How to plan and book a guided fishing trip.

HOW TO PLAN AND BOOK
A GUIDED FISHING TRIP
DESKTOP TO DOCKSIDE IN A FEW EASY STEPS

W
hen the phone woke me up, the blinking display on the alarm clock read
5:15 a.m.
“Who’s this?”
“It’s John. I know we’re booked to head out this morning, but I was calling to see if
you still want to go.”
Thinking an unexpected storm rolled in overnight, I asked about the weather.
“Flat, with afternoon thunderstorms possible,” the captain said.
“Yes, we’re still planning to go then.”
“Oh, OK. I’ll see you on the dock at 7 a.m.”
Click.
Now my mind was racing. I had a group of guys who just flew in the night before from
all across the U.S. to celebrate our buddy’s upcoming wedding with a fishing charter.
We had a big day planned: some fishing, beers, and a lot of bull. I hadn’t used this guide
before. I found his number in an online directory with no referenes to check. But now with
the deposit paid, we were ready to catch some fish.
At 7 a.m., my crew was dockside, coolers provisioned and ready to go. The captain was
nowhere to be seen.
Finally, as 7:30 rolled around, a gangly soul wobbled down the dock, greeted us with a
gruff hello and ordered my group to move aboard. After a few minutes below deck, the
engine came to life, and we steamed out toward the inlet. That early phone call and late
arrival had me questioning my choice of captain. Then, just as I started to settle down, he
asked me to take the helm.
“Hold the course steady for a minute,” he said, then moved fast over to the deck rail,
leaned overboard, and laid down a beer-based chum slick. “Late night,” he said, wiping
his mouth on his sleeve. “May have had a few too many.”
“Oh man!” I thought. “Here we go!”
Turns out, the trip was a huge success, but you would never know that by the way it
3

started. He was the right kind of captain for a bachelor party—salty, but serious when it
came to the fishing. We filled the bait well with greenies as soon as we broke the inlet.
The captain then handed a rod to our guest of honor—the groom— with the line rigged
with a single hook and a fresh baitfish. “Flip the bail when I give the order,” he told the
groom. While the group of us wondered what was going on, the captain hollered some
indiscernible command, my buddy flipped the bail, and within seconds the rod doubled
over—drag screaming, reel smoking. After a 15-minute battle, we landed a beautiful
kingfish. At that point, everyone aboard realized the captain knew what he was doing. We
had a great day on the water, experiencing everything from that first fish off the beach
to a cooler full of grouper and snapper—an experience that convinced one naysayer
among us that bottom fishing can, in fact, be fun. Then there were the thunderstorms
in the afternoon, a broken steering linkage, and a few panicked moments as the clouds
rolled in. Still, we made it out alive and had our bachelor party adventure that a group of
college buddies, all in their 20s, wanted out of a chartered fishing trip.
To this day, whenever our group gets together, we laugh about that day. The captain and
his vessel will forever remain ingrained in our memory—a perfect fit for a group of young
men on a long weekend away from the world.
That said, this is not the kind of fishing trip I would try with my kids, or most of my
professional contacts. Clear skies, boats that don’t break down, and whole lot less vomit
is much more preferable. We rolled the dice on that bachelor-party captain and he
came up sevens, but with all the cost and travel required for a first-rate chartered fishing
adventure, that’s not the kind of gamble I’ll make again.
That’s why we came up with this guidebook. We would like to help you better conceive,
plan, and fish your next big trip, whether it’s a down-and-dirty adventure at sea or an
afternoon of family fishing.
4
–Rob Murphy, Co-Founder, F&F

D
ozens of North American game fish in thousands of locations across the U.S. are
targeted and caught every single day. The point of this e-book is to narrow down
that broad field and help you select the best charter, outfitter, or guide for the type of
fishing experience you have in mind.
Fishing, at its core, is a wonderfully simple activity. Gear, boats, location, weather, timing,
and myriad other factors complicate things, but that’s what you pay a guide for. At the
end of the day, a child can effectively work a rod and reel under most conditions. So
as you start planning your next trip, don’t worry about your current skill level, angling
knowledge, or the fishing experience of your party. A good guide can adjust to whatever
kind of angler is standing at the stern — be it a fourth-grader on her first visit to the shore
or a guy looking to catch billfish on the fly.
With just a little homework, planning a family’s first fishing trip isn’t that hard. For those
expert fishermen reading this, much of this content may seem second nature, but even
you may learn a trick or two. That’s another beautiful thing about fishing: There’s always
more to discover.
6

When planning your next charter fishing trip, ask yourself
these three big questions:
1. Is this a vacation where we fish or a fishing vacation?
2. What do I want to catch?
3. How much is this fish worth?
The answers to these three questions cover all the basics to consider when planning a
trip: type of trip, species, location, experience, and cost.
Example trip No. 1: Disney World
The kids have been hounding you for a Disney trip, and the wife likes the idea of a few
days in a first-class Orlando resort. The little ones are set to be surprised with a Christmas
morning flight to Florida, and you just happened to budget an extra day to chase world-
class largemouth on Lake Okeechobee — the three-hour drive south that, you’ve heard,
is more than worth it.
1. Is This a Vacation Where We Fish or a Fishing Vacation?
Few things are as democratic as
fishing. It’s an American pastime
shared by all, independent of
income level. Just take a look at the
percentage of U.S. population who
fished by household income, as
tabulated by the U.S. Census Bureau:
Income Bracket Percentage
Less Than $20,000 11%
$20,000 to $34,999 13%
$35,000 to $49,999 15%
$50,000 to $74,999 17%
$75,000 to $99,999 19%
$100,000 or more 17%
8

Example trip No. 2: the Keys Slam
Since discovering Great Granddad’s cane fly rods — or A River Runs Through It — you’ve
mastered your local trout stream. You’ve perfected your cast, have a closet full of Orvis
schwag, and spent more time at the fly shop than with your family on Sundays. You’ve
spent hours poring over the Internet, researching trips, guides and outfitters. You’ve
decided to try your hand at the legendary Keys Slam: permit, tarpon, and bonefish in a
single day. The money is saved. The boss has green-lit your week away. All that’s left is
picking that one perfect guide.
Both of these examples are Florida fishing trips, but the spirit couldn’t be more different.
The former is a vacation that happens to include a day of fishing. The latter is a real-
deal fishing vacation. The vast majority of recreational fishermen, believe it or not, fit into
Example No. 1 — whether it’s a family vacation, work conference, or unexpected trip near
a good body of water. Thinking about your trip in these binary terms will better help you
plan a successful trip.
If your fishing destination isn’t determined by a prearranged trip, the best question to ask
yourself is “What do I want to catch?” Are you on the hunt for giant blue marlin, 6-pound
smallmouth bass, or native cutthroat? You’ll also want to consider personal experience
and the fishing experience of your party here. If you’ve never cast a fly rod other than dry-
flying, Pacific salmon might be a stretch.
If you’re a new fisherman dreaming of Hemingway-like adventure, or if you are planning a
family fishing trip, by far the best trip you can do is an inshore full-day charter. If you’re in
a tropical locale, this could include trolling for kingfish, dorado, and even sailfish, casting
to yellowtail, then an afternoon of bottom-fishing for group, snapper, or rockfish. If you
don’t have an immediate answer to what you want to catch, and will be near saltwater, a
mixed-bag inshore trip is surely the best bet.
2. What Do I Want to Catch?
9

Offshore deep sea fishing is what many people have in mind when they think of trolling
salt, but the cost, time, and low success rate — there’s a reason marlin are such a trophy
— often pale in comparison with a more fish-friendly inshore excursion, especially if
you’re planning a family or group trip.
10
Top North American Game Fish
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans love to fish, with more than 33 million
anglers 16 years of age and older that spend more than $41 billion a year of fishing-
related equipment and trips. According to the data, the most targeted saltwater species
Fishing is not cheap, but it doesn’t have to be expensive either. Generally speaking
though, the more money you spend, the more time you’ll have, and more time means
more opportunity. Therefore, money means opportunity when it comes to catching fish.
For example, say your dream is to catch a tarpon on the fly. You could book a half-day
$500 charter in Key West. After meeting at the dock, running to the flats, and scouting for
a worthy fish, you finally see, 60 feet off the bow, the wall-hanger you’ve dreamed of. He’s
breaking the surface sucking air, dorsal fin sharking in and out of the warm clear water.
The top freshwater species, not including Great Lakes fishing, are:
1. Striped Bass
2. Flatfish
3. Redfish or Red Drum
4. Sea Trout or Weakfish
1. Largemouth Bass
2. Panfish
3. Trout
4. Catfish
3. How Much is This Fish Worth?

11
Is that worth $500? Most fishermen would enthusiastically say, YES! But realistically,
you may only get a cast or two before that fish spooks. Such is the nature of tarpon and
fishing an accessible — and pressured — area such as the Keys. As a good friend and
longtime Key West charter captain tells all fly guys planning flats vacations, “You better
be able to drop that fly in a 5-gallon bucket at 30 yards. Every cast counts.”
At the other end of the spectrum is the full-on fly-fishing lodge. The waters off Belize are
covered with tarpon, and there’s much less pressure. But you better have $10,000 in your
vacation account for that kind of trip. In Belize, you might cast dozens of times to dozens
of fish in a single day—and you’ll have a week to do it.
Money means time and time means opportunity. Finding the fish is more than half the
battle, and even the best guide can’t put you on fish 100 percent of the time. At the end
of the day, you must ask yourself, “How much is that dream tarpon on my wall worth?”
Cost per Angler
According to a joint U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and U.S. Census Bureau
report, in 2011 the average angler spent $494 on freshwater fishing trips
(not including the Great Lakes), $655 on Great Lakes fishing trips, and $824
on saltwater fishing trips. These expenditures per angler are not surprising.
Many freshwater trips don’t require a boat—think the local bass pond or trout
stream— but as you move into larger and larger bodies of water (i.e., the Great
Lakes and oceans), costs go up. It makes sense: The bigger the water, the
more gear, fuel, and expertise are required, which translates into a higher price
tag. It’s something to consider when planning your next fishing trip.

O
nce you compute a total fishing budget — which doesn’t include the costs of flights,
hotels, or food unless you’re staying at an all-inclusive fishing resort or lodge —
it’s time to spend it. Fishing North America covers a wide swath of experiences: from
weeklong tuna trips leaving San Diego and working down through Baja, to half-day, $99
party-boat trips off Montauk, Long Island. Nearly all trips are priced around time:
• Multiday and overnight trips, whether from a mother ship at sea or at a
dedicated fishing lodge
• Full- or half-day charters, which typically require reserving the whole boat,
captain, and sometimes a mate, and generally can handle 2-6 fishermen
• Party boats, which may have upward of a 100 other fisherman casting off a
large stern deck relatively close to shore
That party boat could run less than $100 per fisherman; some trips are as low as $40 in
dense tourist areas. Full-day charters in the U.S. typically run $800 for the day, no matter
whether you have one or five anglers in your party—you’re renting the boat. Half days
often run $500. Prices on overnight trips and fishing lodges can swing depending on the
number of days, but they generally start around $2,000. Just like hotels, there are five-
star world-class fishing resorts and Motel 6-like “bait and a boat” operations.
If you’re new to fishing and just want to catch something, party boats are an excellent
option. But often times, there’s a good bit of drinking aboard (they’re called “party” boats
for a reason!), so they’re definitely not for everyone. Half-day and full-day charters are
private affairs. The fishing is usually more serious, and they’re the choice of the most
dedicated traveling fishermen.
As a general rule, full-day charters are always worth it. You get much more than two
half days worth of fishing opportunity because most captains will run fullday trips out to
farther, and less fished, waters. Unless your schedule doesn’t allow, get the full-day trip.
Payment is always made before leaving the dock. Most operations require a 50 percent
non-refundable deposit. This is justifiable when you consider what a few last-minute
cancellations over the course of a season can do to a small operator’s bottom line. This
13

Anglers Days Spent Days per Angler
Freshwater 27.1 million 443 million 16.4
Great Lakes 1.7 million 20 million 11.7
Saltwater 8.9 million 99 million 11.1
Totals 33.1 million 554 million 16.7
Value Percentage
Trip-related $28.8 billion 52
Equipment $15.5 billion 37
Other* $4.5 billion 11
Totals $41.8 million 100
price doesn’t include any state or federal licenses you’ll need. It isn’t the job of guides or
captains to make sure you’re legal, but they’re good sources about what you will need
and where to get it. If the trip goes well, you have fun, and want to tip the captain, go for
it. Just like a restaurant, 15-20 percent is standard practice. But because the captain owns
the boat, tipping isn’t required. However, if there’s a mate aboard—the guy untangling
lines, baiting hooks, gaffing fish —tipping is a must. Most mates live on tips, so you could
be their only source of income that day. Tip them well, whether you catch fish or not — it’s
just the right thing to do. Same thing on party boats: Tip the mates; they’ll often have a jar
or pass a hat. Beyond that 15-20 percent, if you have them clean fish, standard payment is
$2 a fish directly to the guy working the filet knife.
14
Fishing by the Numbers
Total Number of U.S. Fisherman and Days Spent Fishing:
U.S. Fishing Expenditures:
Source: Census.gov.
*Other includes: magazines, books, DVD s, memberships dues, land leasing, licenses,
permits, and other auxiliary items.

L O C A T I O N A N D
SEASONALITY
V.

W
hat you want to catch or where you’re planning your next vacation will largely
determine where you’re going to fish. But if you’re not nailed down to one specific
place, you can possibly cherry-pick your fishing destination to save some cash. For
example, West Yellowstone is a town built for trout fisherman. Your family could occupy
itself for days with plenty of tourist activities. But you’re paying for these trappings of
tourism. If you’re on a fishing vacation, not a vacation with some fishing, you might be
better suited — and save some dough — in Libby, Mont. It’s a trout hotspot for guys in the
know, but you’re going to be sleeping in a substandard motel and eating diner food, or
worse. Yet when it comes to catching trout, Libby is as good as it gets.
Season is another important factor: Just ask any guide on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The
snowbirds arrive in December and want to catch the iconic silver-backed tarpon. Well,
good luck, Joe. You might see tarpon swimming under the dock eating fish guts in January,
but targeting and catching them like a true sport fisherman isn’t happening. June marks
the tarpon bite, but it isn’t exactly clockwork either. June is primetime, but you could also
slam them in middle May and early July. You can save some bucks, and still catch fish, by
planning a near-peak — rather than on-peak — trip. Whatever fish you’re chasing, there’s
an ideal time window when to catch it, and you must research that information based on
species and location. But as with tarpon in May, playing the edges is safe.

That all said, the question still stands: Where do you want to
go and what do you want to catch?
• For a mixed saltwater bag, consider Key West or Islamorada, Fla.
• For trout, there’s West Yellowstone, Libby, and Bozeman, Mont.
• Steelhead in the fall in Pulaski, N.Y., or Michigan’s Pere Marquette
River are classic.
• The Great Lakes, especially Erie and Ontario, are great for trolling
salmon, smallies and walleye.
• There are dozens of world-class largemouth bass lakes all across
the U.S., but Table Rock in Branson, Mo., and Lake Okeechobee in
Florida top the list.
• Muskie? Hayward, Wis., or the Twin Cities, for sure.
• Stripers: Montauk, the Jersey Shore, or Cape Cod.
• Catfishing is great in Virginia and Oklahoma (the latter is great, too, if
you want to noodle them — that is catch them by hand).
• Red drum and sea trout along the Gulf Coast, Mississippi Delta, and
Texas is an other A-plus saltwater excursion, Southern style.
• If you’re a crappie fanatic — Lord, help you — Centre, Ala., is the
crappie capital of the world. Seriously. Look it up.
17

G
ood fishing guides are in the people business as much as the fishing business. The
guide will make or break your trip. He’s the guy driving the boat or leading you to
some mythic trout pool. He’s not necessarily the outfitter—who may own the lodge or a
fleet of boats.
Finding the right guide is the hardest but most important decision you’ll make. That said,
keep this in mind: You can’t judge a guide based on what you catch. Even the best, most
experienced guides in the hottest fishing spots with the most knowledgeable crew and
most sophisticated equipment get skunked. It’s fishing, not catching. Weather, fishing
pressure, and dozens of other factors affect the bite. It’s much more than just getting the
boat over the fish. So don’t be the stereotypical tourist that gauges how much they’re
tipping on how full the cooler is. Instead, measure the guide on what you learned and
the quality of the experience, not what you caught. As a good friend and one of the
most hardcore fishermen in the U.S. told me, “I judge a guide on whether he helped me
develop as an angler. The question isn’t what did I catch? It’s what did I learn?”
Whether you and the guide mesh will be determined solely on personality and the kind
of trip you’re after. The jovial, talkative, fun uncle-type is going to be great with kids. The
Big Bang Theory-smart, taciturn, fly fanatic is probably worth the trouble if you’re working
on a billfish grand slam.
So ask yourself: What’s a good personality fit for your
fishing trip? Then do your research, which breaks down to
three steps:
1. Research
2. Validate and compare
3. Select and track
1. Research?
19
Start your search by checking with the local tourism board in the area you want to fish.
Unlike booking agents and concierges, most tourism boards don’t get a commission for

connecting you to a charter. They also have an interest in your good time, so they’re not
going to line you up with a service that’s received numerous complaints. Visit the tourism
board’s website or make a phone call. It’s also worthwhile to check with state wildlife
departments. In a large state such as Florida, you won’t get far dialing the main 1-800
number, but if you can find a satellite office in the area you plan to fish, making the call is
definitely worthwhile. Wildlife officers know all the guides, marinas, and outfitters in their
jurisdiction — it’s their job, after all.
Google is another possible research tool, but a risky one. High search results and a flashy
websites don’t necessarily translate to fast boats and full coolers. In fact, some of the
best guides may not even have websites, so they won’t appear in your search.
Facebook, believe it or not, is a far better way to get a sense of a guide than a generalized
Google search or even comparing outfitter websites. Many of the best guides in the
country are leveraging Facebook to provide instant feedback. Clients can “like” the
guide’s fan page and then tag it in photos — photos often uploaded right from the boat.
With Facebook, guides have a constant stream of updated content and client reviews.
Online review sites, such as Fin & Field, are another great option when selecting a guide.
They don’t have the problems of a generalized Google search in which whoever has the
most marketing dollars wins. And unlike Facebook, the reviews are more complete on
these listings sites. On Facebook, clients generally post over-the-top positive reviews or
scathing negative reviews. You don’t get much fair and balanced information because
the context is about sharing an experience, not reviewing it. This is the great benefit of
an online guide review site: You get the extreme happy client, the unhappy client, and
everything in the middle. The truth is often in that middle, so these balanced reviews will
likely be some of the most valuable feedback you’ll find. It’s why Open Table works for
restaurants and Trip Advisor works for hotels.
Last but not least: the personal touch. Old-school human-to-human recommendations
from friends or acquaintances are worth their weight in gold. Preference word-of-mouth
recommendations from people you trust above everything else you see and read.
20

Once your research is complete, make phone calls and send emails. Talk to the guide
or outfitter. Ask him about his business and tell him about the trip you have in mind. If
he doesn’t have time to talk, ask yourself why that is. Is he just brushing you off, or is he
exhausted from running trips? If you call during peak season, he’s probably been working
16-hour days, seven days a week. In that case, a tired guide is a promising sign because
busy is good. Either way, make sure you convey the type of experience you’re looking
to take away from the trip. Talk about money, confirming whatever your research has
turned up on pricing. Make sure the timeline you have in mind fits his schedule and also
matches the species you want to catch and the way you want to catch it.
After talking to all the guides in question, vet the options with your fishing group. If you’re
planning a bachelor party, let everyone in on the logistics — besides the groom. If it’s
a family trip, ask your son or father or daughter or wife what they think. Making quality
experiences starts with the planning, so bring in as many participants as possible.
2. Validate and Compare
3. Select and Track
21
Once you’ve decided on your guide, it’s time to pull the trigger. A 50 percent deposit is
almost always due at the time of booking. Sometimes you can shave a little off the price
by booking directly with the guide. Sometimes online booking agents—who subsidize
trips or buy package deals—are cheaper. Research the best method for your wallet and
level of comfort, then go for it.
Whether your trip is in six weeks or six months, part of the fun is staying on top of the
details. Follow the guide or outfitter on Facebook and Twitter. If they regularly post
pictures to the Internet, follow their webpages. Monitor the weather in your destination.
Rainfall, for example, in the weeks preceding your trip can dramatically affect fish
behavior.

23
U
nless you live near the water you’re fishing or are staying at an all-inclusive fishing
resort, you must plan flight, hotel, and meal accommodations, just like you would
any other vacation. Whether it’s Motel 6 and McDonald’s or surf-‘n’-turf at the Ritz is
up to personal taste and budget. Most lodges and mother ship operations will include
food. Most full-day and half-day charters don’t, but asking the captain ahead of time is
worthwhile (Subway is the unofficial lunchtime sponsor of fishing trips across the United
States). Make sure to eat breakfast before hitting the dock or bring it along if you’re a late
eater. If you don’t have much boat experience, bring Dramamine or other motion sickness
medicine, too. Take the first dose the night before stepping aboard. Many a trip is ruined
by seasickness.
Consider Your Physicality
Remember, the whole point of your trip is to make lifelong memories — not create
lifelong injuries. Pay keen attention to your physicality, level of conditioning, old injuries,
and other medical conditions. Depending on your goal, fishing can be strenuous work
that requires balance, bending, and pulling. Consider what your day will be from a
physical perspective and ask yourself if you’re ready. Not ready? You have two options:
Get to the gym or adjust your trip. Also consider any medical conditions and how to
handle them in the worst possible scenario. Even on inshore trips, you could be several
hours away from the nearest doctor or hospital should something go wrong. If you are
diabetic, are asthmatic, or have allergies, bring enough medicine and supplies to weather
a storm — metaphorically and literally. If you do have any chronic medical conditions,
alert the guide at the time of booking. Plan for the worst and hope for the best.
Gear Considerations
For most fishing trips, all you really need is standard vacation wear. Make sure to pack
water, sunscreen (even in a cold and cloudy climate, the sun is much stronger at sea
and in the mountains), ChapStick, sunglasses, and comfortable shoes if you’ll be on a
boat or comfortable boots if you’re hiking in. If you burn easily, consider sunshade-type
clothing such as fishing shirts and pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and neck or face covers.
Beyond these essentials, clothing and gear will highly depend on your location and style
of fishing, so run your equipment list by your guide. If you have some special reason

for bringing your own fishing gear, pack it in a TSA-approved telescoping rod case.
Flambeau and Plano are brands to look at. That said, you shouldn’t ever have to bring
your own fishing gear. If I guide tells you to bring your own rod, that’s a huge red flag.
Run away, fast.

A T T I T U D E I S
EVERYTHING
VIII.

A
memorable fishing trip doesn’t need to end with a huge fish. It’s about the
experience. Did you learn something? Did the kids have fun? Some of my best
fishing memories are leaving the dock at 5 a.m. in a heavy fog with two rods, a thermos
of coffee and box of Dunkin’ Donuts. Catching fish was beside the point. Going in with
the right attitude is the surest way to have a successful trip. Take stock of your group,
their experience level, and your expectations before embarking on your adventure, and
remember that nothing in the outdoors is guaranteed.
Finally, a word about conservation. Fish aren’t an infinite resource. Slamming dorado
or yellowtail in the Gulf may make them feel that way, but in truth, fish numbers across
all waters are declining as we humans incessantly ramp up the pace of development.
This doesn’t mean you should throw everything back. Nothing is more satisfying than
bottom fishing for grouper then cooking your catch at a dockside restaurant. But with
most species, catch and release is the better policy, no matter how good they taste. Wild
trout, sharks, billfish, trophy bass, and countless other species deserve a life beyond you
catching them. Do the right thing and toss them back. With a few quick measurements
and photos of distinguishing marks, any taxidermist worth his weight in borax can make a
fiberglass mount—a mount that will look better and last longer than skin. You don’t need
to kill a beautiful animal to take it home with you.
So what are you waiting for? Your next life experience isn’t
going to find you. You have to find it! Start with the big three
questions:
1. Is this a vacation where we fish or a fishing vacation?
2. What do we want to catch?
3. How much is this fish worth?
Next, log onto www.finandfield.com and compare guides and outfitters across North
America. Think hard about time of year, seasonality of the fish you hope to catch, and the
kind of overall fishing experience you’re after. Vet your guide, compare options, and then
take the plunge. With a little homework your trip is sure to be a success.
–The F&F Team
26

How to plan and book a guided fishing trip.

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Similar to How to plan and book a guided fishing trip.

Similar to How to plan and book a guided fishing trip. (18)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

How to plan and book a guided fishing trip.