Fishing Charters - Choosing the Right Boat for Your Trip

Fishing charters are a great way for you and your party to enjoy a unique fishing experience with the assistance of a guide who can take you beyond just the banks of the water's edge into the deeper waters including the marshes and swamps that are full of hidden life in their waters.

Before you rent any of the many fishing charters that are available in the area you need to know what you're looking for. First, you want to make sure that the captain has experience in the waters that you want to explore and is a full-time captain and not just a weekend only captain who holds a day job. Being a full time gives them a certain advantage over someone who's not in the water seven days a week. Remember part of what you're paying for is the expertise of the captain who knows where to take you for an almost guaranteed catch and the more your captain is on the water the more likely he is to know where to take you any given day or time.

You can also tell a lot by how much the charter service is charging. The more expensive the fishing charters usually are pricey because they are successfully meeting the demands of their clients. That means catching plenty of fish, but also ensuring their clients have an enjoyable experience on their boats. So this is one area you shouldn't try to skimp and save money on.

Be as prepared as possible so that you're losing time on the water to do things that you can take care of ahead of time, such as getting your fishing permits. You also want to ask the captain if cleaning the fish is something that comes off your water time or something that is done after you get back on land since this can vary boat by boat. Basically you want to spend as much time as possible on the water and you want to make sure that you have a captain who has the same goal of keeping you out there as long as possible to get the most out of your experience.

Finally the size and condition of the fishing charters does matter. If you're planning to go out into the ocean you want to make sure you're on a boat that is properly equipped for this excursion. Smaller boats, 32 feet or less, tend to bounce around more on rough waters and can quickly feel overcrowded if you have more than four people in your party. Ideally, you want a fishing charter boat that is at least 33 to 35 feet if you are going on the ocean, because when it comes to boats, the heavier the boat the smoother ride.

Make sure you know what you are expected to bring and what will be provided. For example, most fishing charters will provide you with fishing poles and bait so the only thing you need to provide will be your fishing license.