BEST FISHING CHARTER

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!