08/01/2007

Headboats: Just Show Up and Go Fishing
By Bob Lassahn

The term "headboat" was coined as a colloquial term to describe a recreational fishing vessel for hire that accepted anglers on a first-come, first-served basis, charging a fee per person or per head. It is now a term applied to any partyboat for hire that carries more than six people.

On average headboats carry in the range of 30 anglers, although there are larger vessels that might accommodate more than 100. With that many anglers fishing from a headboat it is mostly straight down on heavy tackle looking for bottom fish. Species the headboat angler might hook up include sea bass, croaker, sea trout, bluefish, tautog or flounder, depending on time of year and location.

The Skipper and the Mate

One of the popular headboats working out of the Ocean City Fishing Center on Route 50 is the Bay Bee, a 40 footer skippered by Captain Bob Gowar designed specifically to accommodate bay fishing. Capable of carrying a total of 28 anglers the Bay Bee makes two trips of four hours each per day looking primarily for flounder.

Captain Bob, started working in the fishing business at age nine and has been at it now for 60 years. He was kind enough to spend some time giving The Courier an update on both the flounder fishing and the availability of fishermen to make use of his business as viewed through his experienced eyes.

Captain Bob says it has been a good season for catching "little" fish but the "keepers," for flounder a fish at least 15-1/2 inches in length, have been a bit sparse. During our visit the returning trip had hooked over 100 fish with only one keeper among them. But he also says that those who fish with him seem to enjoy the trip regardless of the total catch.

It’s a keeper

Captain Bob also says business has been about average. Beginning with the close of schools and extending until Labor Day his boat is normally at capacity for all trips.  There has been an occasional shortfall on some of the afternoon outings and he has noticed shorter waiting lists of hopeful anglers lining up to fill a spot if there happens to be a "no show" for a trip. In previous years he says a waiting list might be as many as six persons, while now two is about the maximum.

Among the visitors he finds making up his customer base this year are anglers from Delaware, New Jersey and Virginia where the minimum legal size for flounder is larger than Maryland's and they are allowed to keep fewer fish. Each Maryland angler is allowed to keep up to four legal size flounder per day. Captain Bob says that many locals normally begin fishing with him after Labor Day.

Captain Bob and Mate George M. Lenz lay claim to being the most experienced crew (the "oldest" in their jargon) among the Ocean City fleet. On the other end of the age spectrum Tyler Atkins, also working as a mate aboard Bay Bee, is just 17 years old.

A four hour outing on the Bay Bee will cost an adult $28, while children 12 and under are $20. Rental of a rod and reel is an extra $5. Sodas and light snacks are available for purchase. It is also customary to tip the mate.

Ocean City is home to a number of headboats offering both ocean and bay fishing with full day (eight hour), half-day (four hour) and some two hour and/or evening trips. One of the advantages in headboat fishing for the novice, occasional angler and visitors is that no investment in fishing gear is necessary, since all of the boats have rods and reels for rent. They even supply the bait. A person could literally show up at the boat with nothing but the clothes on their back and still go fishing, although there are some personal items that would definitely make the trip more enjoyable. Amenities offered beyond the requisite fishing tackle vary from boat to boat, with some providing food and beverages for sale, but it is best to inquire about offerings when booking the trip and before venturing out.