly reached our catch limit of one per person– which we were unaware of at first, and were a little disappointed, if understanding, about the need to fish other species. We were a little surprised at the end to learn that catching five rockfish (party of 3 and crew of 2) meant that we left with three rockfish rather than five, but again, had that been explained up front, then expectations would have been different. All in all, we recommend Screaming Eagle, as the crew is very knowledgeable of the waters, and where to find the fish, and the boat and equipment was more than adequate to put the objective (getting fish) well within reach. With a couple tweaks this would have been a great experience.
Apparently you did not read anything on this platform. there is a full description of the boat including the size. I have written many reports that are published on this platform that explains all the catch and size limits. The State of Maryland dictate how many fish you are legally allowed to be in possession of which is one fish per person. You should do your research before booking any charter boat. Capt. Herman Haddaway
