I know there is a millon guys out there who charter boats and they all say, dont waste your time but the truth is i dont spend as much time on the water that i want to. ( 3-4 days a week isint enough) Its tough for me to take time off work due to bills.

I was considering running bass/blues/ and tuna/shark charters. I have plenty of gear and tackel. Own the boat. and enrolled in the captains course ( six pack)


I just want to be able to juistify more time on the water with the headach of takeing time off work. If i can go to work, catch fish, and still cover my cost, mabe even make a few bucks to pay bills WHY NOT.


My question to you guys is what is a Real $$$$ that you think is a good Rate to charge for bass/blues. I would only want to take 2-3 out at a time. Run half day and full day charters.



Thanks guys all input is accepted. GOOD and BAD lol

I think if you crunch the numbers hard, factor in gas, advertising, starting from scratch from a business standpoint, you would run hard and fast away. Especially if you have a decent job paying the bills. Most successful charters I know have other businesses needing to make ends meet, or a good working bride. More than a few have gone bankrupt.

We all want to find a way to make a good living doing what we love about fishing, but very few of us ever get comfortable $$ doing it.

I think if you crunch the numbers hard, factor in gas, advertising, starting from scratch from a business standpoint, you would run hard and fast away. Especially if you have a decent job paying the bills. Most successful charters I know have other businesses needing to make ends meet, or a good working bride. More than a few have gone bankrupt.

We all want to find a way to make a good living doing what we love about fishing, but very few of us ever get comfortable $$ doing it.

If you were to break it down $ wise, you'd probably end up making less than minimum wage. I heard it's kinda like owning a striped bass fishing website.:hidin:

Become a 1st mate! None of the headaches of running a business and tips can be good: 15-20%
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You also need an epirb, life raft, gumby suits (weather/water temp dependant), and insurance.

So, factor that in before you try to jump in.

Thats the thing. I got a good paying salery job now. But want to spend more time on the water. I have all the requirements to run it legally besides insurance. (Epirb, suits, raft) Gas is not an issue, the boats great on gas. Have tons of gear and seem to do a good job at finding fish. I wouldnt leave my job now just work more of a SIDE gig for the charter. WHat would you guys be willing to pay for a good day of fishing. I know there are a millon sites and boats with prices online but they seem high to me.

You also need an epirb, life raft, gumby suits (weather/water temp dependant), and insurance.

So, factor that in before you try to jump in.

not true.
your mixing federal commercial fishing safety regulations for "selling fish" that are boat size, distance offshore, number of passengers, registered or documented, time of year Etc. ...dependant with fishing vessel safety regulations that vary greatly based on many factors.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

What John says is very true.

a total length boat of 30 ft. from bow to skeg if outboard around my way for dockage is $5,300.00 for the summer season, my boat insurance is $1,000.00, figure fuel and bait. Repairs can set you back.

A first job is great to have. In my job I'm very flexible with work schedule, and charters work very well and there are too many in the business now, not the same as 20 years ago.

not true.
your mixing federal commercial fishing safety regulations for "selling fish" that are boat size, distance offshore, number of passengers, registered or documented, time of year Etc. ...dependant with fishing vessel safety regulations that vary greatly based on many factors.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Charter/Headboat HMS qualifies as commercial, and he DID say Tuna/Shark. :hihi:

Commercial means "selling fish"
not chartering.
3 pass or less within 12 miles needs no raft. and state registered(not documented) up to 36 feet within 12 miles needs no suits.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device
http://www.uscg.mil/d1/prevention/NavInfo/navinfo/documents/I-Commercial_Vessel_Regs.PDF

http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/fsb/Manuals/FEDERAL%20REQUIREMENTS%20pamphlet%5B1%5D.pdf

be ready for cancellations, puking customers, puking customers who break your gear, trying to explain why the fish have lock jaw today, somebody falls and gets hurt, bad weather, getting bait, bad tides, motor chits the bed, or trailer, or tow vehicle so many things can go wrong.

I had the same dream, got my capt's license, then came to realize if to be a good charter captain, you've got to be up before the sun and finish up hours after the trip is done, and you're not fishing that day. To be a great charter capt, you got to be on fish day in and day out. Not an easy task.

But that said, if it's your dream, go for it. 1/2 day = $250, full day $400 for bass blues.

Good Luck!!

If you were to break it down $ wise, you'd probably end up making less than minimum wage. I heard it's kinda like owning a striped bass fishing website.:hidin:

:rotf2:

Thats the thing. I got a good paying salery job now. But want to spend more time on the water. I have all the requirements to run it legally besides insurance. (Epirb, suits, raft) Gas is not an issue, the boats great on gas. Have tons of gear and seem to do a good job at finding fish. I wouldnt leave my job now just work more of a SIDE gig for the charter. WHat would you guys be willing to pay for a good day of fishing. I know there are a millon sites and boats with prices online but they seem high to me.


Then work it out with the family to get more time on the water. Get a slip, do anything but trying to smile and be nice to a hack that just broke your Loomis after he snagged your leg on the cast :devil2:

Not trying to urinate in your Cheerios but to twist an old saying: How to make $100K per year doing fishing charters? Start with $200K.

Keep in mind, that if you are charterin, you ain't fishin, your clients are. You are runnin the boat. You now have the added pressure to not only find fish, but big fish. It really takes the fun out of it. A trustworthy, dependable mate is priceless.
God bless blue fish. Charter savers.
The hours are long, long, long. Prep boat and post fishin prep.

I'm now fully licensed charter captain with all safety gear.

I spent close to $10k to make this happen in the last 2 years. Number of charters so far 0. I have a few charters in the works but so far I've not made a dollar and not put in an ounce of effort. I'm too busy with my "real job" to even consider chartering right now.

If you're going to do it, do it 100% or it's not worth the money to get started.

I also started my charter business this year. Lots of set-up costs.
Lots of paperwork to do too.

Now that I am doing it, looking around the harbor and online checking stuff, I realized I can't swing a dead striper without hitting another charter boat.

It will take years to build a client base, and even that, there is no way anyone can make a real living chartering for 4-5 months. (IMHO)

I am keeping my day job !!!!!

Whats all the Start up cost? If i own the boat, Have a New engine, All equipment and a captains lic. Besides Liabilty insurance where are these 10K figures coming from

Don't know about 10K.

But some of what I went through is as follows:

I had to:
--Get a Tax ID number.
--Register the business with the C of C in my city. (2 fees)
--Get the charter fishing license. (Mass ??).
--Buy pricey charter boat insurance.
--Purchase new PFDs with reflective tape, lights and whistles.
(Check all the CG regs for charter boat, it changes with the size of the boat)...
--Classify my business as an LLC, "CRAZY not to" That was a royal pain in the @$$.
--Web hosting costs and maintanence if you have someone else do it.
--Advertising $$.

A few more things I can't think of right now.

Anyway, GO FOR IT, even if you will lose $, its a good tax write off.
I have a hell of an accountant...:uhuh:

Don't know about 10K.

But some of what I went through is as follows:

I had to:
--Get a Tax ID number.
--Register the business with the C of C in my city. (2 fees)
--Get the charter fishing license. (Mass ??).
--Buy pricey charter boat insurance.
--Purchase new PFDs with reflective tape, lights and whistles.
(Check all the CG regs for charter boat, it changes with the size of the boat)...
--Classify my business as an LLC, "CRAZY not to" That was a royal pain in the @$$.
--Web hosting costs and maintanence if you have someone else do it.
--Advertising $$.

A few more things I can't think of right now.

Anyway, GO FOR IT, even if you will lose $, its a good tax write off.
I have a hell of an accountant...:uhuh:

Federally documented 28 fter weighing more than 10 tons changes a whole lot of expenses. Raft Epirb etc

Ya does sound like alot of work. Nothing i didnt expect. I may try it out and give it a go, probally try and set something up over the winter for next year!

I know nothing about chartering, but I do know this, once you put earning money and all that kind of stuff into one of your passions, sooner or later it becomes work and you get sucked into it because there is money involved. It has the potential to suck the joy out of something you once loved.

I experienced this with playing in mutliple bands over the years.... unless the big bucks are rolling in, sometimes it's better to just keep things casual....

I'll tell you this much, in addition to what the others have said. These days people are holding on to their money and no opening their wallets easily. If you lower your prices too much you are going to get the kind of people on the boat that you really don't want to be hanging around with. They will show you boat and equipment zero respect and you'll at times wind up paying more in repairs than the charter fee.

As the others have said, just rearrange your calendar so you can get more time on the water and forget about trying to make a profit doing it.

[QUOTE=fishsmith;864216]

But that said, if it's your dream, go for it. 1/2 day = $250, full day $400 for bass blues. Take these rates and x2 and your more on track depending on the size of the boat.

Also, what kind of boat are you running? You need something that can take seas comfortably and something that is dry. Many of my customers have never been in the ocean. You don't want customers wondering if they are safe, or taking a saltwater bath on the way to and from the grounds.

[QUOTE=fishsmith;864216]

But that said, if it's your dream, go for it. 1/2 day = $250, full day $400 for bass blues. Take these rates and x2 and your more on track depending on the size of the boat.

Also, what kind of boat are you running? You need something that can take seas comfortably and something that is dry. Many of my customers have never been in the ocean. You don't want customers wondering if they are safe, or taking a saltwater bath on the way to and from the grounds.

X 2

The world does not need another low-baller "trying to break some expenses".

I'll tell you this much, in addition to what the others have said. These days people are holding on to their money and no opening their wallets easily. If you lower your prices too much you are going to get the kind of people on the boat that you really don't want to be hanging around with. They will show you boat and equipment zero respect and you'll at times wind up paying more in repairs than the charter fee.


That sounds like some priceless wisdom.

while I agree with every single thing everyone said above, 95% of people on their deathbed wont be thinking about what they did at work. I bet the 5% that do will be the ones that did what they loved.

If you can afford it, do it for a few years. If it fails, pick up where you left off. Life is way to freakin short.

I think most that get into fishing as a "real" business (whatever the business...selling fish, chartering, tackle stores, etc...end up regreting it in the end.) If you love fishing, then go fishing.