Last month I took my daughter out on a fishing trip with Captain Matt and we easily caught a limit of big salmon for everyone on board.  It was my first fishing charter where I actually caught fish.  The experience was so great that I took my wife out on Labor Day.  And again, we had great results.  We passed a number of boats in the area and we didn’t see anyone reel in even one fish while we were catching ours.  Matt was watching his depth finder and adjusting the depth of our lines as needed.  Almost every time he made those adjustments we caught a fish within the first minute. And while everyone was crowded around each other in one place, Matt would maneuver our boat away from the crowd.  And again, shortly after doing so, we caught more fish. We were with another couple who had never been fishing before and Matt helped coach them to ensure that they caught their limit as well.  Another memorable experience!!  So much so that next spring, I am taking my wife and two daughters out with Matt again.  Looking forward to making some more memories.

I am almost 69 years old, my daughter almost 35.  Sadly, we haven’t been fishing together in almost 20 years after years of fishing almost every summer.  I am retired now from a pretty intensive career, and my daughter finds herself doing the same thing nowadays.  We have gone on some epic summer vacations these past 10 years including just getting back from a week in Times Square in NYC.  Great memories were made.  But fishing always brought me my greatest joy and it was just multiplied when fishing with my girls.  One daughter passed unexpectedly several years ago and I have been battling through that loss since losing her.  I realized that instead of regretting the memories I didn’t get to make with her, I needed to focus on making some new memories with my daughter that was still with me.  Matt and his Messin’ Around Charter helped my daughter and I make some incredible memories this past week when in less than two hours everyone on the boat caught their limit.  My daughter had never caught a fish that big before and I had not in almost 40 years.  Matt was the perfect charter Captain and host.  He answered questions while teaching us how to catch salmon in the ocean.  When my daughter caught her first fish, her smile was so big!!  And I am sure mine was also.  They say that money can’t buy you happiness, but it can buy you a fishing charter with Matt which will bring you a lot of happiness.  I had such a great time that when we got home that day, I booked a charter for my wife and I this coming Labor Day.  Going to make some more epic memories.  I could not have asked for a better Captain or a better experience.

It was a great day out. I especially liked that he could pick us up from Shilshole and it was only a short boat ride out to the ideal spot.

I originally wanted to go out Dungeness crabbing but due to changes in Washington State fishery timing it wasn’t possible.  Nonetheless I had a blast salmon fishing and we hit our 2 Salmon/person limit rather quickly.  Coming from the East Coast, I thought that that limit was rather paltry but later realized that given the size of the fish, there’s more than plenty of meat.

Captain was super helpful with both driving the boat, making sure the rigs were in the water, watching them for when the rod would pull and coaching us on the proper technique to bring them in given that the hooks are barbless (WA law)

We ended up finishing early and he cleaned the fish at the dock, bagged it for us and there was ice available to purchase right then and there.

It was a great time and would definitely consider again if I’m in the area.

Good day to all,

The day began at 7:00a.m. sharp on Mr. Messing’s boat.  There were three of us on the boat as passengers.  We rode out approximately 21 minutes to arrive in a phenomenal spot of non-stop fishing for 25 minutes.  Folks, we finished in an hour catching the maximum amount for each person.  I cannot begin to tell you about this awesome experience.  You will not be disappointed if you go fishing with Matthew.  I never got fish slim on me.  I did not have to bait the hook, throw the fishing pole line out, or use the net to scoop the fish up.  All I had to do was hole the pole while reeling the fish in, and do not forget to back up when the line gets close to the boat.  The backing up allows Matthew to scoop the fish with the net.  Matthew, you will definitely see me again soon.  It was a pleasure being out on the Puget Sound with everyone. 

Mississippi Resident,
B. Newman