Recently, I took my girlfriend out fishing on a local boat (will remain anonymous). It was her first time out and I was praying she would have a good time. As it turns out, she did! She ended up catching a nice sand bass and I ended up with nothing legal. I've been on enough fishing boats that I knew better not to enter my girlfriend in the jackpot. First-timers always seem to do well! Anyway, she didn't win the jackpot. But... a couple things came up that I wanted to get your opinions on. For one, the jackpot fish was a sheepshead. Now, I'm not 100% sure on this, but I don't think I've ever been on a boat that allowed sheepshead in the JP. I have no idea why they would be disallowed, but it seems that this is usually the case. Secondly, the JP was won by a girlfriend of the deckhand. I have no idea whether she paid for the trip (probably not) or paid to get into the JP. Regardless, should family or relations of the crew be allowed to win? In most contests, they are not. Believe me, I'm not bitter in the slightest! I had a great time! Just wanted to throw these two things out there and see what you guys thought....

dude,
As long as the friend payed for the trip and the jackpot, I have no problem with it. The question comes in if the friend didn't pay for the trip. That would not classify that person as a customer and as I understand it, only customers are eligable for the jackpot. On the other side, if you know a deckhand or somethin like that and he sneaks you on the boat for no cost, would that mean you're not eligable for the jackpot? It's a tough call. You are fishing like everyone else, but you didn't pay to get on. I think it's one of those deals where it's a situational decision. As long as the deckhand isn't hooking fish and handing them off to his girlfriend for the jackpot... If there's no major problem like that, I'd let it slide. I've never heard of sheephead not counting for the jp. I've won the jp with a sheephead on the stardust before. The fish that don't count in sb are sharks, rays and skates.
-Brian

It is not uncommon for people to get a trip from a crew member or owner. many times they are riding on a pass for already donating a jackpot. If the angler pays to get into the JP they should be allowed to participate. If I was a crew member I would hope that someone who is friendly to the crew and donates the JP as a tip would get in every time. This is their livleyhood. As far as Sheephead they often win the pot. It is frustrating, you fish hard all day, get a nice surface fish, usually a skill type catch, then a bottom dweller kicks your butt. There are some boats that have fish specific pots like bass only, but they are few and far between.

Unrelated to this thread but related to our old thread of jackpot etiquette I just wanted to say when I win the jackpot now I turn the whole %100 over to the crew - provided you get a free pass. Stardust gave me 2 free passes last weekend

Here is a good opportunity to boast the 31" 10 + lb. halibut I took on the Stardust off of Carpinteria last weekend - a good feeling on 12lb test. Picture to come soon.

I was on this boat with Angler Dude and I must say his girlfriends sandbass was much more beautiful than the sheephead which probably only weighed an ounce or two more.

tree

Never heard of Sheepies not counting in JP. Personaly, I think that they are a truly fun to catch, and while not a surface fish are way harder to catch than sand bass (all luck aside). They run straight for the rocks and they (even small sheeps) have the strength to take you there. Plus to target them you have to fish light line, bad combo for fishing rocks. The luck factor can be huge in fishing, I've never seen a white sea bass over 40lbs caught by someone with anything resembling talent. It's proof that 20lb line (all our rent rods have 20lb) can take a lot of tension.

Concerning who gets in JP, can't see why what someone pays is a factor. And if they are freinds of the crew, this shouldn't matter either as long as there's no cheating. If they cheat go complain to the office at the landing, you just might get a free pass. But, then should you be allowed to get in JP? Yes. Cheating is very rare though, I've seen it twice in four years as a deckhand.

Amish Ed

Tree, I think it is great that you have adopted this new philosophy. You will see that you will get more perks than just passes as time goes on. Good fishing in the future.