As the summer of 2024 marches on, the Junior Mates Program of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association is flourishing. The youngsters involved continue working hard as they develop the skills necessary to become a skilled mate on a fishing vessel.
The most recent class featured instruction on skills that no one hopes they will ever have to utilize. The fledgling mates learned skills in preventing fires along with the tactics necessary should a fire ever occur.
Deputy Ocean County Fire Marshals Dee Genovese and Delaney O’Connor provided instruction to the youngsters at one of their training sessions held at the Beach Haven Marlin and Tuna Club. The junior mates were shown how to deal with fires and then had the opportunity to extinguish fires themselves. This was all done in a safe setting.
The Ocean County Fire Marshals noted that they are available to give similar demonstrations to other groups wanting to learn about fire suppression. There is a contact email to set up training at ocfiremarshal@county.nj.us
During the summer the Junior Mates undergo a host of activities related to serving as a mate. There are both classroom and hands on training to learn those skills. They go out on boats and learn from veteran mates and boat captains. Only after extensive instruction and demonstration of the necessary skills do they then become official mates.
Many of the skills they learn will serve them as anglers as well as providing life lessons.
This week the mates in training will learn basic knife handling skills needed to prepare bait and fillet fish. Returning mates will be studying basic boat mechanics. In addition, all junior mates are continually practicing knot tying.