First, for my regular repeat anglers: don’t panic! I am not going anywhere.  Key West is a small town and rife with gossip.  Here’s what you really need to know.  Now, just stay with me here.   There are many tools used in the charter business.

My tools.  I have a 100-ton, multi-passenger Captains’ License and for that matter, all 13 state and federal fishing licenses that go with that.  I have insurance (just in case). I have a shiny box with Craftsman written on it, full of tools to help me make sure your trip runs smoothly and a tackle box and top of the line rods and reels so that we catch fish… which we always did and still do.    Oh, and a phone that gets answered 99% of the time.  Now, you’re still staying with me, right?  A boat is also just a tool. So…  I recently sold one of my tools. I sold the Mr. Z!  I realized that my  most important tool (and the most valuable tool too) is what is between my ears and in my soul… Experience and heart.
Those tools you just can’t buy.  So, this doesn’t mean that I cannot book the Mr. Z, that I cannot Captain it, or that I cannot take it out with you on board and still catch the shit out of them! In fact, it has opened up a lot of new opportunities for me.

First, I don’t have to spend (what seemed like) half my life in the engine room doing maintenance. I can now devote my time to actually going fishing. That’s what I got into this business for in the first place, some 25 years ago! Also, I now can run other people’s boats and not feel I am neglecting my own boat.  For example:  if you come to Key West and own a 65-foot Hatteras and you need a local guide, now I can go. In the past, I had to turn down that opportunity because I had to spend the time booking the only boat I owned.  Now, I can also put you on a 50 MPH, 34-foot, Venture open fisherman. A friend of mine actually gave me the keys and said, “run your charters on it, the wealthy owner rarely uses it, can’t sell it (in this economy… shocking…) and wants it run regularly just to keep it in shape.” Boats don’t do well just sitting in salt water at the dock. I also have access to a 36-foot Luhrs sportfisherman for the same reason. And it is available to you, same rates, just ask!

Tools. Boats are just tools. At first, I felt like I wasn’t a Captain anymore because I didn’t own a boat.  I felt castrated!   Then, I realized that actually, I have gained several more options. Charters don’t care whether you own the boat, or if it is a Corporate-owned boat that you work for, or if you just borrowed it from a friend. As long as they have a comfortable boat, good fishing and good company, they’re happy. And that’s what I still provide!

Here are some pics of (a few) of the boats that I now have access to for your next charter…

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 6th, 2011 at 9:12 am and is filed under Fishing report. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.