Is it possible ?

[fishon42]

Is it possible to fish all day and make money ? LOL. How do i become a mate ? Who needs a mate now ? Is it to late in the year to find a summer job as being a mate ? I'm just so lazy with work with my family company (welding/ironworking) as it is hard work, i just want to fish everyday of my life!! The question is... is it possible ? 




Fish On

[IrishAyes]

I think once you make it work it would not be as enjoyable.  That is the biggest reason I keep debating on starting a charter business or not.  I don't want to take the pleasure out of fishing.  I do have a 6-pack license but at this time I don't want to put it to use because of that.

Just my opinion.  Any charter captains care to speak up?  I know it is a whole lot of work.

[Ruger314]

Well put,,you must helping others first because you'll do little fishing and alot of explain and teaching.. Its a cut throat biz.. Also ..

I will have my 6 pack this fall and have built a friendship this spring  with numerous charter captain to help me with the learning curve of the game.. Its alot more then being a mate or captain!! a thing to consider is a 4 to max 6 months employment!! Alot of long days that suck the life completely out of you.. Go back look at my May run for striper reports,, I spent a few grand,, hardly slept,, lost 43lbs of body weight and at times was a zombie!!

Yeah crazy but ask Rob(RobNReel), Brijones, Larry S, Bowguide, and  Bentrod..the amount and time and effort I put into making the trip enjoyable for my friends and enjoy watching guys catch fish and not fish or as hard as you do now!!!! Now think about when customers are paying big $$$ you ain't fishing your working for a return client and referal!

my 2 cents.ok $1.50 worth..

Joey G

[fishon42]

This is true...





Fish On

[mad8713]

I mate on a local six pack charter on the weekends. It is fun, it is work.  When I leave for the day I am exhusted.  Get there before six and sometimes leave at five.  Its along day and when I get home I want to go back out.  I have my master ticket and have thought about starting my own charter buisness.  It is very hard to make it.  I believe to make money you need to do doulbles all weekends and still need another job.    I feel the area has so many charter boats and many of them are people with money who just want to make a name for them self.  Many     
have know problem taking people out for fifty dollars a man.  We might have missed the boat and should have started up five years ago.  On the posative side you are fishing.

[ped579]

Mark the old saying the grass looks greener on the other side holds true here. 

Your family business right now might look like the pits and being the low man on the totem pole in the business you are looking at it from the bottom up, wait till you start to climb the ladder and get a view from higher up.  It will start to look pretty darn good.

Think of it this way.  You are putting your time in now as you put money in the bank later when it comes time for you to start running the business all that time you banked will come back to reward you 10 fold.

For instance, you want to fish you go and fish, why because you can not because you have to.  Big difference my friend.

Stick it out and the rewards will come.  Don't quit now you will only be hurting yourself in the long run.  Appreciate what your family has and grow with them. 

In my house, family always comes first no matter what.

No disrespect guys...

Happy Catching

Paul

[CapBob]

Fishon,

It is a great business but you won't be fishing. I've worked on commercial boats, head boats and private charters and now run my own charter.

It is a lot of hard work, you are at the boat 1-1 1/2 hrs before the charter and there about the same after they leave.

You spend 4-7 hrs on the charter itself seeing to others needs, teaching, sometimes being a baby sitter, learning how to deal with all types of personalities and various states of sobriety.

I love doing it but it is hard work, long hours and your not going to get rich.....but if you want to learn and grow in the business, not better way than to start mating

I worked with my Dad in the family business for many years, nothing harder than working for family......I would not cut off my nose to spite my face. You are in the learning stage and on the ground floor of an established business......think long and hard before you leap

[hareball]

it took me too long to realize my life should have been spent on the water. now the farther from land I get the better I feel. I see those huge ships offshore and am filled with envy. all I can say is make your move while your young.

[bowguide]

Think long and hard about all of the good points brought up here before making your decision.I used to think the same thing but about hunting and 5 years ago I was offered the opportunity to guide for a bowhunting operation in Illinois I thought this was a dream come true,but I was wrong.Its amazing what happens to your favorite sport when money is involved,to make a long story short this will be my first year NOT guiding and I am actually relieved because doing that almost killed my love for the sport because people change when the almighty dollar is involved.
I only took one month off a year and even with tips it came no where near my normal salary (which is very modest to begin with)People for the most part dont care about all the hard work and preparation you do beforehand they just want results in their favor,they forget its a sport and thats sad.So think long and hard and for one moment dont think that mating is not as hard as what you do now it might be harder.Good luck with your decision

[Luna Sea 5]

enjoy it for the sport, once you try to do it every day and make a living out of it.. like anything else you will get tired of it and it may take the excitement out of it..   Doing it part time is great and at least will keep your interest

[fishon42]

Thanks for everyones views and opinions on this. I will think about what I REALLY want to do with my future and make a decision. I am leaning towards sticking it out with the family business, and putting money towards the side and taking a trip out on a chartar EVERY weekend, or something like that. Thanks alot guys for your help.




Fish On