There’s a very a clear and very important reason why most experts advise against simply heading down to the marina and jumping on the first deep sea fishing charter you come across. And this reason is the plain and simple fact that there’s quite a lot to consider and clarify before agreeing on and finalising a booking. To head out to the Turks & Caicos Islands and not indulge in at least one fishing trip would be an absolute crime – something few would dispute. Nevertheless, exactly how much enjoyment you and your group can expect to get out of the trip will to a large extent be determined by the considerations and decisions you make during the booking process.
Mercifully, actually getting it wrong and falling foul of a dodgy dealer is a comparatively rare outcome to say the least. Nevertheless, there’s absolutely no such thing as a one-size-fits-all fishing charter package, which means that in order to secure the very best package for your group, you need to bear a few important things in mind.
Here’s an overview of a few examples of mandatory advance considerations:
Trip Type
First and foremost, the term ‘deep sea fishing’ actually refers to a wide variety of different types of fishing which are in many respects completely different. From bottom fishing to trolling to long-distance off-shore fishing and more, it’s important to think about exactly what type of fishing it is you and your group are interested in, or to at least ask a service provider which is most appropriate for you. Your enjoyment will be impacted enormously by the appropriateness of the trip type you choose, so don’t take things for granted.
Public or Private
You’ll also have the option of choosing a private charter trip for you and your group alone, or to reserve a place on a public charter. Technically speaking, there’s very little difference between the two when it comes to quality of service provision and the fishing opportunities on offer, but there will always be those who prefer the privacy of a private charter. But then again, public charters represent fantastic social outings and are a great way of meeting new people.
Trip Duration
Don’t fall into the trap of assuming that all trips out to sea are similar by way of duration. It’s actually quite to the contrary as while a great many trips for beginners last in the region of 3 to 4 hours, expert outings can last for as long as 16 to 18 hours. Suffice to say, the last thing you want is to find yourself stuck out at sea for 12 hours longer than you intended to be out there, simply having not taken into account the advertised duration of the trip you ended up booking.
Age Restrictions
There are plenty of exceptional family friendly fishing charter service providers on the market today, though in the vast majority of instances you will always find that there are certain age restrictions with regard to children permitted on board. It’s never a good idea to simply assume that ‘family friendly’ means that literally any children of any age can be taken along as this is rarely the case. For health and safety reasons along with the specific policies of the charter company in question, age restrictions will always apply and therefore must be considered and noted.
Boat Capacity
If you are traveling with a particularly large group or family, it is of course important to consider the capacity of the boat for reasons that are relatively obvious. This is especially important if considering hiring a boat for a self-drive trip out to sea, as to simply assume the boat you are interested in will accommodate your group is never a good idea. And if it says the boat can accommodate 10 people, this doesn’t mean you will safely ‘get away’ with 12.
Electronics
You might also want to look into exactly how well kitted-out the boat in question is by way of electronics and other conveniences. From navigation systems to safety features to state of the art fish-finders and so on, there’s really no such thing as a boat being laden with too much sophisticated equipment.
Tackle and Gear
Last but not least, there’s a very big difference between providing all the gear and tackle the charter guests require and providing the very best gear and tackle available. Whichever way you look at it and whatever level you may be at, the quality of the gear you use will have a marked impact on the success or otherwise of your trip in general. So instead of just accepting the fact that gear is provided, look a little deeper into the quality and condition of the gear supplied.
