Life as a First Mate and Other Fishing Tips

EDITOR'S NOTE: Recently, I took part in a phenomenal fishing expedition on the "Baby Grand" out of the Grand Casino in Gulfport, Mississippi. We left the casino at 6 a.m. After a 3 1/2-hour-boat ride, we set up our equipment about 90 miles from shore at the mouth of the Mississippi River, also known as South Pass. That afternoon in 350-foot water, we caught two blue marlin. Today I'll talk with Eric Gill, first mate aboard the "Baby Grand" who has his captain's license for a 100-ton Master. A first mate for 12 years, Gill has spent the last six years on the "Baby Grand." Gill will discuss our catch and give you tips on how you, too, can have a successful blue-marlin trip.

QUESTION: What is life like as a first mate or captain of a charter boat?

ANSWER: Basically, being a first mate or a captain is a lot of hard work six months of the year. Then during the off-season we work hard also to get the boat back in running shape for the summer.

QUESTION: What's a typical day like for you during fishing season?

ANSWER: Usually, I'm up around 5:30 a.m. and fishing somewhere offshore by 10 a.m. We generally return to the dock at about 4 p.m. to clean and wash the boat. Before I go to bed each night, I spend about 1 1/2-hours rigging 12 to 15 dead baits for the next day's fishing trip.

QUESTION: What are your duties on the boat during the day?

ANSWER: I watch for the fish and help make sure that everyone is comfortable aboard the "Baby Grand." My main goal is to help everyone aboard catch fish.

QUESTION: What are the five biggest mistakes people make when they fish for blue marlin?

ANSWER:

1) Many people try to pull too many lines. If you have two or three mates, then you can pull 10 lines. But if you're by yourself, you should limit yourself to five.

2) Don't use dull hooks. Very-sharp hooks will penetrate through the marlin's mouth, which is very tough.

3) Be prepared to catch a marlin before you drop your lines, and then you won't lose the marlin. On our trip, we were almost not ready. If you're not ready, you won't know when that fish is back behind the boat.

4) Don't let the boat's lines get slack. If the angler's not reeling, then the captain has the job of keeping the boat moving forward to ensure good tension. The angler, the first mate and the captain all must have good communication with each other. If the line goes slack, you have a good chance of losing the fish.

5) Tie only good knots. Everybody has tied a bad knot at one time or the other. But, do it right, and be sure you've got your tackle up to par. On board the "Baby Grand," we tie a short Bimini knot because we are keep wind-on leaders on some. We also use a Huntsford knot, which is a 10 twist up and 10 twist down with a couple of half inches in your barrel swivel. When a marlin breaks off, two out of 10 times that break is due to either line or knot failures.

For more information on fishing for blue marlin aboard the "Baby Grand" out of the Grand Casino in Gulfport, Mississippi, contact Matt Reed at (800) WIN-7777, extension 1989. To learn more about the Mississippi Gulf Coast's fine fishing, call (800) WARMEST.

Tomorrow: A Captain's Role In A Blue-Marlin Catch