|
When it comes to finding the best Wrightsville
Beach fishing charter it is not just a matter of
finding a least expensive boat that has an open
date for the day you want to go fishing. This
method has been used often and unfortunately
this practice also tends to diminish the quality
of the charters that are going to be available.
If customers don’t have certain quality
guidelines, how can they expect a fair
competition among the charter boats for their
business? Next time that you are looking or a
charter we would like customers to take the time
to do the necessary research? Here are a few
things to consider.
The Charter Boat (and tackle):
Too much emphasis is often put on the size of
the boat and not nearly enough consideration is
given to the boat’s actual condition. I have
been offshore on various boats of all sizes and
have learned from personal experience that when
it is rough offshore it doesn’t much matter how
big the boat you are on is, it’s still going to
be rough. For example, an expensive charter on a
massive 65’ charter boat in 6 foot seas with a
poorly maintained diesel engine bellowing black
smoke in your face all day long can be a very
miserable experience.
If possible, take the time to walk up and down
the docks and look at the boats before you
charter. Try to look past the glamour of your
offshore fishing charter and try to see a few of
the not so obvious things that will determine
your level of enjoyment. You are trusting the
charter to take you on an unforgettable
experience that will take you many miles into
the Atlantic Ocean so it would be wise to answer
these questions about their equipment first.
|
|
» |
Is this boat well maintained or is it
treated like just a means for someone to
make money? |
|
|
» |
Is there plenty of room in the cockpit
(area near the transom) so that moving
around during the confusion and
excitement of a fish strike can be
enjoyed by everyone aboard? |
|
|
» |
Are there lots of places aboard where
customers can relax during the long
trips to and from the fishing grounds
and during slow periods? |
|
|
» |
How about their tackle and gear? Do they
have well maintained rods and reels with
plenty of new line on each of the reels?
Do they have clean new looking lures
with sharp (non-corroded) hooks? Is
everything onboard neat and in its
place? |
You may be asking, “How am I supposed to know
the answers to these questions? I’m not
experienced in all this.” You don’t have to be
an expert to compare. Just stroll the docks and
compare what you see.
The Captain and Mate:
If you think that you can take “pot luck” by
simply signing up for a charter and then hoping
you will get a good captain and mate you may be
very disappointed. Believe it or not, even some
relatively unsuccessful fishing trips can be a
fun experience with the right captain and mate
and the best “fishing” trip imaginable can be a
miserable experience with the wrong captain and
mate. To get the very best charter possible try
to meet a few of the captains during your
evening stroll on the docks while asking
yourself these questions.
|
|
» |
Is the captain both professional and
personable? |
|
|
» |
Will he be congenial enough to talk with
and entertain his customers or will he
simply sit on the bridge and bark orders
at his mate? |
|
|
» |
Is the mate clean, congenial and
personable? |
|
|
» |
Is this a professional crew that is
committed to providing you with the
fishing experience of a lifetime that
you have every right to expect or are
these just a couple guys that are here
to take your money and then try to catch
a fish or two? |
An offshore charter is NOT about catching the
most fish! It should be an experience that
should be enjoyed to the maximum (fish or not).
Try to choose the crew that you feel will make
every effort to make your day unforgettable and
then also catch a few fish to make it even
better.
The Price:
I wasn’t going to even put this on my list but
let’s face it these fishing charters are
expensive and it is an important consideration.
At most marinas the price is set by the captain
and is determined by the boat’s length. That’s a
shame because some of the best charter
businesses are not the biggest boats. The larger
boats have to charge more for their charters
because they use more fuel and have larger
maintenance expenses.
In the case of a charter don’t perceive that if
it is more expensive it has to be better. If you
do your research by asking the questions above
you will be more likely to find the right
charter for you.
You
are about to go on the experience of a lifetime.
Don’t short yourself by choosing the wrong
charter. I know one man that actually pulled
aside a customer getting off the boat that he
was about to charter and asked the man to be
honest about their day’s charter. When he found
out that a large fish was lost because one of
the reels didn’t have enough line on it and the
captain spent all day screaming at the mate, the
man decided that wasn’t where he wanted to spend
his money. He ended up chartering at another
marina with a captain and crew with a reputation
for going “overboard” to make the guests feel
comfortable and was very happy with his choice.
|
