Has Anyone Been on a Head Boat?

[smithchick231]

[aps45819 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by thurley42

? I hate fishing and haven't been since I was little...never caught anything!

There's a reason it's called "fishing" and instead of "catching"

you can learn a lot from fishing

[belvak (Premo)]

We usually get a group together and do a charter, but on the spur of the moment last year, we decided to try one of the headboats out of Solomon's (no names mentioned) and were very disappointed. They basically packed us all on the boat and headed WAY out to an isolated spot by the TJ bridge. Could've swam to shore! Didn't catch any fish either. If I'm going to pay to go out on a boat, I at least expect a nice ride!! We'll go back to chartering or shore fishing. It's just so hard to find any good public fishing spots anymore. Everything is privately owned or way too crowded.

[HouseCat]

Originally Posted by Bay_Kat

I went on the Rod n Reel trip one time for my birthday, worse time I had in my life. The boat was packed, people were shoulder to shoulder, kids running everywhere getting caught in lines, a couple of kids got fish hooks caught in them. The mates were so busy babysitting, they couldn't take care of the people that were actually fishing. I sent them a letter after the trip and all they said was "sorry you did not enjoy your trip". I'd rather fish from shore.

Next time, call ahead and see how many folks they have signed up for the head boat. If they won't tell you, I wouldn't go with them. If they're concerned about their customers, they will help you find a time/day that doesn't have a lot of people signed up for so you can enjoy your trip. There are some in Solomons who will tell you how many is signed up so far.
Sucks your trip was ruined. I would've been mad too.

[keekee]

I've only been on charter boats. Head boats just don't sound like a good thing. Call Bob Bowes, or Matt Bowes in Valley Lee. They both run charter boats, and you pay for the boat which carries maybe 8-12 people. Get your own group together, and split the cost and it costs about the same as a head boat, and it's MUCH better. They take you way out in the bay, you bring your own coolers with food & beer (or soda).
They provide chum, bait and rods - plus they take the fish off the rod for you, which I personally like because I'm wimpy.

Matt is a friendly guy, and Bob (his Dad) is a salty old fisherman.

They are both great. I've always had a great time on either boat.

[HouseCat]

Originally Posted by keekee

plus they take the fish off the rod for you, which I personally like because I'm wimpy. .

Ohhh my gawd! haha!



j/k.

I get tired of catching so many fish sometimes, that I need someone to take them off the line for me.

[Bay_Kat]

Originally Posted by HouseCat

Next time, call ahead and see how many folks they have signed up for the head boat. If they won't tell you, I wouldn't go with them. If they're concerned about their customers, they will help you find a time/day that doesn't have a lot of people signed up for so you can enjoy your trip. There are some in Solomons who will tell you how many is signed up so far.
Sucks your trip was ruined. I would've been mad too.

Thanks, I'll call ahead if I decide to do it again. I always thought they had a certain number they could take so that people wouldn't be stepping all over each other, but it looked like in this case they were only worried about the money. This is sad because there were so many people on the boat and most of them probably thought the same thing I did so no repeat business from them and if they told other people about it, word travels fast.

[kom526]

Originally Posted by Bay_Kat

Thanks, I'll call ahead if I decide to do it again. I always thought they had a certain number they could take so that people wouldn't be stepping all over each other, but it looked like in this case they were only worried about the money. This is sad because there were so many people on the boat and most of them probably thought the same thing I did so no repeat business from them and if they told other people about it, word travels fast.

Depends what capacity the boat is rated for.

[keekee]

Originally Posted by HouseCat

Ohhh my gawd! haha!



j/k.

I get tired of catching so many fish sometimes, that I need someone to take them off the line for me.

I can take lil fish off by myself, just not Rockfish. They're big & they flip around like crazy. I tried to do it myself once and the dang thing stuck me with it's fin.

[zoloft-er]

[quote=kom526;2912228]HEAD boats... think really HARD.

I can't believe they charge for rod rentals and "one package of bait" to me that's a rip off. They are other head boat options around


Yeah, I would go get HEAD from another package However, for the guys & gals, Lady Hooker and Tom Hooker sound like they will go either way (the bay or the river). They give discounts, too!