I started writing my business plan to start my own charter service this morning. I am looking forward to getting this started next spring. I did not realize how expensive the insurance can be. If you guys have any good or bad feedback about being a charter captain please let me know. I am definitely going dual rig. Not sure if I want to go prodrive or gatortail. This will be a two to three charters a week service. Fishing and duck hunting during season. I'm going to keep my current job and use this as a secondary hobby/income. I'm not looking to make a bunch of money. I just want extra income to pay for my expensive deer hunting and fishing hobbies.

I would say go with a GTR for the instant reverse. But pd duals wouldn't be a bad idea either!


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What about stick steer pd duals? Don't know if they could do it but it would be nice to sit down while others are fishing.


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Are you planing to bowfish?

Yes, insurance is a bitch!

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My advice is only buy something you can afford to pay for with your current income. Not to sound negative, but it will take several years to build your charter business.




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X2


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I don't plan on bow fishing at this time. I'm not a subject matter expert on that.
I will be set up to operate where I can take my time and not need a ton of business at start. I have several business connections already lined up to market myself. I would be able to survive on as little as one or two charters a month for as long as I need to to build my business up.

If you plan on day fishing get you a outboard. Way less maintenance and a lot cheaper.


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I'm speaking from experience when I say this, and it's only to help you along the way.

You get out of it what you put into it. Your customers deserve more that a blind guess when they are paying you to put them on the birds, or fish.

You have to be willing to devote a ton of time, fuel, and effort into scouting. You may have great plans on how to market you're services, but the "should've be here yesterday" excuse only works a couple times. Repeat customers, and word of mouth referrals will be what keeps you in business.

Just think about this. If you're paying someone $500.00 to put you on the fish would you want someone that fishes 300+ days a year, or a guide that fishes when he has paying customers a few times per month?

Again, I'm not trying to be a jerk. I just want you to know that it never works out on the water like it does on paper.


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I have been on many guided trips
From Alaska- North Carolina
Be prepared,be professional and
Be on top of your game.
But remember its fishing not catching
At the end of the day give them an enjoyable time.

Just make sure the first thing u do is lic.and llc.
As long as your investment is tax deductable u will be ahead of the game.
u were gonna buy all the shit anyway..might as well get a tax break.
Give big discounts to the clients that pay cash.
they will come back.
dont start drinking before the clients.
feed them....even if its leftovers.
after your charter business doesnt profit in 3 years on paper, get a vessel lic and commerc.fish
lic. And claim 3 more years without hurting yourself on taxes with your real job.

If u ever dont know where the fish are biting in south lafourche....call me