The “Bow Launcher” Center Console Style

Throughout the years I’ve been fortunate enough to have been employed as a mate on many of south Florida’s top sport fishing charter boats. In my opinion, I have also worked for some of the best captains in the business. Most are not only awesome fisherman, but also very disciplined about the condition of their boat and tackle.

Perfectly clean engine rooms, immaculate interiors, and overly organized tackle centers are the norm on most tournament sport fishing yachts. In addition, I have always maintained an open relationship with each captain. Having numerous conversations about fishing techniques, cockpit safety, and day in and day out job expectations.

 Due to the maintenance on these big boats being so time consuming, it’s important to make each job as easy as it could possibly be. Now that I have made the transition into center console type charter boats, the maintenance time has definitely been reduced. The fishing techniques, though somewhat different due to boat layout and design, still pose significant organization and simplification factors.

The “Bow Launcher” is nothing more than your standard 4 rod swivel rocket launcher mounted on the bow of a center console. Though it sounds very simple it is probably one of the most significant changes that Capt Bill Scott and I have made to our 31’ Ocean Master thus far.

The “Bow Launcher” is utilized in a way to make everyday fishing techniques aboard the ‘Bill Collector’ much more efficient. Kite Fishing — A one man operation. Simply put, a single angler can fish a Kite rod and three additional baits off of that one kite without ever having to take a single step to make an adjustment.

Even with the numerous rod holders mounted along the side of your boat, when the wind is fluctuating and your kite is up, down, and all over the place, it can be quite frustrating running from rod to rod to make the necessary adjustments. Remember if you are not fishing your baits directly on the surface, you are defeating the whole purpose of kite fishing.

NOTE: Always fish a safety line on your kite rod. The pressure of a heavy wind against your kite, can and will send your kite rod airborne. Don’t learn this mistake the hard way.

Because our ‘Bow Launcher’ swivels, we are able to slowly adjust our location and stay in the desired depth without ever having to pick up a rod or reel or a single bait. On many occasions prior to the installation of our ‘Bow Launcher’, we would set up in a particular spot only to have to wind everything up and make a move. Now, if we set up in 100’ and the hot bite is in 150’ we simply adjust the angle of the launcher and slowly motor in and out of gear until we reach our desired depth, leaving the kite up as we move and all the rods in their same positions. Keep a close eye on the baits as you are adjusting your location. The extra effort needed to keep the baits on the surface will be well worth it when a lit up sail comes into the spread.

The ‘Bow Launcher’ has proven to be equally as practical while sword fishing. When we first started sword fishing we almost always fought the fish standing up with a belt and harness. It took us a good dozen marathon battles before we realized we needed to implement another method of battling these giants of the deep. The tackle we now use for swordfish consists of bent butt rods outfitted with 50 and 80 twospeed reels. The short bent butt outfits give us the option of fighting the fish standing up or out of the ‘Bow Launcher’. Given the angle of a bent butt rod, when utilizing the launcher the tip of the rod is always out over the waters surface. I would say that most of the anglers we take out sword fishing are gung-ho on stand up fishing. Twenty minutes into a fight, the rod always ends up in the ‘Bow Launcher’. While fighting a sword out of the launcher you will also notice an increase in control. Swordfish have a tendency to drastically change direction. The swiveling ‘Bow Launcher’ will make overcoming these direction changes easier.

NOTE: When adjusting your depth while your kite and baits are still deployed, it is very important to bridle your goggle eyes just forward of the dorsal fin. As you inch the boat forward or backwards the bait will swim naturally in the direction that you are moving. If your bait is bridled directly in the middle of the back, it will have a tendency to pull out of the water and splash sideways on the surface. This is not only a good way to wear a large hole through the bait where you bridled your hook but also a good way to simply kill your baits. As a second option, if your baits are not cooperating while adjusting your depth, simply reel all the baits into the free air space and make a quick 10-15 second dash. Locally, a ten to fifteen second move could be as much as 50 feet in depth and your baits will be fine once you lower them back into position. Properly bridled bait will swim in the direction that you are moving in

About the Author

Bobby has been an accomplished marine artist and fisherman for many years. He is a native Floridian and currently resides in Deerfield Beach. As a professional mate Bobby has worked on many top sport fishing boats. Queen Anne’s Concrete Machine with Capt. Bill McMurray, The VIP Challenge with Capt Mark Danley, and just recently joining Black Gold with Carl Hitch and Capt. Keith Bokenhagen. Working with the best local captains over the years has given Bobby an opportunity to learn outstanding rigging techniques as well as cockpit safety and awareness. Bobby is currently running Swordfish charters aboard the Bill Collector out of Deerfield Beach. Bobby can be reached at: (954) 420.5001 or RjBoylestudio@aol.com