I receive several e-mails a month from anglers who are not familiar with long range fishing. So this month I am going to try to answer most of the basic questions about long range fishing. For you veterans please come back next month when I go over some tricks on trolling for wahoo.

How can you stay on a boat for that many days? All of the long range boats were built with extended stays on the water in mind. They all have air-conditioned staterooms, hot and cold water as well as color TV and VCR. All the creature comforts of home. Some ocean cruise ships would be envious of the accommodations. I do not watch the video while on a trip because I only do four things when I am on a long range boat. Rest, Eat, Bathe and Fish.

Where do you sleep? All the boats have staterooms at or below deck level. Most are two passenger rooms. So you are not sleeping in a "open" bunk like on shorter trips. If you have a fishing buddy it is all best to bring them along. Individuals are welcome too.

Is the food any good? In one word YES. The Chefs on long range boats pride themselves on getting you fat on these trips. If you have any special dietary needs just let them know ahead of time. The Chefs are there to please you. Jorge Nicifore is the Chef on the Red Rooster III and he knows that I hate to eat fish, so when fish is being served there is always a fish-less platter for me.

Don’t you smell after that many days on a boat? Well some people do. But that is no fault of the boat. There is plenty of room to bring several changes of clothes. Bring clothes that you do not mind if they get dirty or stained. To keep the orders out of my staterooms I throw away all of old fishing clothes after a days use. There are showers on board that one can and should use

How do you fish with all those people? Fishing with a full load of anglers is something that takes a little time to get use to. I would recommend you start out taking a 4 or 5 day long range trip first. This will give you enough to get into the swing to things on a long range vessel. It can get very hectic during a wide-open bite. Just stay calm and do what the crew tells you to do.

Who keeps track of the fish? Each angler is given their own set of numbered tags. When you land a fish a crew member will ask you for your number. Just give him or her one of your tags and they will staple it to your fish. As some as possible the crew will place the fish into the vessel freezer. Some vessels also offer a filleting service. Ask the crew about it and if so how much does it cost?

How many fish can I catch? As many as you can, but you may only keep 30 fish. There is also a 15 fish limit on a species of fish with the following exceptions: billfish only 1, dorado only 6. If you want to catch and release fish that is welcome on long range vessels. Just let the crew know ahead of time.

Can I eat my fish on board? Most vessels will serve fish at least one time on the longer trips during your stay. Some will even serve sashimi for you. Just ask the Chef.

Can I sale my fish? NO. California Dept. of Fish and Game does not allow fish caught from a Sportfishing vessel to be sold. Even if you have a commercial license yourself, it is against the law to sell your catch from one of these trips.

How do I get my fish home? You have several options such as bringing the fish home is the back of your car or truck. You can trade your tuna in for canned albacore. Or how about trading them in for smoked fish. I do not worry too much about getting my fish home as most of what a land is given away on the boat or traded for cans. I do not bring home much in the way of whole fish now. I just let the crew on the Red Rooster III fillet my fish and then I take home a few bags of fillets.

What kind of tackle do I buy? I always recommend that you rent the tackle from the boat or the landing for your first trip. If you start buying your tackle it can get expensive. After your first trip or two, if you want to get serious about going long range fishing, then it is time to get your gear.

I do not know what to do? First timers are welcome on the long range vessels. Actually if you listen to what the crew tells and shows you, you will do quite well. Yes, ladies are also welcome.

What do you catch? It will vary from trip to trip. Tuna, of various species, yellowtail, some times dorado, wahoo or marlin. The season and length of trip will determine what fish you catch too.

Are these fish good to eat? I really am not the one to ask but others have given good rating on tuna, yellowtail, dorado and wahoo. The chefs on the vessels will have a couple of dishes.

I hope this will answer some of your questions, but if you still have a few more you can e-mail them to me a onorods@pacbell.net I’ll try to answer as quickly as I can. Next month wahoo trolling secrets.