Sweet! Thanks for setting it up. I will be in touch with a few other people this weekend, and try to get deposits from them to confirm their spots. Will let you know an updated total.

Found this report from May 15th 2009...

Clipper Fleet report 5/15

:shocked:

I went out early last june....guy next to me caught one that had to be at least 60.....bottomed out the 50 lb scale that he had.

We definitely gotta set up a pool.

I have one guest, maybe more.

i have a guest coming - marty

Canal should be on fire that day.

sd - you are like a ray of sunshine :) and #^&#^&#^&#^& the canal

How big is the sundance 2? Ive been out on the challenger and maybe the Sundance a number of years ago. While i would love to catch a 50 lb'er what are the chances of a release on a fish that size? Its gotta be tough if you plan on getting it over the gunwale. Maybe knockin the jig out with a gaff... If only i have the chance to run into that problem.

All depends on depth and how quick you crank it up is my guess...

I don't even know what I'd do with that much cod, and you'd probably be picking worms out of those fillets for a full day

Tentative ;)

when we get a final list of guys would everyone mind sending me a check for $25 so i don't have to lay out the whole deposit for a few months? if god forbid the trip biffs out due to weather i'll promptly return everyones deposit. and if you catch a 50 rob just close your eyes while i "release" her, the big thud you hear on the deck will just be someone fainting

Do you PayPal?

I'm in. anybody coming from Mansfield or south let me know we can carpool with the Mule

PAypal would be a good option for paying, quick and easy.

i am also thinking paypal would be good...

i've got a paypal acct. sounds like a plan. checks are fine for anyone w/o a paypal acct

You might want to PM everyone your PayPal acct info (e-mail). I don't think PayPal does transfers for FREE anymore, at least I couldn't find the option. Cost me $1.03!:confused:

Paul: $25 is in cyberspace your way via PayPal.
(I know Niko's e-mail!)

Thanks makes life simple!:uhuh:

yes, pm us your info. i will gladly pay 1.03 to not have to get out of my chair to digitally send money miles and miles away.

Looks like this trip is going to happen! Awesome! Thanks Niko!

I hope I’m not overstepping my bounds but I wanted to make a proposal. I’ve fished both of these boats and the Challenger is just so much more fishable, especially when you are catching big cod. The back of the Sundance is fine, but landing a big fish at the bow is not as easy. It’s true that they don’t like to charter the Challenger on the weekends because they like to save the better boat for the regulars but they will do it. I made a call to Joe at the Clipper Fleet and talked about what he would be willing to do. Here’s what he said:
1) He will reserve the Challenger for us!
2) Cost: The Challenger is a bigger boat and is twice as expensive to run but fits more people. They used to put 50 to 55 on the boat but today they like to limit it to a very comfortable 40. The normal weekend rate is $68 pp at 40 head plus $4 for a rod. He will charter the boat to our group on May 15th for $2600 plus rod rentals, 7 AM to 4 PM. We can make is a marathon, 5 AM to 5 PM for only $200 more.
3) Those that sign up can call the Clipper Fleet and pay directly. He will handle this for us. This way no one has to collect the money and deal with all the hassle that goes with that responsibility. They take credit cards as well. All we need to do is name our group and direct individuals to call Clipper Fleet and pay by 3/31. (He typically asks for $1000 down and the balance on the day of the trip so as long as we get 15 guys to sign up by 3/31 we should have additional time to fill the boat. (I suggest we pay this way whether we do the Challenger or the Sundance to make it easier on Niko and avoid Pay Pal fees)
4) If we don’t get the full 40 which it looks like won’t be a problem then he can open up the additional slots to his regulars or we can cover the cost of the additional slots between us. There is a twist to this is if he has to open it up to the public in that he may have to go to a regular 9 hour trip. So if we want to do the marathon we can pay the additional $200 at the dock. We just have to decide now so that people know what they are signing up for. If we don’t get the magic number or agree to cover the open slots by say 4/15 then he opens it up and it goes to the regular 7 to 4 trip. As long as we have a critical mass and agree to cover the extra if we don’t hit 40 then we can leave the trip open to our group right up until 5/15 to fill any open slots.
5) Zacs or Niko can own the sign up list and give the names to the Clipper Fleet so that only our group is signing up. When we’ve reached the agreed upon number of paid spots we can shut it down.
6) At 35 guys this is $74.28 pp, at 40 it’s $65 and at 45 it’s $57.77. I realize it’s a few extra dollars but this boat is much more fishable and even a bit faster. It also has a flatter bottom and doesn’t roll as much when drifting. We’ll be more comfortable and be able to include more of us for more fun and a bigger pool!
7) We are responsible for the $2600 or $2800 only. How we fill the boat is up to us.
8) Next steps:
a. Tell me to shut up and stick with the current plan on the Sundance. I won’t be offended and I am definitely in!
b. Decide we want to do the Challenger.
c. Agree on the target size (say 40 at $65), name the group and start PM’ing our full names to whoever will own the list.
d. Call Joe at the Clipper Fleet and give him our group name and the individual list.
e. Direct folks to call the Clipper Fleet and pay for their slot.
f. Start the trash talking on who is going to land the biggest cod!

By the way, I did not mention striped-bass.com, Niko or anyone here so if we don’t want to pursue the Challenger nothing has changed about the Sundance deal.

Tight lines!

i'm open to this plan as long as we get 35+ guys. let's decide if this is the way we want to go over the weekend. i've got a deposit set to go out to him, but i will sit on it over the weekend. fish on - if we go this way you can set this up w/ the capt seeing as you allready talked to him

Niko,
Let me know which way you want to handle this and Mikey and I will commence.
Thanks,
Rick

Most of those big girls come belly up.. there is not alot of release if you get one.... I carry a vewnting tool, and it works great on the smaller stuff... not so much in the big ones....there should be a fair amount of haddock as well... clams or a small jig worked very slowly work well.. the Sudance is a big boat.. i'm not sure how big... dryer and faster than the Challenger too...

Taking the weekend to decide sounds great. If we decide on the Challenger I’m happy to confirm it with Jim and I’ll reach out to him periodically and post an updated count of how many have paid. Should we do a show of hands for both decisions? a) Challenger or Sundance and b) Regular trip (9 hours) or marathon (12 hours).

I’ll start and put myself down for preferring the Challenger and the marathon.

The head count and whether or not we do a marathon will determine the final cost but here are the estimates based on a specific count for each boat.

Challenger:
-At 40 total it will be $70/person for the marathon

Sundancer
-At 25 it will be $66 for the marathon

PS: Jim at Clipper Fleet confirmed the Challenger is the faster boat.

i'm leaning towards the callenger... . finding 40 should be no problem?? I would rather keep it S-B & friends, instead of opening to public. I would also prefer marathon....

Clipperfleet Ships

i got with the flow, what ever the masses decide, there will be punch and pie right?

add 2 guests for me, ( Al and Mike are the names )

Either way I'm in! Add one more to the list.

Im In

[QUOTE=zacs;841799]= I would rather keep it S-B & friends, instead of opening to public.QUOTE]

definately a sb and friends event. challenger and marathon for me too

I am down for whatever the group decides- challenger/marathon works for me, as long as we have enough people... I'd prefer to spend at most $100 for the fare.

Still waiting to hear back from my confirmed guest- Looks like the other two tentative ones I had won't be able to make it.

It seems like challenger/marathon is consensus. We need a few more bodies...

What about RI crew? I am happy to drive up a crew, I can fit 3 additional in my truck comfortably with plenty room for rods/gear.