Chapter 10 - Party-Boat Fishing Pays Off!

In fishing, as in everything else, tastes differ and each salt-water angler prefers one type of fishing above all others. Some guys like to seek big game in offshore waters. Others like the surf and spend their time trying for stripers, channel bass and weakfish. Many go for bottom fishing from boats, shore piers and bridges. Still others, like myself, believe every kind of fishing has something to offer. I enjoy any type of salt-water fishing just so long as it offers some kind of action, fun and a chance of catching a few fish.

Naturally, almost every type of salt-water fishing will fit the above requirements on certain days. But the type which comes closest to offering action, fun and fish on most occasions is party-boat fishing. Party boats are also called open-party boats, open boats, deep-sea boats, drift boats, ground-fishing boats and bottom-fishing boats. They leave at a set time from many ports along the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts.

They are called open boats because they are open to the public, which means that you don't have to charter them or reserve a place. Just walk on and grab a spot along the rail. They offer the great advantage of being available whenever you're in the mood to go fishing. You don't have to make reservations weeks or months ahead of time as you have to do with charter boats. You can wait until the last minute, make up your mind and hop on the boat just before it sails.

Of course, if you want a certain spot it's better to arrive an hour or so earlier. Most party boats leave anywhere from 5:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. and return in the late afternoon. A full day's trip will give you anywhere from six to ten hours on the water. Actually the time spent fishing will be less since it often takes up to two hours running time to reach the fishing grounds. In some areas, such as Florida, there are also half-day trips with the boats leaving about 9:00 A.M., returning at 1:00 P.M., leaving again in the early afternoon and returning about 5:00 P.M. In some places there are also night fishing trips from about 7:00 P.M. to a short time after midnight.

The cost? Anywhere from $4.00 to $12.00, depending on the size of the boat, where the fishing is being done, the type of fishing being done and the port you sail from. The smaller boats and boats making short trips charge less than the larger ones making long trips. Those that leave early for distant grounds and return late, charge more than the boats that spend less time on the water or fish only half a day. But whatever the cost you can be sure it's a bargain compared to cost of renting or chartering a boat.

What boat should you choose? It all depends on what you want. In ports with only one or two party boats you obviously have little choice. In other ports like Sheep’s head Bay, New York, you have almost fifty party boats to choose from. If you don't mind getting up early you can take one of the 5:00 A.M. boats. If you like to sleep you can make one of the later boats. A small boat is less crowded and you'll get better service and attention from the captain and crew. On the larger boats you have better accommodations—benches, enclosed cabins, small snack bars, etc. The bigger boats are usually faster and more seaworthy and you take less of a beating in rough waters. However, most party boats are run by capable skippers and several trips on various craft will give you a real idea of what they offer.

Party boat anglers leave the Elmar with their catch at Sheeps-head Bay, N. Y. It may include porgies, sea bass, flounders, fluke, blackfish, bluefish, mackerel, albacore or bonito. During the winter months cod, whiting, haddock, Pollock and ling or hake are taken.

More important is to find out if ocean conditions are suitable for the day's fishing—and if the fish are running. I find it a good idea to go down to the fishing docks in the afternoon a day before I plan to go out. Then I watch the returning party boats and check with the anglers on how the fish were biting, how the water conditions were, what kind of fish were running, etc. If the bags are heavy with fish, that's a tip-off that the next day may repeat, provided, of course, that weather conditions remain the same. So the next morning, before you step on the boat, check the weather report. If it sounds O.K. you can go aboard with some assurance that the chances of catching fish are good.

Another thing to check is what kind of fish the boat you go on is after. Some boats concentrate on a single species; others take anything that comes. If you want to catch, let's say, fluke or summer flounders don't make the mistake of boarding a boat which is going after porgies or sea bass. Ask the captain or mate what fish they are going after before you go aboard. Naturally, in areas such as Florida the catches are so mixed that no species really predominates in the day's fishing. In this case you just have to settle for the fish you get.

Naturally, party boats are more crowded on weekends and holidays than on weekdays. If you want more elbow room you'll do better if you take the day off and go out on a weekday .

You will have a choice of spots on the boat itself if you arrive early. Many veteran party boaters prefer the stern of the boat. You're closer to the water there and it's usually a productive spot. Most fish head into the running tide so that when the boat is anchored they will hit the lines at the stern first. It doesn't make as much difference if the boat is drifting. In this case it is better to be on the side where the lines move away from the boat. On crowded boats this isn't always possible, so many captains often alternate the drift so that half the anglers don't fish the entire day with the lines running under the boat.

Party boats come in various sizes from small 30-footers to big 100-foot jobs like this one. They all offer safe and economical fishing.

Most party boats have tackle for rent but these outfits may be heavier and stiffer than some anglers prefer. It's best to bring your own. The rod you should use depends on the depth of the water, the strength of currents and tides, the type of bottom being fished, the sinker weight required and the size of the fish being caught. For small fish in shallow or medium depths and sinkers not over 4 or 5 oz. you can use the lighter flounder- or weakfish-type rods.

The favorite party-boat rod is the so-called boat rod, which comes in lengths from 5 to 8 ft. over-all. Shorter, lighter rods are for smaller fish in shallow water. Longer, heavier rods are better for larger fish in deep water. Hollow and solid glass rods are the most widely used.

Some anglers also use surf rods on party boats. They work fairly well for big fish in deep water, and their length helps to keep the line away from the boat and aids in bringing a fish over the rail. They are also useful if you have to cast a rig or bait some distance from the boat. But casting on a crowded party boat is hazardous and therefore discouraged. The trouble with surf rods is that the butts are too long and get in the way and the rods are a bit on the heavy side.

Spinning rods and reels aren't too good for party boat fishing unless everyone is using them or unless the boat isn't too crowded. Then you can use the lighter spinning rods and lines. But on crowded boats and for deep fishing with heavy sinkers the heaviest spinning rods and lines are required. You can't play a fish too well on a crowded party boat. If it runs to the left or right there will be one mess of lines. You have to bring a big fish to the gaff without too much fuss. There are usually only one or two men working with gaffs. So in the long run, a regular boat rod or conventional-type surf rod is better to use on a party boat than a spinning outfit. Of course, when you are going for fish which are taken on top with lures or live bait, spinning rods are often in order.

The reel you use should, of course, suit the rod. For lighter conventional rods almost any salt-water reel holding up to 150 yds. of line is suitable. For heavier rods, reels holding 200 or 300 yds. are preferred, especially in deep water. When drift-fishing in very deep water an even larger reel holding up to 400 or 500 yds. of line may be needed.

When selecting lines you have a choice of linen, braided nylon or braided Dacron. They're all used, but in recent years many have turned to monofilament. The latter is strong, fools wary fish and stands abuse around mussels, wrecks, rocks, coral reefs and similar hazards. You lose fewer rigs, hook more fish and land more of them with mono lines.

The test of the line will depend on the outfit you use, the fish being sought and the bottom being fished. For light outfits, small fish and clear bottoms, lines from 20 to 30 lbs. can be used. With heavy outfits, big fish and bottoms covered with obstructions, lines testing from 30 to 60 lbs. are better.

The basic party-boat rig in northern waters is the "deep sea" rig. A bank or diamond sinker is tied to the end of the line. One hook on a short snell or leader is tied just above the sinker, then another one is tied above the first hook just high enough to clear it. If you are going after cod, haddock, pollack, longer leaders and larger hooks such as 7/0 or 8/0 are used. For smaller fish such as scup or porgies and tautog or blackfish, shorter leaders and 1/0 or 2/0 hooks are required.

In southern waters party-boat anglers prefer the sliding sinker rig. Here you slip an egg-shaped sinker on the end of the line. The sinker has a hole running through the center so that the sinker can slide up and down. Next you tie a barrel swivel on the end of the line, after which you tie your leader and hook to the other end of the barrel swivel. The swivel acts as a stop and the sinker can slide or the fish can pull the line without feeling the weight of the lead. The principle is similar to that of the surf man’s "fish-finder" rig described and illustrated in Chapter 4.

Sinker weights will depend on the depth of the water, the strength of the current or tide and the method of fishing. Most party boaters use 6- or 8-oz. sinkers in shallow or medium depths. For deeper water and strong currents 10 or 12 oz. is better. Under extreme conditions you may need sinkers weighing close to a pound.

Hooks will range from No. 1 or slightly smaller on up to No. 12/0 for big fish. The O'Shaughnessy, Sproat and Eagle Claw patterns are the most widely used. Special patterns for certain fish include the Carlisle for fluke or summer flounder and for silver hake or whiting; Virginia hooks are used for blackfish or tautog and sheep’s head; while Chestertown hooks are best for winter flounders.

It is understood that on most party boats the bait is supplied at no extra charge. In northern waters the most commonly used baits are skimmer clams, squid and small fish. In southern waters you'll find mostly cut mullet or shrimp. There is usually plenty of bait available but it is limited to one or two kinds. Of course, there's nothing to stop you from buying your own bait and carrying it on board. The more baits you have, the better your chances of appealing to some kind of fish.

The fish you'll catch on party boats will depend on the area being fished, the season and the species most plentiful at the time. In northern waters the season gets under way in early spring with cod, haddock, pollack, silver hake or whiting, tautog or blackfish and winter flounders. In the summer and early fall you get porgies or scup, sea bass, summer flounder or fluke. Then it's back to winter species such as cod and haddock again.

In the years when bluefish are plentiful party boats also go after these fish. They also hook albacore, bonito and mackerel if these fish are around in numbers.
Farther south off Virginia and North Carolina you get some of these species mentioned above as well as hardhead or croakers, spot, sheep’s head  and at times cobia, black drum, and red snappers.

In Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico the majority of party boats seek snappers, especially big red snappers, and many kinds of grunts. Groupers of various kinds are also caught. These boats also snag amberjack, barracuda, triggerfish, angelfish, and a host of other species. Anglers fishing from party boats have also hauled in lobsters, big sea eels, turtles, sharks, rays and even small tuna.

Skippers who run party boats know the location of most of the fishing grounds in their areas. The best spots include sunken wrecks, mussel and other shellfish beds, rocky bottoms, coral reefs and the so-called banks. These are plateaus or shallow areas in normally deeper water where marine life abounds and bottom fish gather to feed. In northern waters these banks are famous for the codfish and haddock they attract, while in the south the red-snapper banks attract commercial and sports fishermen.

Whether you anchor or drift is up to the skipper. He has to take the weather, water, tide conditions and the fish you are after into consideration. Generally when fishing small wrecks, confined mussel and rock bottoms anchoring is best, but when fishing broad banks, drifting is usually better. The fish may be spread out or congregated in a small area, so drifting gets better results. Most bottom fish can be caught while anchored or drifting. About the only exception is the tautog or blackfish, which likes to stick close to obstructions and takes its time about swallowing a bait. This is also true of the winter flounder. Slow drifting, with the boat barely moving, may get them, but too fast a drift doesn't give them a chance to get at the bait. In fact, if the tide or wind is too strong the boat will drift too fast to get the bait down to the bottom. And even if it does get there it moves too fast for many bottom fish.

Whether anchored or drifting it's important to feel bottom at all times. Let out slack so that the sinker bounces on the bottom, but don't leave too much of a belly in your line or you won't be able to feel a bite.

Fishing from a party boat can be a lot of fun. You may rub shoulders with a plumber on one side and a banker on the other. When you first get on the boat you may be strangers, but by the time the boat docks again you are chatting like old friends. You meet a lot of regular guys and make new friends.

Unfortunately, on almost every trip there are one or two bad eggs who try to spoil it for the rest. Many anglers fishing from party boats for the first time don't know what is expected of them. Others may be veteran party boaters who just don't give a damn for anyone else.

There's the guy who hits the bottle too often and becomes a menace to himself and everyone else. He tangles lines, slips on the deck, bumps into other anglers, tries to make trouble and is just a plain nuisance.

Or there's the kind who uses the four letter words despite the fact that there are kids and women on board within hearing distance.

Or the character who insists on casting over the heads of nearby anglers. If he likes casting so much or thinks it is the only way to get fish, then why not do it from a beach, jetty or private boat? A crowded boat is no place for casting. You can flip your bait out from the side of the boat a sufficient distance.

Then we have the griper who growls about the bait, the weather, the kind of fish caught, their size, the location being fished, tangled lines, other fishermen, etc. This fellow usually wants the boat moved every ten minutes. Some griping is acceptable, of course, if not overdone. It's only human but it doesn't solve the problem. If you notice anything really wrong, go up and speak to the captain or mate. But don't sound off for hours and spoil the fun of everyone else near you.

Sometimes the skipper or crew may be to blame for unsatisfactory conditions. On too many party boats the crew fishes instead of catering to the wants of the anglers. They fish to make extra money by selling the fish to unlucky anglers or to the market when they return to port. Naturally a crew member concentrating on his fishing can't always be available to gaff fish, untangle lines, make up rigs for novices, bring more bait or do any of the other things which help to make a good party boat.

No captain can guarantee fish on a given day, for too many things can happen over which he has no control. Individual fishermen also vary in ability and know-how. Some catch on quickly and get their share of fish. Others are slow or stubborn and refuse to take advice. So on almost every trip there are some anglers who catch few or no fish even though the other anglers have a sackful.

Party-boat fishing is a more sociable type of fishing than other salt-water methods. You have to be a good sport and take crowded conditions, line tangles, rough water and poor fishing as they come. If you make enough party-boat trips the odds are greatly in your favor. You are practically guaranteed action, fun and fish on the majority of your trips.

One other attraction on many party boats is the daily pool. Here, whoever feels like it can chip in a specified amount, usually around a dollar or fifty cents. Then whoever catches the biggest fish takes the accumulated total. This makes for friendly competition and a lot of joking as one angler beats out another with a heavier fish. On weekends such pools have often run up to a couple of hundred dollars for the lucky (or skillful) angler. Yep, party-boat fishing pays off in more ways than most types of salt-water fishing.

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