Fishing Charters and Guides

The Season

The time of year is very important when choosing your fishing charter. You can learn about local fishing seasons by reading area fishing reports, newspaper articles and by calling local captains and talking to them about what fish generally are caught at any given time.

Location

Choosing your port can matter in terms of catching fish. Some areas are consistently productive while others can be sporadic. If you dream is to catch a certain species, the port may be critical. If the types of fish you catch are less important, it might be best to choose a more convenient location and let the captain choose what to fish for .

The Boat

Several factors make choosing your boat important. First and foremost is safety. It's a good idea to ask your captain several questions about the boat before making any commitments.

The Captain and Crew

The enjoyment of the day largely depends on the Captain and crew. A courteous captain and mate can make the day enjoyable regardless of how fast or slow the fishing is. Likewise, no amount of fish can make up for rudeness on the boat.

What to Bring

A good charter captain usually has this information listed on his website and brochures. Usually you will want a small cooler for drinks, and a mid-sized or large cooler iced down for storing the fish at the end of the day. Some boats allow you to bring a fish cooler along, but most will have a fish box on board to keep the fish cool until you return to port.

The Catch

Your captain will advise you of the intended catch, how to care for them and maybe even tips on cooking. Many charter boats will offer fish cleaning or arrange for the catch to be cleaned at the marina. If you prefer to clean your own fish, discuss that in advance and be ready with a cooler when you return to port.

Your Rights

You have paid for a service and it's the captains job to maintain his end of the agreement. Most problems stem from lack of communication at the time of booking. Here are some things you might want to clarify:

*What happens if the weather is bad? What happens to the deposit if the trip is cancelled?

* When fish are caught, does the captain or crew get any of the fish? If the party wishes to release fish unharmed, is the captain agreeable?

*What are the catch limits on the intended fish?

*What items are not allowed on the boat? ( beer, liquor, GPS, etc.)

The Captain's Rights

The captain has likely mortgaged every thing he has and works like a dog to please you. Please be courteous and treat the boat and tackle like it was your own. Excessive drinking, roughhousing or loudness is usually not tolerated. Carrying illegal drugs on a charter boat is a sure way to get a dockside escort to jail.

Tipping

15-20% is the standard. It's a good idea to discuss this before booking.

After the Trip

Finding a good charter boat is not always easy. If you have a nice experience, it's a good idea to share your recommendations with others. You can also share pics with the captain for use on his website, brochures, etc.

Do you run a fishing, sailing, adventure charter, nature cruise, fishing guide or other outdoor service? If you need to get some exposure, visit Worldwide Charter Boat and Guide Directory and list your business for free.

The "Worldwide Charter and Guide Directory" is located at www.charter-guide.info. The project provides business owners such as fishing charters, fishing guides, hunting guides, lodges, nature tour operators, sailing charters and other members of the outdoor adventure industry with a variety of tools.

"This comes at a critical time for a lot of charter boat captains and fishing guides. With small business owners facing skyrocketing fuel prices and the present economic situation, not everyone can afford to spend a lot advertising at the moment." explained a representative of the project.

The site runs on a software platform that is extremely flexible and expandable. Critical features include the capability of the software to create pages that are likely to rank well in search engine results.

The rep went on to explain that "This project has been built from the foundation up with search engine results in mind. Depending on the situation, its entirely possible that a struggling new business owner could enter their information and within a few months find their listings to be in the top rankings of search engine results. The software gives us the ability to add categories and regions quickly, thereby responding to the changing face of the outdoor adventure sector. The recent increased popularity of eco-tourism is a good example of changes in the industry. We are committed to being responsive to these trends."

The project is more than the typical directory where the business owner submits his or her information, usually for a fee, then hopes it will get noticed among the others. Businesses that need exposure will have a variety of tools on site. The basic directory submission is straightforward with free entry level listings. Beyond the basic listings are paid levels where listings are pushed to the top of the category and shown in bold font. Additional paid options include text links or banners on the home page.

Perhaps the most powerful tool on the site is the article submission feature. This allows the business owner to submit articles about their services or other topics. As a promotional tool, these articles can be extremely valuable and effective for a number of reasons. First, this gives the business owner a chance to get a backlink to their website. As many people are aware, the number of backlinks are the big factor in a website's search engine clout. The technical environment of the article listing equates to a strong "vote" for the business owner's website within search engine calculations.

Another reason for businesses to consider submitting articles to www.charter-guide.info is the potential for the article itself to appear in search engine results, thereby generating human traffic and exposure. Additionally, article submissions do not require the author to have a website, so even those business that lack their own
site can gain some publicity.

For businesses that lack a website but want to get listed in the directory, Daybreak Web Designs offers special pricing on simple turnkey websites for outdoor service providers. This service allows every small business to have an online presence and full use of the directory's features.

The Worldwide Charter and Guide Directory is the next in a series of outdoor-related websites from Daybreak Web Designs. Being part of a family of related sites is one of the strengths of the site, as human traffic can be directed to the project, offering business owners assurance of their information reaching potential customers. Related sites from Daybreak Web Designs include
www.fresh-seafood.net,
www.commercial-fishing.org,
www.chincoteague-island.net,
www.tidewater-virginia.net and
www.virginia-beach-va.net.

A full expansion of categories and listings are in progress and a series of promotional tactics will provide service providers with visibility. Meanwhile outdoor enthusiasts will find the directory to be a well balanced source of both outdoor information and an easy source of shopping online for services.