CAPTAIN CHARLIE DONILON

Snappa Charters

Charlie Donilon’s fishing career began when a neighbor took the time to take some kids fishing. He was 6 when Mr. Hawkins took him and the neighborhood kids fishing at some freshwater spots in Narragansett.

Charlie was introduced to saltwater fishing by his dad. They used to go on the party boat, The Nautic. They fished several times each year until he was 18 or 19. It was during these trips that Charlie became friendly with the captain, and this friendship led to his working as a mate his first year out of high school.

He continued working as a mate as he attended URI, pursuing a degree in Fisheries Science. Seven days a week, starting at 3:30 AM, serving 30 to 40 people gave him the tools of his trade. Now he makes sure the boat is ready to sail when he arrives at 6:00.

He became Florida bound after graduation, where he worked on a sportfishing boat for three years. Charlie recalls that Florida fishermen were far ahead of their Northeast counterparts, using techniques such as kites and trolling live baits. When he finally moved back to Rhode Island he applied these methods with much success.

In 1976 Charlie bought a 26-foot Bonita, which he named Snappa , and was able to carry 5 or 6 people. Charlie was now in the charter business. He fished the East Grounds with no electronics and a minimum of experience, yet a lot of fish were caught. That first year he had 76 charters - not bad for a new guy in the business!

In 1976, a friend built a shark cage, and Charlie took him out. On that first outing they managed to chum up a sand bar shark, they were in that cage armed only with a "bang stick", and recent memories of the movie “Jaws.” When in the water they estimated the shark to be 10 feet long and weighing 275 pounds. They managed to subdue the fish, but the official length was 5 foot with a weight of 100 pounds. Sharks are definitely bigger in the water. Charlie still has a fin from that fish.

Captain Donilon ran that boat for six years.

Charlie went back to school and earned his degree in Industrial Arts Education, and worked in the profession for six months, but he went back to fishing.

In the early to mid-eighties the economy took a downturn. One of the first things to get hit was the charter industry. Realizing he needed some security in his life, he took a job as a firefighter in 1988. The schedule of a fireman allowed him to fish At this time he decided to build a boat. Charlie recalls that his competition told him to build a boat that could hold more than six people. This turned out to be great advice. He had a 35 foot boat built by Legnos, the Snappa .

The early experience with his friend’s shark cage would shape the direction of Charlie’s business. For the next 12 years he took out four groups that had their own cages. This changed in 1994 when he built his own cage. That first year he had 20 shark diving trips. By the fourth year he was doing 50 trips. He has kept it at this rate because he doesn’t want to get away from the business that he loves, taking people fishing.

There are only a handful of companies from Maine to Florida that offer this opportunity to see sharks up close and personal. His customers come from all over the U.S. and as far away as Italy.

Charlie told me of the day that he had some folks from National Geographic on board. They left the dock at 6:00 A.M. and headed for the Dump, but they didn't see a shark until one finally showed up at 4:00 P.M. That ride home in the dark didn’t end until 10 P.M.- truly a long day.

When asked what he considered the greatest threat to sport fishing, there was no hesitation when he answered “overfishing”. When he says this he makes it clear that we are all responsible, recreational and commercial fishermen alike.

He talks about the “Codfish Disaster”. The days of fishing for them in April are gone.

He remembers the Tuna Fleet at Scarborough and Nebraska Shoal. Now he has to travel 50 miles or more and the numbers are just not there. He explains that we just don’t give them a break.

I asked where his optimism was in the sport. He replied, “Striped Bass and their recovery shows that a management plan can lead to positive results.”

If you have a desire to see the ocean’s greatest predators or to take a group of friends out for a great day of fishing, give Captain Donilon a call (401) 821-7373.
For you web surfers, he has some fantastic photos on his web site www.snappacharters.com. The jumping Mako is unbelievable.