"The Big Bite"... every fisherman's objective.
This site is for those of you interested in the Sea, and
Fishing. At the end of this page, you will find LINKS
to some pictures I have taken on some of our Fishing
Trips. I have fished out of the Jacksonville Ports for years. Lived there about 20 years before relocating here in Georgia. Still do a lot of business in Florida.
Now,if interested, a little bit about Commercial
Fishing.
It is harder than it use to be to be in Commercial
Fishing.
Govt. Regulations, size
limits, Mother Nature and increasing cost of expences
are but a few of the obsticals we now face. Also,
the men who want to work the sea are getting harder
and harder to find. I currently work out of PHILLIPS SEAFOOD at Pelican Point, in McIntosh Co GA, on the
Sapelo River. We go
out to Sea, by way of Sapelo Sound.
The owner, and local Fish Monger of Phillips Seafood
is Charlie
Phillips. This is my sister's husband. He is a jack of all trades. When we have
unseen problems beneath our boats, it is not unusual
to find him DIVINGunder our boats to let us know what
the problem is... fixing it if at all possible.
Yes, Charlie always likes to ham it up for the camera.
And his Associate Fish Monger, Fred Jackson
can strike a pose, too!
Wonder where those "soft shell crabs" come from? They are brought up in crab traps just before they "shell out" (just like a snake or shrimp does each year). Then they are brought to us, and put on "tables". (A couple of thousand at a time). Then we go through them, feeling under EACH crabs shell, for a "crack" (this means they are fixing to "bust".) These go on the "buster tables". These usually shell out in a few hours. Once out, they are as soft as a baby! Just like skin, even their claws. They have no defenses. We must get them off that buster table immediately, and put onto the "hardening table". You watch them constantly, as it only takes 2 to 4 hours for them to be as hard as they were when they came into our Docks. A very high paced job. Want to see a few SOFT SHELL CRABS?
Mother's Day is this weekend. GONZO wants to say, "Hi Mom, Happy Mother's Day!"
Now, want to know a little about Commercial Fishing?
Back in the early 1980's, when my boats
worked out of Tybee Island GA, and Jacksonville Floridia, you had men lined up on
the docks wanting to work the boats. Now, almost 20 years later,
they are no longer there. Good, die hard Fishermen to work these
boats are now hard to find. When you want to get up
a crew, you have to go looking for them. It is a hard
life on those who go to Sea to make a living. In all fairness
though, there are a lot of die hard fishermen out there. True Fishermen... A Good Hook... Seasoned. These men
love the life, they love the Sea.
While most people
think of "Out to Sea" as just Blue on Blue, the Fishermen
see much more. Color upon color. Vast and beautiful.
Full of wonders, mysteries, breathtaking events,
and Nature. Now Nature... she will keep you on your toes,
and in some cases, out of your bunks and on to the
floor.
It is a hard
life. Lonely, boring / exciting and fulfilling.
When you put in a days work, you feel like you have
put in two. When
you sleep, you don't sleep. And when you think of home,
you worry.
There are no conveinences on these little Fish Boats.
No hair dryers
out there! On my wife's first trip, the first thing
she said to me, as she
brought her stuff in the cabin was, "Where's my bunk?"
After I broke the news to her, she turned to another
crewman and said, "Where can I plug in my hair dryer?"
Before each trip, the Boat Captain has to ice the boat
up, buy groceries, supplies, tackle and bait. These
items are considered, "expenses." Each crew man splits
the cost.
There are 4 to 5 crew on board. We stay out about 8 to
10 days at a time. We fish ledges, live bottom and
wrecks, anywhere from 50 to 75 miles offshore. At times,
as much as 100 miles offshore.
We average about 45 to 50 "boxes" of fish a trip.
We catch Snapper, Grouper, Trigger, Dauphin, Wahoo,
B-liners, Amber Jack, Mango, True Mutton, Scamp,
Red Grouper, Grey Tile, Strawberry Grouper (Rock Hinds),
King Fish, Sea Bass, Scamp, Snowy Grouper...
We find our fishing spots
with Loran reedings...or "numbers", as we say.
And as you know, some of those briefcases we carry
those "numbers" in are worth their weight in gold!
For the Boat Owner, it is not just about fishing.
Commercial Fishing,
for the small business man like myself, involves
doing most of your repairs, overhauling and general
maintenance. There is no time when you are in from
fishing to "sit on the Hill." It is hard on marriage.
It takes a special woman to be married to a
fisherman... she has got to be understanding and
have patience. Commercial Fishing is the hardest, yet most thrilling
"job" I have ever had.
Each time we leave the dock, we go to "Catch 'em
up", and hope to come home with "The Big Bite."
No matter how many years you do this, each trip is
thrilling. Each time, you are in competition against
the other crewman, and yourself, for "Top Hook" status.
There is no "Share Fishing" on our boats. Each crew man
"marks" his fish, then when we get to the Docks and
unload, they are separated and weighed. Each man
gets back just what he put into his job. If he stays
in his bunk, he doesn't even make expenses. If you
work the deck and reel, you make a living. And if
you're good, real good ... a "Natural" so to speak,
then you might just get to be the "Top Hook."
When you are the Boat Owner/Captain, you not only fish, you
get the headache
of Maintence.
There is once a year Hall Out Maintence.
We scrape and bottom cote the hull. Check for any
damage. Check thru-hull fittings, etc. Repaint numbers
for ID. Repaint Boat Name. Bring Life Saving equipment
to be serviced, check and repair any Electronics, Coast
Guard inspection, Surveyors for Insurance...
the list goes on and on!
Do you have a story to tell? Would you like to leave
a link to your URL? Then please remember to sign my
GUEST BOOK
Enough said! Let's get to those pictures!
LET'S GO FISHING...
FastCounter by bCentral
Let's Catch Some Fish!
Captain & his first Mate
Catch 'em up
Catch 2
Catch 3
Catch 4
Catch 5
Catch 6
Catch 7
Catch 8
Catch 9
Catch 10
The Captain
The Boats: Amy Michelle & Lady Diane
Fishing Boat Amy Michelle
Fishing Boat Lady Diane
A look at the Wheel
Maintainence & The Dock
First Mate doing lettering on Boat
Captain doing propeller work
Engine Room Lady Diane
Engine Room Amy Michelle
Ice up the hold
Dock/Packing Fish
A Visit
The fish are packed, let's go home!
BACK to Southern Welcome
EMAIL ME! Capt. Charles Headley
