How do you define a great fishing trip? I think you'd get a lot of different answers depending on…read morewho you ask. Some people would focus on success, as in what you caught, how many you caught, etc. and others would just be happy to have a day out on the ocean with friends and/or family. Others probably a mix of both, and some other smaller factors.
I'm happy to say our 4-hour off-shore fishing trip with captain Cane and his first mate Bella (his daughter) was a success by all measures. We caught a lot, had some great fish fights, enjoyed each other's company, and learned a lot about ocean fishing as well as the captain.
If there was a downside, we didn't catch any edible fish, but to me... this is minor when all five people in the boat get to fight some sharks, including hammerheads, black tips, and spinners! I was the only person in our group that had ever fought a shark before, and it was nowhere near the five foot hammerhead I tussled with on this trip. We can now all say we've angled a good size shark, not something many people can say. All sharks, for the record, were reeled into the side of the boat, admired for a moment, and released as quickly as possible. The captain had a special tool for removing the hooks in their mouths, and he said if unable to remove, he would cut the line and the hook would rust away in 3 days time.
Captain Cane was very knowledgeable and also really good about keeping the conversations going while we waited on our fish to bite. It was also cool to learn he's a 6th generation fisherman in these waters, and to watch him pass his knowledge on to his daughter.
Some things to know before going out:
1) No bathroom on board, at least for the shorter trips. Make sure you clear things out beforehand!
2) Ensure your party is up to the physical challenge of open ocean fishing. Even on calm days, the boat will bob and weave, and the fish are likely to put up a good fight.
3) Bring non-spray sunscreen, cold beverages in a cooler (preferably large enough to sit on) and snacks if you think you might get hungry.
4) Make sure you get a secure grip for your cell phone or camera, if the ocean claims it, you're S.O.L!