Fishing Charters: What to Know Before Booking a Coastal Fishing Trip

Fishing Charters: What to Know Before Booking a Coastal Fishing Trip

If you've always wanted to go fishing but don't own a boat, don't know the local waters, or simply want someone else to handle the navigation, a fishing charter can be one of the easiest ways to get on the water.

And around the Georgia and Northeast Florida coast, there are plenty of options.

You can chase redfish through the marsh, look for trout and flounder inshore, fish the beach, or head offshore looking for bigger fish.

But before you book the first charter you find, there are a few things you should know.

What Is a Fishing Charter?

A fishing charter is essentially a guided fishing trip.

You hire a captain and boat for a specific amount of time, and the captain takes care of things like navigation, finding productive water and generally putting you in position to catch fish.

Depending on the charter, the trip might include:

• Boat and captain

• Fishing rods and reels

• Bait

• Tackle

• Ice

• Fishing licenses or permits

• Fish cleaning

What's included varies, so always ask before booking.

Inshore or Offshore?

This is probably the biggest decision you'll make.

Inshore Charters

Inshore fishing generally means staying closer to shore in rivers, creeks, marshes, sounds and coastal waterways.

Around our part of the coast, that can mean targeting:

• Redfish

• Spotted seatrout

• Flounder

• Black drum

• Sheepshead

• Whiting

• Other seasonal species

Inshore trips are often a great choice for families, beginners and anglers who don't want to spend hours traveling offshore.

You also get to experience the marsh and coastal scenery along the way.

Offshore Charters

Offshore trips are a completely different experience.

You're heading farther from shore and targeting larger species in deeper water.

Depending on the location and season, offshore trips can target snapper, grouper, kingfish, mahi and other species.

The tradeoff is travel time.

You may spend considerably more time running to the fishing grounds, and offshore conditions can change quickly.

If you're prone to seasickness, that's something worth considering before booking.

How Long Should Your Charter Be?

Charters commonly come in different trip lengths.

You might find:

Half-day trips — Great for beginners, families or people who simply want to get out on the water.

3/4-day trips — Gives you more time to reach different areas and try multiple fishing techniques.

Full-day trips — Better for anglers who want more time on the water and potentially want to travel farther.

Multi-day trips — Generally geared toward serious anglers and longer offshore adventures.

If this is your first charter, a half-day or 3/4-day trip can be a great starting point.

You can always book a longer trip next time.

Ask the Captain What You're Targeting

Don't simply ask:

"Are we going fishing?"

Ask:

"What are we likely to target on this trip?"

A good captain should be able to explain what species are typically available for that season and what type of fishing you'll be doing.

If you're dreaming about catching a redfish and the captain specializes in offshore fishing, you may have booked the wrong trip.

Match the charter to the experience you actually want.

Ask What's Included

This is one of the most important questions before handing over a deposit.

Ask whether the price includes:

• Rods and reels

• Bait

• Tackle

• Ice

• Fishing licenses

• Fish cleaning

• Fuel

• Gratuity

Don't assume.

Two charters can have similar prices but very different inclusions.

Knowing exactly what you're paying for makes comparing them much easier.

How Many People Are Going?

Pay attention to the number of people allowed on the boat.

A six-person trip isn't necessarily the same experience as a private trip for two.

If you're booking with friends or family, a private charter can be a lot of fun because the entire boat is your group.

You can also ask the captain about the boat itself.

How much room is available?

Where will everyone fish?

Is there seating?

Is there shade?

Those little details can make a big difference during a long day on the water.

What Should You Bring?

Your captain will usually provide the important fishing equipment, but you still need to bring a few things.

I'd recommend:

• Sunscreen

• Sunglasses

• Hat

• Water

• Snacks

• Comfortable clothing

• Non-slip shoes

• Phone

• Camera

• Motion-sickness medication if needed

And don't forget a cooler for the ride home if the captain doesn't provide one.

Always ask before bringing a large cooler onboard.

Space is limited on many boats.

Don't Forget the Weather

One of the advantages of booking with a professional captain is that they understand local conditions.

But weather still matters.

A captain may recommend moving a trip, shortening it or cancelling it if conditions aren't safe.

That's not a bad thing.

That's exactly what you want from someone responsible for putting people on the water.

Don't get so excited about catching fish that you ignore the conditions.

A good fishing day isn't worth taking unnecessary risks.

What About Tipping Your Captain?

Gratuity isn't always included in the charter price.

If you have a great trip and your captain worked hard to put you on fish, a tip is generally appreciated.

Think about the overall experience.

Did the captain work with beginners?

Keep everyone involved?

Help the kids?

Clean the fish?

Spend extra time looking for fish?

Those things matter.

The Captain Can Make the Trip

Here's something we think is worth remembering:

You're not really just paying for the boat.

You're paying for the captain's experience.

A good captain knows the waterways.

They understand tides.

They know seasonal patterns.

They know how to adjust when the fish aren't where they were yesterday.

And they can often teach you something you'll remember long after the trip is over.

That's what makes a good charter different from simply renting a boat.

Great for Beginners

If you've never been fishing before, don't be intimidated by a charter.

In fact, a guided trip can be one of the best ways to learn.

Tell the captain you're new.

Ask questions.

Pay attention to how they read the water.

Watch how they work the tide.

Learn why they're choosing one lure or bait instead of another.

You're not just paying for a day of fishing.

You're getting a lesson in local water.

Great for Experienced Anglers Too

Experienced anglers can get just as much out of a charter.

Sometimes it's nice to leave the boat maintenance, navigation and planning to someone else.

You get to show up, grab a rod and fish.

And fishing unfamiliar water with a knowledgeable local captain can teach even experienced anglers something new.

Our 912 Coastal Take

A fishing charter isn't just about catching a pile of fish.

It's about getting out on the water.

Seeing places you might not otherwise reach.

Learning the local waters.

Spending time with friends or family.

And hopefully bringing a few fish home at the end of the day.

For someone visiting the Georgia coast or Northeast Florida, a charter can also be one of the easiest ways to experience the area like a local.

You don't need to own a boat.

You don't need a garage full of tackle.

And you don't need to know every creek and oyster bar.

Find a good captain, tell them what kind of experience you're looking for and let them do what they know best.

Before You Book

Our simple checklist:

1. Decide inshore or offshore.

2. Pick the species you want to target.

3. Ask what's included.

4. Find out how many people the boat accommodates.

5. Ask about cancellation and weather policies.

6. Check what you need to bring.

7. Read recent reviews.

8. Talk to the captain before booking.

And most importantly:

Don't book the cheapest charter just because it's the cheapest.

The captain, boat, equipment, experience and overall service can make a huge difference.

Sometimes spending a little more gets you a much better day on the water.

912 Coastal

Explore More 912 Coastal

Fishing Tips — Practical techniques and ideas to help you become a better angler.

Fishing Reports — See what's happening on the water and what's changing with the seasons.

Gear Reviews — Learn about the equipment that helps you put your fishing plan into practice.

St. Marys Fishing — Explore one of our home waters and the fishing opportunities around the area.

Kayaking — Discover another way to get into shallow coastal water.

Boating — Explore the boating side of coastal fishing and getting on the water.

Fishing Charters & Trips — Sometimes the best way to learn new water is to spend a day with someone who knows it.

Coastal Living — Because there's more to life on the coast than fishing.