Regulars

[suilleabhain]

I'll kick it off Greg. I'm not a regulat anymore * but....

Crews live off their regulars and not just in money.
Regulars I fished with shucked clams* helped put out bait* were good with a gaff in a pinch and were ready to fill in when crew didn't show.
Any good regular will help sharpen the rookies up.
You didn't need a calendar* you know what day of the week it is by who is on the boat.
Even not being a regular now but still* first thing I do on any boat is tip the mate and ask him what he needs done.
The biggest help mates need in the next couple of weeks is someone to shuck mussels. I'm good for half a bushel when i show up.

What I expect to hear on the negative side is they get better bait (only on crappy boats that happens)* pool rigging (again on crappy boats) and spots reserved (they deserve that)

[CaptGM]

We have some really GREAT regulars that come out like clockwork and do help out or bring food for the crew and have become part of the family.

Where things go wrong is when the crew does not give the new folks or "not so regulars" the attention that they deserve. Some of these folks can become regulars as well.

Reserved spots...Guilty! We have done that and will do that for certain folks as well as our Prepaid groups. We do try and hopefully succeed more often than not to treat the new folks as good as the reg's. Some of our best regulars are Tuna regulars and will cut bait* help other fishermen catch fish* occaisionally assist getting a fish over the rail. We even have a few that have jumped behind the galley to lend a hand when we got swamped!

These folks just love being on the boat and enjoy the whole experience. It is hard not to treat them a bit special and like old friends. As long as the rest of the folks are treated RIGHT* regulars are transparent.

Capt Greg

[RJ]

Regulars or not...if I show up at the boat an hour before sailing time and there are six rods in an area I want to fish and NO one is there?? You bet our ass I am moving the two rods to the area I want to fish.

Regular or not..let them get there as early I do then they can have their spot.

[Alberto]

soo your that guy!!!! :{ :{

[RJ]

:D

[crabcake]

Originally posted by RJ
Regulars or not...if I show up at the boat an hour before sailing time and there are six rods in an area I want to fish and NO one is there?? You bet our ass I am moving the two rods to the area I want to fish.

Regular or not..let them get there as early I do then they can have their spot.

I definitely agree with this statement as it pertains to open boat fishing in most of our local ports. This is why I enjoy taking trips on vessels that take reservations that include rail & bunk positions* or at the very least* boarding according to the time of your reservation. This way* there are no argument. These policies have historically been used for offshore fishing but in recent years I've seen more boats using these policies for inshore trips because they work. It hasn't caught on as well in NY* but is definitely spreading in New England and down south.

[suilleabhain]

I disagree with you.

If you walked into a restaurant and had to wait for seating while there were tables with "Reserved" cards on them* you wouldn't just sit down and toss the card. Why be disrespectful to a partyboat captain.

Also* you don't know why the spots are saved. Could be the captain's wife & kids are coming down* could be a pre-paid group from Albany that are behind schedule.

Ask the crew first* I could see that.

When you set foot on a Federally documented vessel* you've stepped into the world where the captain's word is law. How he runs his business is none of your business* take your business elsewhere if you don't like it.

Pull that on some boats in Sheepshead and Montauk and you'll get a quick education on whether your gear floats.

[CaptGM]

Perhaps I am to much of a moderate on this* but I have seen both sides* customer & Captains get into a problem before with this situation. Moving rods is definately a No No. At the same time* a hard line by the Capt. or crew will result in customers going away.

The whole point is for people to go out and have a great time fishing* whather they are regulars on a vessel or not. The Capt. should reach some compromise with the customers to satisfy the customer(S). This situation does not arise all that often but when it does it can turn ugly and make many of the passengers uncomfortable. Confronation and the "My Boat" power play will only result in lost customers.

Not always succesful* idealistic perhaps but it is a customer service business and the crews NEED to give the best service they can including solving this "Saved Spot" debockle.

We do get many Pre-Paid small groups aboard and their spots are in fact reserved * however they are never reserved in the stern. prepaid groups will normally be set up from the Stern Quarter bit forward to leave the Stern & corners open for the early birds! 90% of our regulars also show up before anyone else.

It never pays to dig your heals in.
Capt Greg:kiss:

[RJ]

Originally posted by suilleabhain
I disagree with you.

If you walked into a restaurant and had to wait for seating while there were tables with "Reserved" cards on them* you wouldn't just sit down and toss the card. Why be disrespectful to a partyboat captain..

You CAN'T compare the two...the restaurant has equal reservations..meaning I can call a head as easily as someone else...on the boat it is only good for the regular?...bull****...

[suilleabhain]

And by your post* you move two rods to make two spots for yourself. You're a partyboat problem.

[crabcake]

Disputes like the comments made on the last 2 posts are the main reason why most of the captains in New England have taken to pre-assigned rail positions for their trips that are in more demand. (usually the 12 hour marathons)
Can't argue about spots when they're reserved weeks ahead of time. Same is true for boarding in order of your reservation. I actually prefer these policies as I don't have to wake up 2 or 3 hours early to claim my territory.

For a lot of local trips I realize that reservation systems are often impractical. That is why I'm glad that being a teacher gives me a bunch of weekday options to go fishing. More often than not* I find plenty of rail space during the week and on the winter weekends.

[samborges]

RJ you know I one of your biggest fan* you know if you call most captain and say* Hi my name is RJ from the fishing line can you reserve 1 or 2 spot for me* I believe you wouldnt have any problem with getting any spots. I think you have the winter fishing blues* wont be long before showtime. :thumb: :beer:

[CaptGM]

WERE ROLLING NOW!

[samborges]

You think* Capt G:thumb:

[crabcake]

How do you guys feel when a regular mugs you or moves your rods even after you arrived early and there was no sign* rod* rag* or anything else placed in the rod holder?? BS correct? That happenned to me 2 years ago. My buddy and I arrived about an hour early* we were on the boat enjoying our coffee and relaxing in the cabin * and when we walked out for the first drop found our rods nowhere close to the spots that we left them at. Your initial reaction probably would be to kick the guy out* but I'm a stocky 5 foot 6 inch fellow and I wasn't ready to do battle with this beer drinking* 6 foot+* 250lb+ guy on my day off. Justice was served as I took the first and second place pools that day* and I politely thanked the fellow for moving my rod upon disembarking. My tone was genuine so he just looked like an arse.Lesson learned* don't bully people on party boats. Fishing should be fun* not a forum to release negative energy.

[RJ]

Originally posted by suilleabhain
And by your post* you move two rods to make two spots for yourself. You're a partyboat problem.

:D I always bring someone with me...even if it is the cameraman:D

[RJ]

Originally posted by samborges
RJ you know I one of your biggest fan* you know if you call most captain and say* Hi my name is RJ from the fishing line can you reserve 1 or 2 spot for me* I believe you wouldnt have any problem with getting any spots. I think you have the winter fishing blues* wont be long before showtime. :thumb: :beer:

I don't like doing that...and never do unless I am fishing with for TV with the camera crew...not fair to everyone else..

I show up early to get my spot at the rail just anybody else...it's only fair...

[suilleabhain]

Nobody touches my gear* I don't care who they are. Anybody moves my rod will find their's on the deck.

[Alberto]

i just take up two spots :} :} :}

[Surfmeister]

Originally posted by crabcake
That is why I'm glad that being a teacher gives me a bunch of weekday options to go fishing.

Does the principal know that you're playing hookey from school to go fishing? :angel:

[Surfmeister]

Originally posted by samborges
RJ you know I one of your biggest fan* you know if you call most captain and say* Hi my name is RJ from the fishing line can you reserve 1 or 2 spot for me* I believe you wouldnt have any problem with getting any spots. I think you have the winter fishing blues* wont be long before showtime. :thumb: :beer:

"It's good to be the king!!!"

[Surfmeister]

Originally posted by suilleabhain
Nobody touches my gear* I don't care who they are. Anybody moves my rod will find their's on the deck.

Only my girlfriend touches my rod...errrh* my gear...ahhh* you know what I mean. :crazy: