Fishing Frenzy

As an avid angler, there's a good chance that you might thoroughly appreciate taking a fishing charter on your next vacation or weekend getaway. Bear in mind though that there are numerous considerations when determining to go fishing with a charter boat. Here are the preliminary steps you will need to take before even thinking about a charter boat:

- What kind of fish do you want to catch?- Do you wish to go fresh water angling or deep sea fishing?- Will you be looking for a party boat or a trolling boat?- Do you have all the necessary equipment for the type of sportfishing you are considering?

Picking the Charter Boat

As soon as you have all those questions out of the way you can begin the process of selecting a charter boat. Do not simply reserve the very first outfit you discover. So you know precisely what to expect, make sure you do your research. Here is the process you should follow to reserve the right fishing charter:

1) Do all of your research soon enough to order the boat at least 2 weeks in advance. You will find that the better boats are generally scheduled well in advance, so giving yourself as much time before your trip is an excellent idea if you do not want to be let down and settle for a lesser boat. We recommend that you have a look at at least 3 charter boats in detail before choosing one to book.

2) When you have a short list of charter companies, contact each one directly. Ask them questions about just what to expect, exactly what types of fish you will likely catch, what the conditions are currently like and of course exactly what is the price of the charter. Additionally, find out if there is a deposit required and what happens if you have to cancel.

3) Figure out exactly how many individuals will be on the boat. Fresh water boats and ocean trolling boats may have from 2-8 people, however deep sea bottom sportfishing boats are typically party boats and could possibly have dozens of fishermen on board.

4) Does the charter include drinks and food? Also, are you permitted to bring alcohol on board? These things are good to know due to the fact that you could end up very hungry by the end of the day if there is no food on board and you have not brought your own food along.

5) Leave early and try to show up early on the day of the trip. Absolutely nothing is worse than losing your deposit and your fun day of fishing because you hit traffic and showed up 20 minutes late at the docks.

6) Does the charter boat provide bait? Do they also offer fish cleaning services as part of the package. It can be a lot better having the fish cleaned and packaged on the boat rather than cleaning them yourself once you return home, especially if you live any distance from the charter boat.

7) Plan on tipping the captain and crew. This is a generally accepted practice and will certainly help you to build a relationship with the captain if you anticipate using the same charter service in the future. A good rule of thumb when tipping is 15-20 % of the charter cost.

8) Have a good time and enjoy your fishing charter!