When on a boat with two or more people you soon find you are stuck in a very small room, and in the case of charter fishing you may not even know these folks at all. The conversation is what rules, not the fishing. If you have great talks and stories the fishing can take a backseat. Heck, the fishing can almost be bad and no one cares.
The subjects often travel the full gamut. If you’re with friends it usually covers old fishing trips, family happenings, gossip and what the kids and grandkids are up to. It’s a place to brag on them and to show concern if there are problems brewing. Sharing solutions also takes place and, of course, fixing the worlds problems are high on the agenda.
When sharing the boat with strangers the conversation often starts with a simple question. “Where’s home?” It’s amazing how much information that little question elicits. People want you to know not only where they are from now, but where they have been and how they got to where they are now. From there it heads to safe places. How many kids, grandkids, past fishing trips and just about every sport you can think of. Mostly football. Strange how football and fishing are somehow linked. I’ve told new fishing guides that they had better brush up on football teams, cities and stats if they want to keep conversation moving in the third and sometimes fourth hour of a trip.
The only taboo subjects are religion, politics and race. These sometimes enter the conversation, but very rarely. Family members will talk about all of the above, but not a new guest. That is best. In the world of charter fishing it’s important to not offend.
I can’t wait to get back on the water and wet a line, but I really can’t wait for good conversation. I really miss it.
