Unable to Call Method in Java

I have created a class. Inside the class, I have created a method called "createVessel()" which should return a string array. I want to call that method from the same class and store the returned string array in another string array variable (not even sure if I can do that).

Anyway, when I call the method, the IDE causes an error and thinks that I am trying to create another method by the same name and suggesting me to change the name. Can someone please let me know what I am doing wrong? In other words, why aren't I able to call the createVessel() method? (Note: I will post all the code within the createVessel() method just to add context even though it may not be necessary to answer my question).

package submarineGame;
import java.util.*;
public class GameControl {
    //Create Vessel Method

    String[] carry = new String[2];
    carry = createVessel();

    String[] createVessel(){

        // code here that creates an String array of positions

        return positions;

}

Direct solution:

String[] carry = createVessel();

Why? The problem is that you can't execute assignments to fields directly in the body of a class - if it's not in the direct declaration of fields. For this purpose you have the constructor where you could write something like:

public GameControl(){
    carry = createVessel();
}

Then you could stay with String[] carry = new String[2]; because the String[] which will be created inside the createVessel() method would override it. Another way would to use a main method:

public static void main(String[] args) {
    carry = createVessel();
}

But of course you then need to also assign static to the String[] carry and the method createVessel();

If you have another question, feel free to comment - I will be back on this question later. Also I can see you are not really familiar with Java so maybe the Oracle Tutorials will help http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/ a little bit.