A weathered Captain takes travelers on an unforgettable excursion
by Meagan Dion
Captain John Potter’s shirt said it all “Live Slow”.
The sun was gleaming, Jimmy Buffet was singing and the sea breeze sprayed a salty mist into the eyes of eager passengers aboard the Skipper fishing charter as Captain John steered the boat toward his favorite fishing hole. A day on board the Skipper is a cinematically seamless vacation treat.
A Captain for nearly 30 years, John’s enthusiasm for fishing and hosting the charters has not tired in the least. His magnetic charisma and innate necessity to ensure every passenger leaves smiling on his daily excursions prove no surprise that his charter has won “Best of the Vineyard” for 20 years in a row.
He started the charter in 1987 to be a family-oriented activity for travelers on the island. Where some Captains might find a boat full of children unsure how to fish and tangling their lines both tiresome and aggravating, John’s eyes light up as he matches the enthusiasm of the kids reeling in their fish time and time again. To him, every fish is more exciting than the last to catch.
“We assume no one has fished before and we take our passengers from beginning to end,” the Captain explained. “I am all about the love”.
And he meant it. For the full four-hour fishing charter, both Captain John and his First Mate Jeff tirelessly hopped from one guest to another to take fish off hooks, untangle lines, and ardently make it known when someone caught a monster. At one point, John tooted the Skipper’s horn to rally up the boatload of newly trained fisherman and yelled, “Okay kids! Bait ‘em up! Make me proud!” A sense of camaraderie was relevant as more experienced passengers put down their poles to help weary neighbors bait their hooks or offer up beers and snacks to one another. Everyone cheered each other on fish after fish was reeled up onto the Skipper and the riders playfully teased as macho men pulled in minnows as their young daughters caught 15 inchers.
By the end of the excursion, each passenger had a 5-gallon bucket full of enough sea bass and skup to feed a family for at least a week. Working off gratuities, Captain Jeff even filleted everyone’s catch and sent families with bags of their hard earned catches over to Coop de Ville, where they will cook your bounty.
For $65 dollars for adults and $55 dollars for children, you can live the mantra of the slow life on the Skipper and be ensured your family is treated to both a tasty fresh caught meal and an unforgettable memory. Charters leave daily from 10a.m.-2p.m. and again from 1:00p.m. to 5:00p.m. at the Oak Bluffs’ harbor.
