BEST FISHING CHARTER
Finding the best fishing charter can turn into hours of research, leading to the black hole abyss of fishing. Don't do this to yourself! In this travel blog, we share our experiences about utilizing FishingBooker (like we did in Aruba) & why we recommend you check them out before your next chartered fishing trip.
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WHAT IS FISHINGBOOKER?
WHY BOOK A FISHING CHARTER WITH FISHINGBOOKER?
WHY BOOK A FISHING CHARTER WITH FISHINGBOOKER?
WHY BOOK A FISHING CHARTER WITH FISHINGBOOKER?
WHY BOOK A FISHING CHARTER WITH FISHINGBOOKER?
WHY BOOK A FISHING CHARTER WITH FISHINGBOOKER?
WHAT TO BRING ON A FISHING CHARTER TRIP
WHAT TO BRING ON A FISHING CHARTER TRIP
WHAT TO BRING ON A FISHING CHARTER TRIP
TIPS WHEN BOOKING A FISHING CHARTER
WHAT TO BRING ON A FISHING CHARTER TRIP
WHAT TO BRING ON A FISHING CHARTER TRIP
WHAT IS FISHINGBOOKER?
In a nutshell, FishingBooker is one of the best and largest websites that enables you to search, compare and book fishing charters all over the world!
FishingBooker gives you access to fishing charters in 108 countries, spanning over 2000+ cities, with over 30 thousand trips available.
DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION YET?!
WHY WE BOOKED OUR FISHING CHARTER WITh FISHINGBOOKER
- FREE CANCELLATION - The ability to cancel a trip, especially nowadays, has, unfortunately, become the 'norm.' To have some assurance that you can get your money back if needed is a massive bonus FishingBooker offers.
- INSTANT CONFIRMATION - You will get an instant confirmation as soon as you pay the initial deposit to reserve a specific time & date for the fishing charter you choose (generally 10%-20% of the total cost). The boat captain will contact you within the hour if you have any additional questions.
- DONT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP UPFRONT - This is another bonus! Yes, you can pay your total fishing fee upfront if you want, or you can pay the day you are scheduled to go fishing. If you choose to pay upon arrival, confirm what type of payment they take BEFORE you arrive (cash, Visa, Mastercard, etc.)
- IMPORTANT STUFF SUPPLIED - The charter will supply nearly everything necessary to go fishing (rod, reels, bait, licenses, etc.). Before you book, make sure you read the info and see what is included and what is not included.
- CAN COMPARE PRICES - This was the best part! They give you prices up front, without searching or calling to see the costs. We ultimately chose a fishing charter that was 'in the middle' pricing-wise, plus they had all the necessities aboard! We are believers of the saying 'You Get What You Pay For,' and it's true... they were AWESOME!
- CAN READ REAL REVIEWS - I say this with a grain of salt, but the reviews help. You have to ignore the reviews that say they had a terrible time because they got seasick, thus giving the charter a poor review 🤦♀️. Otherwise, people will provide you with insight into their experiences, especially regarding the captain and deckhand.
TIPS WHEN BOOKING A FISHING CHARTER
When we booked our deep sea fishing charter in Aruba with FishingBooker, it was our first time going on a charter boat!
It was a great time, except for our son, Blake, getting seasick for nearly the whole trip, poor kid. Anyway, if this is your first time going on a charter, here are some suggestions to ask/confirm with the captain before booking the fishing charter...
- Do they supply the fishing license? (ours did in Aruba, but double-check!!)
- How do they accept the rest of their payment? (cash, Visa, Mastercard, etc.)
- Is there a toilet available on the boat & does it work? (trust me... it's a good question!)
- Kid-friendly? (if you have kids)
- Do they supply the bait? (most do)
- Can you bring food/beverages aboard & do they have a cooler/fridge you can store your drinks in?
- Do they clean the fish for you?
- How much do you get to keep of your catch?
- Can they recommend a place that can cook your fresh catch?
- What is the exact address of the pickup/pier name?
- Do they provide transportation to/from the boat? (most don't, but it doesn't hurt to ask)
- What is the boat capacity?
Generally, most of this information is disclosed, but some may not... and you could have a crummy day if you don't ask/confirm!
WHAT TO BRING ON A FISHING CHARTER TRIP
Now that we have gone on a fishing charter trip, I can give you first-hand insight & experience on the things you should take with you.... wish we knew this info (just saying)...
- CLOSED TOE SHOES - You will be on a fishing boat that has not only lures but other sharp objects (like a spear, knives, etc.), and they will primarily be on or near the ground... not to mention, the boat could be in some rough water, ergo things can get moved out of place and close to your feet, in a moments time. Also, fish blood/guts may get on your shoes (food for thought). I wore my water shoes from Columbia, just in case my feet got wet... but Tenney shoes can work too!
- WATERPROOF CAMERA - **MOST IMPORTANT** Of course, you have to have your camera ready to capture that trophy fish photo. We had our GoPro, and not only is it waterproof, super compact, durable, and takes excellent pictures and 4K videos (see our video here). We also took our water-resistant solar charger to charge our phones & camera. Sometimes it can take a while for the fish to bite, don't run out of battery!
- HAT & SUNGLASSES - The reflection of the ocean is intense, even if it's cloudy outside! Just these two simple items can help immensely! Living in Florida, we are always on the ocean, and our go-to glasses are these polarized glasses (Ladies - Gents)
- COOLER - This one depends if you are going to take any amount of your fish home with you. When we were in Aruba, we found a restaurant that allowed us to store our fish in their cooler for a few days, as long as they could cook it for us. If you live in the area, be sure to have an ice chest in your car to take your catch home. There may also be the possibility that you have to buy a cooler and ship your catch home... it just depends on what you decide.
- SPF LOTION - We specifically used the lotion because we primarily dabbed it on our face, neck & ears multiple times during our trip. I suggest at least 30+, but we always go for the 50+ SunBum.
- SPF CHAPSTICK - If you are going to be on the ocean, your lips will get a layer of salt on them, which will dry them out!
- DRAMAMINE - Getting sick from motion sickness IS THE WORST! Take it from our son Blake, the poor kid who got sick for 4 hours on our deep sea fishing trip. He was miserable. Be sure to take motion sickness medicine about 1 hour before boarding the boat! And just as a warning, MOST charters will not turn around and take you back to land!
- LONG SLEEVE SPF SHIRT/ WATER WICKING SHIRT - Here's my husband's preference & my (ladies) preference. I list this because of a few reasons;
1. The long sleeve Columbia SPF shirts are excellent for blocking the harsh sun rays (no need to use SPF lotion on arms & hands)
2. They can act as a 'light' layer for early morning departures
3. They are moisture-wicking and help shed the excess moisture you might endure during a hot day on the ocean
4. Wear a darker-colored shirt, just in case of fish blood and guts... splatter does happen, lol
5. Take the proper clothing for the weather that day. This could mean rain gear in some parts of the world. So ALWAYS check the weather!
- SNACKS & DRINKS - 99% of the fishing charters won't supply food during your trip, but most will supply water. Here's what we brought with us on our chartered fishing trip in Aruba and a few other items:
1. Jerky
2. Saltine crackers
3. Trail Mix
4. Protein/ energy bar
5. Sunflower Seeds
6. Gum
7. Lifesavers
- SANITIZER - I know this sounds funny, but when you are ready to reach your hands into those snacks, having 'clean' hands is more appetizing than fish-covered hands...
- HAND WIPES/ WET ONES - One more way to clean your hands up, wipe your face from the thick layers of sea salt, and just in case they don't have toilet paper (ladies)
- DRY BAG - If you're taking anything, you don't want to get wet (or salt covered). We utilize our dry bag backpack for nearly every trip involving ANY water and outdoors.
- CASH FOR TIPPING - How much should you tip a fishing charter and the crew/captain? Typically, the average tipping amount should be about 10% - 20% of the total cost of the trip. On our fishing trip, we had the captain and one deckhand in Aruba. The deckhand did the majority of the work, especially during! So tipping for a job well done was definitely in the works! Think about it this way... it's not about what you catch; it's about how hard your guide worked!