GREAT captain in Point Judith
 

A couple of weeks ago, me and 2 friends arranged to rent a cottage in Point Judith for this past weekend. On the agenda was a Saturday full day charter with Captain Norm Bardell of Busy Line charters, who I found in an RISAA publication.

In the days leading up to the trip, I spoke to him several times on the phone, and he sounded like a good guy. Unfortunately, he came by the cottage on Friday night and told u that the wind would be too rough, even for his 23-foot Seacraft!! He hoped that the winds might die down by Sunday morning. I told him that it would have to be a half-day charter on Sunday, as my 2 friends had to leave by 10:00 (I was planning to stay throughout the day).

So he called back on Saturday afternoon, and thought the winds would still be too rough on Sunday. So, my friends and I woke up at 9:00, and planned to get a nice breakfast before they left. The phone rang, it was Norm, who told me the winds had laid down and we could go if we wanted. I told him it was too late, that my friends had to leave. Since he knew that I was staying, he said, "well Jamie, I'm going to go out fishing this morning anyway. Why don't you come along?". I told him it was tempting, but that I was looking forward to having breakfast with my friends. Norm said "no problem, I'll pick you up in an hour".

So he did. How many captains would wait around an hour for you? We covered a LOT of water, and finally found some busting blues at Charlestown. It was a great time. Every time one of us hooked up, he was so excited, you'd think he was a kid hooking into his first fish. Very happy and enthusiastic, you can tell it's not just a job to him.

On the way back in, I thought to myself, this is going to be expensive by myself, but it was worth it. When we got to the dock, Norm told me to just give him gas money, since he was going out anyway!

Not many guys would do something that nice for someone they had never met. I've fished with about 25 charter captains, and he was hands down the nicest, most enthusiastic, most accommodating, most enthusuastic I've met. Anyone looking for a charter in the Point Judith area would really be doing himself a favor by calling Norm (Busy Line Charters) at (401) 788-3646. Just a great, great guy.

JAmie

It's hearing about stuff like this that makes me remember them the next time I want to go out charter boat fishing....