All good advice. I've been fishing as a co-angler for many years, even as a boat owner. Here are a few things I always tell guys that are new to it.

1. Talk to your boater the night before at the meeting. That will give you the best indication on what to expect and what to bring. I always ask about cooler and if I can bring ice or drinks for the boater. Most of the time they say just bring what I want to drink or put in there.

2. Bring your own life jacket if possible.

3. After your conversation with boater, you should have a good idea on what you are going to be doing the next day. Be as efficient as possible with rod selection and tackle. I use a medium bag, 3-4 boxes depending on what we are doing. I combine my hard baits when I'm a co-angler that I would usually have in 2-3 boxes in my own boat. I personally don't like soft plastic binders, so I have gallon ziplock bags and I place similar baits together in them and keep in my tackle bag.

4. Lately, I have been taking an extra reel with braid and one with flouro. Only switched out once but it was easier than re-spooling. I try to take as few rods as possible but I'm usually 4-5 rods and this is something that can be worked out the night before. Main thing is stay organized in the boat and keep you stuff out of the way! Sometimes you might even get a back compartment.

5. Have a conversation about backing the boat/trailer, netting fish, smoking in the boat, dipping, etc before launch. If you can't back a boat and trailer, be honest!!!

6. DO NOT step in the seats!!!

7. Be extremely careful with dye, if I don't have a dye pen, I always sit down and lean over the edge of the boat. I can't imagine getting colored dye on another persons $$$$ boat.

8. Don't cast in the boaters area. I pretty much treat it like ultimate match fishing. I don't cast in front of the console unless fishing really fast and then I'm on the line. Or if the boater says cast up here. That HS happened many times in windy situations.

9. Personally I am always respectful to the boater regardless of age ( I'm 40) I figure im gonna be nice, treat their stuff better than my own, maybe it will wrk to my advantage later in the day.
Example: I needed one more fish to get my limit on day two of a championship a few years ago, after day 1 I was in 5th place, and was in 3rd for AOY. Fishing was tough on every one in July. With 1 hour to go, my boater asked if I wanted to stay and hope for a big bite or go fish another spot where he knew we could catch some little fish and maybe a couple keepers. He only had 2 fish and was not in contention. We went to that deep spot and I ended up getting my limit fish with 15 min to go. That 2lb fish won me the tourney and AOY!!!

Those are a few things off the top of my head while I'm sitting here between baseball games with my youngest son. I'm no expert, but don't mind sharing experience as co-angler. Good luck, coach

Great info. I thought co-anglers fished together as a team but this makes it sound like they are competing with each other? If competing, what is the purpose of having someone else in your boat? I'm not a tournament guy and maybe I am reading this wrong.