OK Guys....
...I will be contacting y'all tomorrow. I am still watching the weather and buoy forecasts....not sure whether Tues or Weds is going to be best. By tomorrow the forecast will peek into Wed and I'll be making final plans. I have room for 2, may 3 people. I'm figuring around $35-$40 per person for gas, etc.
I plan to be leaving before daylight and returning dusk (unless we poop-out before then). I have a couple of rules on my boat, this might affect some of your offers.
(1) Absolutely no illegal drugs on board. I am not risking my boat with the CG zero-tolerance enforcement. Save it for back at the dock.
(2) I don't drink alcohol when I fish/captain, and I would prefer my crew to limit their intact to a few beers for the whole day. I love a cold brew too, but when things get crazy in the cockpit, I want my crew to be alert and sober to prevent accidents that damage bodies or property. On the ride back in, I'll be first to hand (and join) you a cold one though...just don't get too blotto as to not be able to help when we hit the dock.
(3) We share fishing credit and fillets. Because some folks are luckier than others, in skill, rotation, or readiness - we pool all the fillets at the end of the trip and divide equitibly based upon wants and mutual decision. Usually we have enough snapper, grouper, AJ, for everyone to get their fill. Some don't want to take home any or much, etc. This is usually not a problem, but if you catch that big wahoo or ling, it is expected to share some of the fillets. (have to mention this because I took a guy once who caught a nice fish and refused to share - on top of that, he didn't chip in for fuel, food, etc. - go figure!)
(4) It is expected that you speak up if you have an idea about what to pull, where to go, what to do, or if you see something that needs attention, etc. We don't know everything and sometime new, crazy ideas work. But don't expect every comment will be used.
Also, catching billfish is a TEAM operation. Boat handling, setting the spread, clearing the lines, wiring the fish, and cranking on the reel all play an important part. When we catch a billfish, we consider we ALL caught it equally. The only exception is during tournaments where we need an "angler of record" and/or fishing IGFA rules.
That's it - hope it doesn't scare you off.
