“The fishing changes daily but when you look at the big picture, the situations you will be encountering will generally be the same year after year. Crack those codes and you will have a lot of success.

Keepin’ It Reel, Sea Hunt Gamefish 25′

Interview with the Captain — Adam Mastrangelo

On Fishing

Do you fish commercially or for pleasure?
I do charters most of the time but still do sneak in some time to fish with family and friends.

Who first introduced you to boating?
My uncle introduced me to fishing at the age of 3 and I’ve been hooked ever since. I was kind of a fisherman with a boat for a while. My friend Dave really helped me understand and enjoy the boating side of things which I’m super grateful for.

What’s your favorite game fish (and/or season)?
I’m a big fan of Mako sharks. They are super powerful, unpredictable and their acrobatics are really amazing to watch. I like the first week in October. The fishing is usually pretty hot for every game fish and you normally have the whole ocean to yourself!!

What’s your most memorable catch (or story from a trip)?
Probably my wife’s first striped bass. We were on my 8ft Walker Bay (which was basically an over sized bath tub) tied up to a mooring fishing the south side of Salem Harbor. She had never been saltwater fishing before and was eager to land her first striped bass. I was using fresh chunks of herring and just letting them drift naturally behind the boat. The fish were finicky that day and were playing with her bait, setting off her bait runner, then stripping the bait off the hook. I could see a large bass swirling behind her line every time the fish took a swipe at the bait, and I was just hoping she wouldn’t lose interest. After a few hours, frustration was setting in and I could see her getting discouraged. She hadn’t asked to go in yet but I could see on her face that she wanted to.

15 more minutes? I asked her and she agreed. 5 minutes later the bait runner went off and BANG she was hooked up. The drag was screaming and I untied us from the mooring letting the fish give my small boat a Nantucket slay ride all around the harbor. 10 minutes later I was able to land the fish for her. When I brought the fish out of the water the look on her face was priceless. The fish measured 36ish inches and weighed around 20lbs. Most people thought I was crazy fishing on that little boat, and I probably was, but we caught more fish and had more fun than probably anyone around. 

What’s your advice for less experienced anglers?
Spend as much time as you can on the water. The fishing changes daily but when you look at the big picture, the situations you will be encountering will generally be the same year after year. Crack those codes and you will have a lot of success.

Most under-rated piece of equipment or tackle?
My sunglasses, I’m literally blind with out them. A great pair of sunglasses can do wonders when it comes to knowing what is going on around you in the water and on the surface. I wear Oakley 5 squared glasses with maritime prizm lenses.

Any recent fishing/boating-related purchase you’ve been enjoying?
I installed 4 Mate Series cup holder / rod holders last year and cant say enough good things about them. They come in 0, 15, and 30 degree and can be top mounted with Phillips head screws or with a large lock nut screw for a screw less appearance. 

Do you have any other notable resources you use (apps, devices, etc)?
I have an old fashion barometer. I check it every night before bed and ever morning when I wake up. It’s a great tool to let you know what to expect for the day.
 

 

About the Boat

Why did you choose to buy a Sea Hunt?
After months of searching it had pretty much everything that I was looking for in my price range. The second I saw it in person I knew it was the right boat for me. The boat is very versatile as it measures 25’9″, weighs 5000lbs, has a 9ft beam and only draws drafts 19″. This gives me plenty of confidence to go offshore with or get in nice and shallow. The boat is the perfect size to take 4 people on a charter giving the anglers plenty of room to operate when the fishing gets hot while sipping fuel. Its not bad looking either.

What other kinds of boats did you consider before buying this model?
Contender, Southport, Sea Craft Everglades, Jupiter, Regulator. I decided to go with the Sea Hunt Gamefish because it had all of the features of the boats above but with a friendlier price tag.

How did you come to find/locate her before purchasing?
I had help from my friends at Marblehead Yacht Sales.

What boats have you previously owned?
My first boat was an 8ft Walker Bay dingy with a Mercury 3.5 4 stroke lovingly referred to as Bird Boat. Second was an 180cc Key Largo with a 90hp Johnson Ocean Pro and the third was a 23ft Polar cc with a 225 Suzuki 4 stroke.

What are the features you like most about your boat?
The Yamaha F150s get the boat on plane in just over 3 seconds and can reach 30mph in under 7 seconds — pairing that with the great responsiveness of the boat makes it a lot of fun to drive. I love having the dual livewells (36 gallon in the leaning post and 27 gallon in the transom) it allows me to do multiple charters in a day and still have plenty of fresh untouched bait to put into the pen at night. A full porcelain head inside the center console is a life saver. The the most under rated feature of the boat is the side tuna door. It’s great for bringing larger fish aboard and doubles as a handicap access entrance for people with physical ailments. It allows people to simply step on and off the boat which is priceless for older customers.  The boat is also extremely fuel efficient burning 10gph @ 3500rpms while traveling at 29mph.

What features/improvements have you added, or do you plan to add?
The boat is outfitted with a Simrad electronics package (nss12, go9, RF35, HS40, 4g radar, auto pilot, Sirius satellite weather module, structure scan, thru hull transducer). I upgraded the stereo with all JL audio components which feature a m600 amplifier, 4 m6 650 speakers and 2 m6 770 speakers. 3 LT marine swivel rod holders, 6 additional after market rod holders and 4 cup holder / rod holders. Upgraded livewell pumps. Additional storage compartments.

How do you typically use your boat over the summer, and where do you go?
During the weekdays I typically run charters all hours of the day north and south of Marblehead. On the weekends it’s always a safe bet to find me with friends and family putting the stereo to good use relaxing around Gloucester and Manchester.

What is the biggest challenge you have in servicing your boat?
Probably getting it to fit into my driveway. I do most of the work myself but Coastline Marine always does an amazing job for things above my pay grade. Maintenance is the key to being a successful boater.

Do you have any advice for those looking to buy a Sea Hunt like yours?
If you are interested in Sea Hunt boats I would expand your search to New Jersey. That is the location of the closest dealer. If you are interested in purchasing a boat in general I would start by going to the boat show so you can get on a few boats to see what styles jump out at you.

What’s the story behind the boat’s name?
Chappelle Show did a skit called “When keeping it real goes wrong.” I thought it was funny and liked the phrase so used it on my boat.

Check it Out
Click the gallery below for more photos and information about Keepin It Reel!