Meet Sammy: The Four-Legged First Mate of Five O'Clock Charlie Tours

Anyone who has spent much time around boats knows that every good captain needs a dependable first mate. Mine just happens to have four legs, a wagging tail, and a slight obsession with dolphins.

Meet Sammy, my Mini Goldendoodle and occasional crew member aboard Five O'Clock Charlie Tours.

Now before anyone starts worrying, Sammy doesn't run the boat, tie knots, or clean fish. (Although I'm still working on teaching her to wash the boat.) What she does do is provide plenty of entertainment for guests and remind everyone that a day on the water should be fun.

Sammy occasionally joins me on select charters when conditions are right, and she has become quite the local celebrity. Guests often ask if "the boat dog" will be coming along.

One of Sammy's favorite activities is watching clients catch fish. She takes her job as dockside fishing supervisor very seriously. The moment a rod bends over, she is front and center, carefully inspecting the catch. Redfish, snook, trout, sheepshead—it doesn't matter. Sammy wants to know exactly what came over the rail.

Some guests swear she can predict when someone is about to hook up. Others think she's simply hoping a baitfish accidentally lands on deck. The truth is probably somewhere in between.

Perhaps Sammy's most entertaining habit is carrying on conversations with dolphins.

When our resident Tampa Bay dolphins surface near the boat, Sammy immediately springs into action. She'll perk up her ears, wag her tail furiously, and begin what can only be described as an animated discussion with the dolphins. The dolphins often seem just as curious about her as she is about them.

I'm still waiting for one of them to translate the conversation for me.

Sammy also enjoys greeting guests, soaking up the sunshine, and making sure nobody eats lunch alone. If there's a sandwich on board, rest assured Sammy knows exactly where it is located.

Over the years, I've learned that dogs have a special way of bringing people together. Guests who may have boarded as strangers often end up swapping stories about their own pets while Sammy makes her rounds collecting scratches and belly rubs.

Of course, Sammy's safety always comes first. She wears her canine life jacket, stays under close supervision, and only joins trips when conditions are calm and suitable. Not every charter includes Sammy, but when she does make an appearance, she usually steals the show.

At Five O'Clock Charlie Tours, every trip is a little different. Some days we're chasing snook, exploring Egmont Key, or watching dolphins play in the waters of Tampa Bay. And occasionally, guests get the added bonus of sharing the adventure with Sammy, our furry first mate.

Just don't be surprised if she starts talking to the dolphins before the trip is over.