A year or two ago I made the mistake of getting too close to another charter boat. I was, perhaps, 50-75 yards away.
For my transgression, the captain of that boat gave me the bird and yelled something not fit for print here.
My customers seemed a little shocked by the exchange but laughed it off and joked about avoiding that boat next time out.
Therein lies a partial answer to the one question I've seen a lot over the years. "How do you select a charter captain from the hundreds out there?"
You choose wisely or you could end up with a Captain Ahab type who shouts obscenities at others! I have to believe his customers were also jolted by the outburst.
First and foremost, when calling a charter company talk directly to the captain/owner, the one who will be operating the boat on the day you want to book. Even over the phone you can get a sense of someone's personality.
If he tries to get you on the books and off the phone immediately without answering your questions chances are this is not your guy.
If you can't reach the captain, and he/she doesn't call you back, contact someone else.
When I'm looking for an ocean charter this is how I approach it. I don't have to a few beers with the guy the night before but there are questions to be answered. Here's a laundry list of some of the most important:
1. How long have you been a captain and how long have you been fishing these waters?
2. Are you licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard?
This might seem trivial since the captain has put himself and his boat out there for hire.
But there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of
wish-they-were-captains operating illegal charters coast-to-coast. It's a big problem for the Coast Guard
and legitimate charter companies.
What's the diffrerence you might be asking yourself right now? Why does the captain need a license?
The biggest reason is insurance. Private boating insurance won’t cover an accident if the insurer suspect the boat owner of chartering. If there is an accident or death there's no chance you'll be in good hands with Allstate or any other insurance company.
That makes a license extremely important. To get full coverage charter insurance to protect everyone on board, a captain must provide a certified copy of his license to the insurer.
3. Always get a confirmation (email, letter or brochure) of the charter price so there are no arguments at the end of the day. Make sure the captain knows how many people will be fishing.
4. Inquire about the starting time and when the boat will return to the dock. Most captains try to adhere to a schedule. After all, in the charter business, time is money.
5. Ask about the boat. How big is it? How much fishing room is there? Most all captains love their boats and will be glad you asked. This is also a good way to get to know your guide.
6. Fishing gear is important. Do you bring your own or does the captain provide or rent it? Ask!
7. Most any fishing trip will require bait. There isn't a captain I know who doesn't provide bait but know for sure who's bringing it and how much.
Capt. Tony Denslow