Fishing is what he knows

Tue, Jul 1, 2008

By DAVE JORDAN

The Brunswick News

Ask Captain Larry Crews what makes running a charter fishing business a great way to make a living and he'll tell you.

It's not the money. It's not the thrill of the hunt. It's not the bounty he brings in after a day on the water.

It's the people he gets to meet and show a good time.

"I love going out with kids or letting a family grab hold of something they've never caught before," said Crews, who owns and operates Offshore Charters out of Jekyll Harbor Marina on Jekyll Island. "All the smiling faces when they're catching something — that's the part that's very rewarding."

Today, Crews answers several questions about working as a charter captain.

The News: "When did you get into the charter fishing business and why the Golden Isles?"

Crews: "I've been fishing since I was 9 and been doing it 18 years, professionally. I started doing it mainly on the weekends. I worked in Camden County and Fernandina Beach and have been working out of Jekyll about 15 years. I'm a 1966 alum of Glynn Academy and Brunswick is my home."

With so many species of fish in our waters, what do people like to fish for the most?

Usually, when you have tourists coming down, they want to fish for 'arm stretchers.' They want to catch something big. They want to fish for something that, when they get through, their arms and hands are about dragging the ground.

What are some interesting charters you have had or have coming up?

This week, for instance, I'm taking a 78-year-old lady out for tarpon. She said she could take along a couple of others, but she really just wants to go by herself. She said she's done it before and is ready to go.

There are plenty of excellent charter fishing options here in the Golden Isles. What makes your company unique?

For starters, we have four boats and can accommodate big parties. We have a small party boat that can take 10 (fishermen) inshore or 12 offshore, and we have a bigger boat that can hold as many as 20. People who just want to go along but not fish can pay a rider fee and just enjoy the boat ride. And we are the only company operating out of Jekyll Harbor.

What's the latest, hottest trip in the charter business?

What's really excited folks recently is nighttime charter fishing. People love to go out at night and fish. We get a lot of 'watchers' on those trips.

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