My very first fishing trip out to sea was with Captain Smitty on the Riptide so many years ago… Back then, the experience was what I could only describe as top notch! Captain Smitty got us right on the fish every time, the professionalism and experience from him and his deck hand back then was just beyond words. It only helped to grow my love for fishing and develop the level of respect I have for Captain Smitty. Over the years, I chartered several trips for my crews for rock cod and salmon trips, and was never disappointed as we always left with limits on every trip.
Now, almost 30 years from that day, I get to finally take my own 13-year old son Sebastian on his first trip, and the choice was easy, the Riptide. And seeing Captain Smitty was a great honor again, and I knew it would be a great trip once again.
And I was right!
We headed out and got to our first spot. I set up my son’s gear, get him settled up and show him how to keep his balance, how to drop his line, etc.
We get his line in the water, and in less than 1 minute, his line starts shaking. His eyes just about popped out with excitement as he reels in not one, but TWO cods on his first drop! Lee, the deck hand, immediately rushed over to assist with unhooking, and Sebastian was just lit! Now he was hooked!
It took us less than 3 hours to get full limits for all of us, including my sim hitting a nice lingcod (video)!
Now he can’t wait for next season to hopefully go on his first salmon trip, and even though at first he was worried when he saw the Riptide was a smaller boat than the others, he understood now what I meant that the man behind the wheel had all the experience needed to make this the biggest and best boat on the waters!
Thank you again Captain, from the bottom of our hearts, for making this a memory he will never forget!
Julio & Sebastian Rios
Tight Lines!!!
My very first fishing trip out to sea was with Captain Smitty on the Riptide so many years ago… Back then, the experience...
