Important Charter Fishing Information
I only address this due to the amount of calls we get every year for "deals". When searching for a charter the last thing you should look at is the rate. Your charter should be booked due to your confidence in the captain and the quality of the service you expect. Rates, I hate to say it, are a good reflection on the quality of the charter you will be taking. When you think you are getting a deal or a longer trip for your money there is usually a reason for that. Believe me I know I am not going to book all the trips from the people who look on this site, but I truly want you to have a quality fishing experience here in Milwaukee even if you don't book with us. Here is a short list of things to look for while shopping for a charter.
- The quality and size of the boat you will be fishing on. Age of the boat typically doesn't matter (if the captain maintains it). Make sure if they are promoting a "38 foot boat" that's what it really is not an overall length. I could strap a 2x4 to the front and back of my boat and make it a 48 footer. The boat should look well kept and clean.
- When shopping around make sure to pay close attention to the photos on a website. If the photos look like they are from the 70's they probably are and a lot has changed since then.
- Tournament credentials are a good indicator of your captain. Not all charter captains fish tournaments, but if they advertise tournament wins or state records make sure that they are fairly recent. Milwaukee does hold the current state record Coho salmon caught in 2000.
- Full time charters do offer you a better chance of being successful. Some part time captains are very good fishermen, but being out more often is a definite advantage.
- Smaller boats under 30 feet typically have cheaper rates. Just remember Lake Michigan doesn't always have calm seas. A bigger boat will handle rougher water better and make your trip more enjoyable. A large platform for fishing is a lot more comfortable.
- When you think you are getting a "Deal" ask why you are getting it. Sometimes it isn't what it seems. If you went to work and they asked you to stay for an hour…would you punch out and stay at work and not get paid for it. A longer ride to open water is the reason for a less expensive, extended time charter. Most quality captains don't mind burning a little extra fuel to get you to the fishing grounds faster. This means getting the boat on plane if you need to travel offshore for fish. By getting a deal you are always sacrificing something.
- Catching fish isn't always the number one factor of success. Charter fishing is a form of entertainment. The overall experience is very important, although catching fish provides a good solid base to start with. If you walk away with a smile then we have done our job.
- Guarantees are a way to make you feel comfortable with your decision. Honestly it is very difficult to get "skunked". Even very inexperienced fishermen usually catch something. We do offer a guaranty, but that is only for your piece of mind. Fish don't bite like crazy everyday, but we will work very hard to get you as many fish as we can on that day. If for some reason it all goes bad, even if I didn't have a guaranty I would ask you to come back so I could redeem myself. If I had a No-Fish No-Pay policy, which is a pretty common, but not bad policy on the lake, you might pay me for catching you one fish, but rest assured I would probably never see you again. I don't want that to be the case. If we fail to produce one fish we will ask you back at no charge.
- The bottom line is that YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.