Mate School?

swordfish123 · 10-13-2004, 04:58 PM

I have heard of places that offer like 6 weeks of training on how to be a billfihing mate. I think it was in Cabo. I think this would be a lot of fun, maybe for one summer between college. I searched and searched on the internet but couldnt find anything. I figured i could ask around here. Thanks for any info.

swordfish123 · 10-13-2004, 06:01 PM

Well i finally answered my own question. Marlin University, from Marlin Magazine. Its 4 days (not 6 weeks ha) and costs $5,500. Thats a lot. Heres the website if anyone is interested...

http://www.marlinmag.com/marlinu.jsp

Looks like the real deal. Im sure it would be awesome.

Captain Joe McGivern · 10-13-2004, 10:16 PM

The best way is to work on a boat for free.Watch and lern,go to the local docks and beg,wash the boat do whatever u have to.Thats how i did it,and now i fish the BBC and numerous big fish tourneys around the world!

swordfish123 · 10-13-2004, 10:30 PM

I wish i lived near the water! But i would definatly be willing to do so if i had the opportunity. Until then, I'll read all i can on websites like this one haha

hannaman · 10-13-2004, 11:08 PM

You can read all the information you want, but experience is always the better teacher. Get on the water.

Captain Fred Archer · 10-14-2004, 02:48 PM

True wisdom there, son. If the sea is where your heart is you must find some way to follow it and let it and those who followed it before you be your teachers. There are no shortcuts and only those with a powerful, abiding love of the sea and its creatures become masters and get to experience the many days of hard work, learning, pain and joy that accompany them on that lifelong voyage.

greg1 · 10-14-2004, 05:24 PM

chummingwithchunk is right but also wrong. Working for free may be the fastest way to get on a boat, but you will burn a lot of bridges by doing that. It is similar to being a scab in a strike situation.

If you start working for free then you are undercutting a lot of the seasoned deckhands and hurting their ability to earn a living.

I would definitely hang around the docks and help the deckhands wash the boats and cart away fish guts. Tell them what you are trying to do. You will have to swallow some pride and act like a complete newbie.

Also, meet the captains. Eventually one of the deckies will get drunk and not show up. They'll call you. Then they'll call you again. That's how it works.

If its a big boat you may be able to go as a second mate for tips only. But I would be very hesitant to work for free. You can get your a$$ kicked for that.

Good luck.

Also, where are you from? I fish Tuna/Marlin/Wahoo/Swords and am always looking for "crankers".

swordfish123 · 10-14-2004, 06:32 PM

Well originally I am from Atlanta. We have always had a place in St Simons Island, GA where i learned to fish.

We (dad and I) fish for kings and amberjack etc of the ga coast. For the past 2 years we have been gettin into the blue water stuff since we got our new boat. I always bug the captains and it led to our first sailfish and not too long ago, our first blue marlin and our first dolpin ( a 55 pounder at that) plus 4 more in the 20-30 lb range in the bahamas I am at the university of mississippi (Ole Miss) right now so i dont get a chance to get out on the water unless its holiday. Each trip leads to a new species.

We are still in search of our first tuna and wahoo, and of course Swordfish. I am learning slowly but surely. I think thanksgiving will give us our sword. 4th night out is a charm. Christmas will lead to Wahoo as we are off to the bahamas--hopefuly.

Thanks for the advice guys--

greg1 · 10-14-2004, 08:08 PM

Ole Miss eh? Sorry about my boys from Alabama putting the smack down on you a few weeks ago, but the Rebels have been getting a little big for their britches as of late.

I actually fish out of Orange Beach, AL. We should try to get together sometime. I'm 26 and can get off more days than my fishing buddies can. I'm sure you wouldn't mind missing a few days of class to go troll the big water.

swordfish123 · 10-14-2004, 08:39 PM

We'll see what happens this weekend, it could be ugly.

I wouldn't mind, that is for sure. Olerebels41 is my AIM. send me a message sometime.

10-13-2004, 04:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
swordfish123 Hooked Up Join Date: May 2004 Location: Oxford, Mississippi Boat: Whatever Hatteras lets me fish on Best Catch: ~250lb Blue Marlin- Marsh Harbour Occupation: Gulf Coast Hatteras Intern Posts: 318	Mate School? I have heard of places that offer like 6 weeks of training on how to be a billfihing mate. I think it was in Cabo. I think this would be a lot of fun, maybe for one summer between college. I searched and searched on the internet but couldnt find anything. I figured i could ask around here. Thanks for any info.

10-13-2004, 11:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
hannaman Charter Captain Join Date: May 2004 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Boat: 32 Donzi w/ twins Best Catch: 300+ pound Swordfish club, still. Occupation: Charter Boat Captain Posts: 672	You can read all the information you want, but experience is always the better teacher. Get on the water. __________________ Captain Cary Hanna New Lattitude SportFishing Charters 954-907-0967 Florida Fishing Charters

10-14-2004, 02:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
Captain Fred Archer Lines In Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Boat: Big game fishing Occupation: Charter Captain, author, outdoor writer Posts: 43	True wisdom there, son. If the sea is where your heart is you must find some way to follow it and let it and those who followed it before you be your teachers. There are no shortcuts and only those with a powerful, abiding love of the sea and its creatures become masters and get to experience the many days of hard work, learning, pain and joy that accompany them on that lifelong voyage. __________________ A swordfish is a swordfish is a swordfish, wherever it swims in the world. They are all brothers in blood and genes. We who hunt them are all brothers too, only in spirit and in our goals. Oh yes, and if cut, we bleed swordfish blood! Purple fever - catch it!

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10-13-2004, 06:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
swordfish123 Hooked Up Join Date: May 2004 Location: Oxford, Mississippi Boat: Whatever Hatteras lets me fish on Best Catch: ~250lb Blue Marlin- Marsh Harbour Occupation: Gulf Coast Hatteras Intern Posts: 318	Well i finally answered my own question. Marlin University, from Marlin Magazine. Its 4 days (not 6 weeks ha) and costs $5,500. Thats a lot. Heres the website if anyone is interested... http://www.marlinmag.com/marlinu.jsp Looks like the real deal. Im sure it would be awesome.

10-13-2004, 10:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
Captain Joe McGivern Charter Captain Join Date: May 2004 Location: MIAMI FLORIDA Boat: 32 fountain twin 275 verados 60+mph Best Catch: 488lb sword, 1070 Black Marlin, 720 Blue Marlin,203 Yellowfin Tuna Occupation: Captain Posts: 719	The best way is to work on a boat for free.Watch and lern,go to the local docks and beg,wash the boat do whatever u have to.Thats how i did it,and now i fish the BBC and numerous big fish tourneys around the world!

10-13-2004, 10:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
swordfish123 Hooked Up Join Date: May 2004 Location: Oxford, Mississippi Boat: Whatever Hatteras lets me fish on Best Catch: ~250lb Blue Marlin- Marsh Harbour Occupation: Gulf Coast Hatteras Intern Posts: 318	I wish i lived near the water! But i would definatly be willing to do so if i had the opportunity. Until then, I'll read all i can on websites like this one haha

10-14-2004, 05:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
greg1 Hooked Up Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Charelston, SC Posts: 129	chummingwithchunk is right but also wrong. Working for free may be the fastest way to get on a boat, but you will burn a lot of bridges by doing that. It is similar to being a scab in a strike situation. If you start working for free then you are undercutting a lot of the seasoned deckhands and hurting their ability to earn a living. I would definitely hang around the docks and help the deckhands wash the boats and cart away fish guts. Tell them what you are trying to do. You will have to swallow some pride and act like a complete newbie. Also, meet the captains. Eventually one of the deckies will get drunk and not show up. They'll call you. Then they'll call you again. That's how it works. If its a big boat you may be able to go as a second mate for tips only. But I would be very hesitant to work for free. You can get your a$$ kicked for that. Good luck. Also, where are you from? I fish Tuna/Marlin/Wahoo/Swords and am always looking for "crankers".

10-14-2004, 06:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
swordfish123 Hooked Up Join Date: May 2004 Location: Oxford, Mississippi Boat: Whatever Hatteras lets me fish on Best Catch: ~250lb Blue Marlin- Marsh Harbour Occupation: Gulf Coast Hatteras Intern Posts: 318	Well originally I am from Atlanta. We have always had a place in St Simons Island, GA where i learned to fish. We (dad and I) fish for kings and amberjack etc of the ga coast. For the past 2 years we have been gettin into the blue water stuff since we got our new boat. I always bug the captains and it led to our first sailfish and not too long ago, our first blue marlin and our first dolpin ( a 55 pounder at that) plus 4 more in the 20-30 lb range in the bahamas I am at the university of mississippi (Ole Miss) right now so i dont get a chance to get out on the water unless its holiday. Each trip leads to a new species. We are still in search of our first tuna and wahoo, and of course Swordfish. I am learning slowly but surely. I think thanksgiving will give us our sword. 4th night out is a charm. Christmas will lead to Wahoo as we are off to the bahamas--hopefuly. Thanks for the advice guys--

10-14-2004, 08:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
greg1 Hooked Up Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Charelston, SC Posts: 129	Ole Miss eh? Sorry about my boys from Alabama putting the smack down on you a few weeks ago, but the Rebels have been getting a little big for their britches as of late. I actually fish out of Orange Beach, AL. We should try to get together sometime. I'm 26 and can get off more days than my fishing buddies can. I'm sure you wouldn't mind missing a few days of class to go troll the big water.

10-14-2004, 08:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
swordfish123 Hooked Up Join Date: May 2004 Location: Oxford, Mississippi Boat: Whatever Hatteras lets me fish on Best Catch: ~250lb Blue Marlin- Marsh Harbour Occupation: Gulf Coast Hatteras Intern Posts: 318	We'll see what happens this weekend, it could be ugly. I wouldn't mind, that is for sure. Olerebels41 is my AIM. send me a message sometime.

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