How To Pick A Charter Captain
Are you trying to pick the right Captain and boat for your fishing excursion? It's not that hard, if you just look for a few things and ask a couple of easy questions. Knowing what to look for and what questions to ask will make your choice, or at least the narrowing down of your choices, very easy.
Is your Captain a full time fisherman?
Most charter captains are part time fisherman who hold regular jobs and fish on the weekends or free days. Some are excellent fisherman, but quite honestly, being on the water every day offers advantages to full time captains that there simply is no substitute for. You're much more likely to get a competent and productive trip from a Captain who does it full time.
Are rates a good indication of quality?
Quite honestly, most times yes. The busier a Captain is, the more likely it is that his rates will be higher. Captains get that busy by providing clients with an excellent all around experience on the water. It's not just about catching numbers of fish, it's about making the whole day fun, and a part of that is the quality of the catch. Although price isn't always an indicator of quality of experience, it's a pretty good guideline. You need to decide for yourself if price is the most important issue, or is it the quality of experience that you are looking for. Getting a Captain's license has nothing to do with fish catching ability or the quality of the experience you will have aboard that captain's boat.
How long is your trip on the water?
Captains have different ways of assessing their times. Just because it says it is a six hour charter, the actual time you spend fishing may differ quite drastically. Some captains start the clock while you are filling out licenses in the slip and then come back in time to clean fish before your 6 hours are up. Other captains start the clock when you pull out of the slip and arrive back at the slip at the end of 6 hours.
How Important is the boat?
Although the boat isn't as important as the captain, it's still an integral part of your total fishing experience. The age of a boat is not relative, as many of the really great fishing boats were made in the 70's and 80's. The two critical aspects of fishing boats are the size and the condition. Just like you have some neighbors that take really great care of their houses, and others that don't, the same is true of charter captains. Unfortunately, you probably won't get an idea of the condition of the boat until you actually get on it, but once you do see it, you'll know which category your captains boat fits into.
The size of the boat is relative to your comfort, it's seaworthiness and space. Although boats under 30 feet can fish rather nice, and smaller groups of 4 or less may have enough room, they will generally bounce around a bit more and be less stable and comfortable. The 30 to 35 foot class of fishing boats are considered the cream of the crop when it comes to comfort, stability, ride, and plenty of room to make your excursion the most enjoyable possible. The heavier the boat, called displacement in nautical terms, the better it will generally ride. Typical displacements for larger boats are 10,000 to 18,000 pounds. Most quality brands in that category will provide you with all the possible comforts available.
Does your Captain use a mate?
With autopilots as good as they are today, this is really not very important. Some Captains prefer to use mates, others like to do it all themselves. It is strictly a preference of the Captain and probably shouldn't be a factor in making your charter decision.
Does your Captain offer a guarantee to catch fish?
This is just a marketing ploy. Fortunately our fishing is usually so good, that it's not too difficult for even the least experienced Captain to go out and catch a few salmon or trout. Getting skunked is highly uncommon for most full-time captains. A better question to ask is how many fish did you average per trip last year. The downside to this question is that you may not receive an honest answer, as some Captains don't keep detailed records. If you have expectations of certain kinds or sizes of fish, talk to the Captains you are calling and find out what time of year you should come to catch the kind of fish you want to target. Remember, a "no fish, no pay" guarantee is something to make you feel comfortable. You shouldn't be influenced by this when making the decision on which Captain to choose. You'll know when you get back to port whether your Captain was competent and worked his hardest for you.
Does years of experience chartering make a difference?
Yes and no. It makes a difference if you're dealing with a really good skipper, but it doesn't make a lick of difference with one that's not. Just like the real world, having 20 years experience doesn't mean you do a good job, it just means you managed to stay employed. When you are calling different Captains and shopping for your charter, just trust your best judgment as to whether this Captain sounds knowledgeable and has your best interests at heart. There are some really excellent Captains who have only owned their boats for several years, but made their bones in the business by being mates for some excellent Captains. These young bucks are hungry to make your experience enjoyable and have the training to provide you with an excellent experience. There are others that have been doing it for years and are just going through the motions and don't really try to improve their fish catching abilities or knowledge. The answer is, experience is only as good as the person, so don't let it be too much of a factor in your chartering decision.
Does Tournament experience make a difference?
Sometimes. Many Captains don't fish tournaments, some do. If your Captain lists excellent tournament credentials, you can rest assured that he has a pretty good handle on how to catch fish. But just because your Captain doesn't fish tournaments, doesn't mean he isn't as good as the Captain that does. Don't necessarily look for tournament credentials when picking a charter, but if he has impressive credentials, it may be one to put on your short list.
Good Luck - Chip
