Curriculum

Start Strong. Learn the Basics. Get on the Water.

Day 1 sets the foundation for everything that follows. You’ll begin with a focused classroom session, then step straight onto a working charter to apply what you’ve learned in real time.

Classroom Session (2 Hours)

We kick things off by covering the essential fundamentals every mate must know:

• Course introduction & expectations

• Interacting with customers and setting the tone for the trip

• Pre-trip checklist and boat readiness

• Knot tying and basic tackle rigging

On-the-Water Training (6 Hours)

After the classroom, you’ll step aboard a charter boat and get hands-on experience trolling the reef targeting:

Snapper • Grouper • Cero Mackerel • King Mackerel

Using:

• Double downriggers

• Surface baits

What You’ll Learn on the Water

This is where the real training begins:

• Complete pre-trip checklist

• Talk with captain about the days game plan

• Give customers a short tutorial on the vessels safety equipment, how to use the head, fishing gear, and the procedure of landing fish

• Have the customers come up with a rotation on who is going to reel the fish in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.

• Bait selection and rigging for reef trolling

• Proper fish handling and care

• Sequence and execution of casting off dock lines

• Boat awareness and teamwork during departure and return

• Securing the vessel properly at the dock

• Fish cleaning techniques

• Customer interaction and maximizing your tips

• Fish photo opportunities (on and off the water)

• End-of-day responsibilities:

  • Boat cleaning

  • Resetting and preparing for the next trip

By the end of Day 1, you’ll understand the flow of a real charter, your role as a mate, and what it takes to perform from dock to dock.

Build Your Foundation. Learn to Produce.

Spend 8 hours bottom fishing in the Gulf targeting grouper, kingfish, cobia, and yellowtail. Learn how to fish live bait on the bottom, run surface baits on balloons, and free line effectively.

• Complete pre-trip checklist

• Talk with captain about the days game plan

• Give customers a short tutorial on the vessels safety equipment, how to use the head, fishing gear, and the procedure of landing fish

• Have the customers come up with a rotation on who is going to reel the fish in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.

Master:

• Anchoring techniques (anchor, ball & ring)

• Bait selection and presentation

• Wire leader twisting

• Chumming and shark fishing

• Choosing the right hook and leader for your target

Day 2 is about producing fish consistently.

Dial It In. Fish with Accuracy.

Depart at 7am for a 6-hour wreck trip targeting amberjack, grouper, and snapper.

• Complete pre-trip checklist

• Talk with captain about the days game plan

• Give customers a short tutorial on the vessels safety equipment, how to use the head, fishing gear, and the procedure of landing fish

• Have the customers come up with a rotation on who is going to reel the fish in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.

Learn:

• Catching and managing live bait (dock + offshore)

• Converting seconds to depth to hit fish marks precisely

• Proper live bait rigging to prevent spin

• Vertical jigging and dropping large baits for big fish

Finish with:

• Boat cleaning, fish filleting, and gear reset

• 2-hour classroom review + Q&A

• Group dinner to connect and recap

Day 3 sharpens your precision and awareness.

Step Up. Go Offshore.

Spend a full day offshore targeting mahi, tuna, wahoo, and billfish.

Train on:

• Complete pre-trip checklist

• Talk with captain about the days game plan

• Give customers a short tutorial on the vessels safety equipment, how to use the head, fishing gear, and the procedure of landing fish

• Have the customers come up with a rotation on who is going to reel the fish in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.

• Rigging teasers, ballyhoo, and lures

• Proper crimping techniques and leader lengths

• Drag settings and spread placement

• Backup rods and switchover strategy

• Fishing floating debris and weed lines

Day 4 prepares you for high-level offshore operations.

Put It All Together. Perform Like a Pro.

Day 5 is your final test—operating like a true mate in a live charter environment.

• Complete pre-trip checklist

• Talk with captain about the days game plan

• Give customers a short tutorial on the vessels safety equipment, how to use the head, fishing gear, and the procedure of landing fish

• Have the customers come up with a rotation on who is going to reel the fish in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.

You’ll:

• Run through full trip prep having rods rigged and baits prepped

• Assist captain with looking for birds, floating debris, fish hitting the surface, fleeing bait fish, and anything worth fishing

• Instruct customers how to properly fight fish and use the gear correctly

• Land fish safely and swiftly securing them in the fish box

• Keeping as many baits in the water while fighting a fish to increase chances of multiple hookups

• After landing fish, getting the spread back to where it should be

• After lines in, cutting off hooks and swivels, and running your lines out behind the boat to remove any twists and line memory

• Put new leaders on to be ready for the following day

• After returning to the dock, clean the fish, put ice in your bait cooler, wash the boat, and store your rods making sure all the drags are backed off to free spool with the clickers on

• Make sure boat, ice machine, and dock box are all locked and hoses are turned off

• If the holding tank needs pumped, pump it (typically every 3rd trip)

Remember:

• Apply everything learned from rigging to customer interaction

• Work efficiently, anticipate needs, and manage the deck

• Demonstrate confidence, awareness, and professionalism

This is where knowledge turns into performance.

By the end of Day 5, you’ll have the skills, confidence, and real-world experience to step onto a charter boat ready to work—and get paid.