Fishing Charter Business Marketing Help Blog

The fishing gear you need to start a charter fishing business will depend on the type of fishing you plan to do and the size of your target market. Here are a few basic pieces of fishing gear that you may need: Rods: You will need a variety of fishing rods to accommodate different types of fishing and different sizes of fish. Consider purchasing a mix of spinning rods, baitcasting rods, and fly rods to cover a range of fishing situations. Reels: You will also need a variety of fishing reels to match your rods. Spinning reels are good for lighter lures and smaller fish, while baitcasting reels are better for heavier lures and larger fish. Fly reels are used for fly fishing. Lures: You [...]

The cost of starting a charter fishing business can vary significantly depending on a variety of factors, including the size and type of boat you use, the type of fishing you plan to do, the location of your business, and the amenities you offer. Here are a few of the key expenses to consider when starting a charter fishing business: Boat: The cost of the boat will be one of the biggest expenses when starting a charter fishing business. The price of a fishing boat can range from a few thousand dollars for a used boat to hundreds of thousands of dollars for a new or high-end vessel. Equipment: In addition to the boat, you will need to purchase a variety of fishing equipment, including [...]

Setting your rates for your charter fishing business is an important step to ensure that you are charging a fair price for your services. Here are a few factors to consider as you determine your rates: Market demand: Research the local market to determine what other charter fishing businesses in your area are charging for their services. This will give you an idea of the going rate for charter fishing in your area, and help you determine whether you need to charge more or less to be competitive. Length of the trip: Consider the length of your fishing trips when determining your rates. Longer trips may command a higher price due to the additional time and resources required. Type of fishing: Different types of fishing [...]

Starting a charter fishing business can be a rewarding and challenging enterprise. Here are a few steps to consider as you begin to plan your business: Research the market: Before you start your business, it is important to understand the local demand for charter fishing services. Research the local fishing industry and assess the competition to determine whether there is a need for your business. Obtain the necessary licenses and permits: Depending on your location, you may need to obtain a variety of licenses and permits to operate a charter fishing business. This may include a business license, a fishing guide license, and a boat operator's license. Choose the right boat: The type of boat you use for your charter business will depend on the [...]

While there are many aspects to starting, running and maintaining a charter fishing business, it is an ever evolving enterprise. Your business will be impacted by new and changing regulations, new fishing techniques, and a consistently changing marketing approach. Your job, aside from catching fish and entertaining your customers, is to stay current with all the changes that the future of charter fishing will bring. It is my opinion that every charter captain should develop a specialty. Whether you are an inshore guide, near shore guide out to say twenty-five miles, or an offshore guide to the Gulf Stream, you should have a specialty for which you are known. For example, I was/am an inshore and near shore guide, but my specialty is inshore. More specifically, [...]

Let’s talk about advertising. Starting a business without advertising would be difficult if not improbable. As I started my charter business, I found that my advertising approach changed considerably for the first two to three years. Call it fine tuning might be more appropriate. I guess I started with a website and a print advertisement in a magazine. First let’s look at the website. At first it was basic. I had a page with a picture of me on my boat, a description of my boat and its features, and a brief section about me and my “qualifications”. Then there was the rate page including not only the rates, but also the deposit requirement and methods of payment. By the way, be sure to have/require a [...]

Knowing your expenses is critical not only to making a profit but also, to make sure you avoid financial trouble. It is easy to dream of doing something you love and how easy it is to build a business out of that dream. I mean you are a great fisherman, right? Well, if you are not business savvy, being a great fisherman may not make it in the charter business. Here are some expenses you need to know: boat payments (if you own your boat you are ahead of the game!), boat and liability insurance, boat maintenance, if you dock your boat, slip payment, rod and reel upkeep and fishing tackle. Don’t forget advertising. Website(s), magazine and other print media, business cards, brochures all add to [...]

As I stated in PART 1, the charter fishing business is more about entertainment than catching fish. If you are new to the business, you may have difficulty believing that: but it is true. Suppose you are running a trip and for some reason, any reason, your clients are not catching much and sometimes nothing. If you are a good conversationalist, you can still save the day. Tell some of your fish stories, ask about their work or interest; anything to get them talking about something in which they are interested. Open conversation helps pass the slow times and makes the trip more enjoyable. All right, you have your boat, you have your captain’s license, and you have your insurance. Now you need your fishing gear. [...]