AWOL Fishing Guide has been running fishing tours in Ford Lauderdale for more than 20 years. Captain Carl follows catch and release practices and works with Bonefish & Tarpon Trust and the Coastal Conservation Association to encourage conservation. The company guides its tours in areas including New River, Intracoastal Waterway, and Port Everglades to search for species such as tarpon, snook, barracuda, and jack crevalle.
Bouncer's Dusky 33 is a Miami Beach fishing guide company run by a two-person crew on a boat that fits up to four guests. For 40 years, the business has run four-hour to 10-hour trips for species such as tuna, barracuda, snook, shark, snapper, grouper, bonito, sailfish, tarpon, swordfish, and kingfish. The company is a member of the Coastal Conservation Association. Clients have praised Bouncer's Dusky 33 for its talented and experienced crew and the fun experience they create.
Captain Brian Charters is run by a licensed Coast Guard with more than 40 years of fishing experience. The Ford Lauderdale fishing business guides tours in Biscayne Bay, Flamingo Bay, and the Fort Lauderdale Inlet. The company helps guests catch species such as tarpon, snook, speckled sea trout, barracuda, redfish, sheepshead, and Spanish mackerel. Clients have given positive feedback for Captain Brian Charters' knowledgeable and polite captain.
Chasin Finz is a deep sea charter based in Hollywood, FL that guides its tours on a 53-foot Hatteras sport fishing yacht. The boat has a large cockpit with more than 53 square feet of room, a blue water fighting chair, a 150-gallon live bait well, a tackle center, and two 400-quart in-deck fish boxes. The company runs half-day to full-day trips, swordfishing trips, blue water wreck fishing trips, and private parties along the Intracoastal Waterway.
Captain Mike Johnson, who has been fishing for more than 45 years, runs Fish Local Knowledge in the Fort Lauderdale area. The fishing business runs its charters on a 43-foot Hatteras sport fishing boat with a large fishing cockpit, three fighting chairs, and a door for hauling in large fish. The company's special trips include corporate fishing trips, Bahamas fishing charters, shark fishing at night, and deep drop swordfishing.
Florida Everglades Bass Fishing Adventures guides fishing tours in the South Florida Everglades and Lake Okeechobee. The company runs tours in remote areas where few anglers go. The captain has spent more than 25 years fishing in central Florida lakes and has a USCG boat operator's license. The captain has been seen on NBC Sports and has received praise for his friendly, laid-back attitude.
Lady Pamela II Sportfishing is run by Captain David, a full-time boat captain who owns the business. The company runs shared trips, private trips, trolling trips, night snapper fishing trips, and specialty trips including kid-friendly trips, swordfishing charters, shark fishing charters, Bahamas charters, and corporate charters. Clients have given positive feedback for the company's reasonable prices and informative captain.
A USCG licensed and insured captain runs Lucky Fishing Charters in the North Miami area. The business guides its tours on a 32-foot SeaVee, which has rod holders, electric outlets, extra large fish boxes, and three live wells. The captain is a member of the Florida Guides Association and the Miami Sport Fishing Club, and is an approved Mercury Marine Guide. The captain has also placed in a variety of tournaments, such as first place in the SeaVee Owners Tournament, first place in the Miami Beach Rod and Reel Club Inter Club Sailfish Tournament, and second place in the Grove Slam Tournament.
Marlin My Darlin Sportfishing brings more than 35 years of fishing experience to its Fort Lauderdale clients. The business accepts children as well as adults onto its fishing trips that fish for species such as sailfish, marlin, sharks, tuna, grouper, and wahoo. The company leads tours on its 46-foot Hatteras Sportfisher, which has a rigged tower and twin GM 8-71 TI turbocharged diesel engines. Clients have praised the business for its memorable and exciting tours.
Captain Scott Hall runs Summer Wind Sport Fishing Charters on a 34-foot Contender powered by two Yamaha outboards. The captain has more than 10 years of experience in the fishing industry and is licensed by the US Coast Guard. The business guides half-day to full-day fishing trips in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and South Florida for up to six passengers. Clients have praised the business for its personalized service and knowledgeable captain.
Ultimate Sport Fishing Charters runs half-day to full-day fishing trips for sailfish, mahi-mahi, tuna, king mackerel, wahoo, grouper, barracuda, snapper, and other species. The business guides fishing tours for up to six people in and around Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Pompano Beach, and Deerfield Beach. Now that Christian's here
A fishing guide is an experienced individual who helps others achieve success when fishing. Guides may lead guests to a body of water or charter a boat for fishing in water that can’t be accessed from the shore. Fishing guides also often share stories to keep guests entertained when the fish aren’t biting.
There are 12 main types of fishing, and you can hire a guide for whichever type you want to pursue:
Some fishing guides charge about $200 for a full day of fishing, while others may charge around $425 for six hours. Numerous factors affect the price, including the type of fish you want to catch, if you’re fishing from shore or a boat, and whether you’re in a popular tourist location.
The price for guided fishing trips varies depending on location, length of the trip, and the number of people taking part. For example, a seven day, six night fishing trip for two to Alaska costs about $4,575. A half-day fishing trip in Alaska costs about $175 per person.
A typical tip for a fishing guide is 15-20% of the total bill. For example, if the total cost for the guide is $300, a reasonable tip would be between $45 and $60. If you have an exceptionally good time, you may want to give a higher tip to thank your guide.
To prepare for a fishing trip, read the charter company’s information and talk to the fishing guide. Discuss your skill and past fishing experience. If you’re new to fishing, consider how hands-on you want to be in terms of baiting hooks and taking fish off hooks and ask your guide how to best prepare.
Each state has its own laws about fishing, however, most require a fishing license, and the cost varies by state. Some states also require separate licenses for specific types of fishing, such as freshwater or saltwater. On average, resident fishing licenses cost $25, and nonresident licenses cost around $70.
Hiring a fishing guide can be worthwhile if you want to learn more about fishing or you're planning a fishing trip to a location you're not familiar with. Having a guide can make the excursion more enjoyable and let you pick up fishing tips you can use use in the future.
Fly fishing is considered easier to learn than bait-casting. The casting technique used in fly fishing is what's hardest for beginners to learn. Instead of focusing on the weight of your bait and sinker, you focus on the line when casting in fly fishing. You have to back-cast, switch directions mid-cast, and then forward cast.
To begin fishing, you need gear that includes a rod and reel combo, fishing line, a bobber, sinker, and a hook. Additionally, you should have extra bobbers, sinkers, and hooks in case your line breaks. You also need bait and a fishing license. Gloves and hook-removing pliers are also useful.
Pack foods that are easy to prepare if you plan to take a cooler and build a fire for cooking. If you aren’t taking a cooler, choose foods that don’t spoil quickly, such as peanut butter sandwiches and chips. Be sure to take along wet wipes to clean your hands after handling fishing tackle.
What you should wear depends on the type of fishing you'll be doing. For example, you'll likely need hip waders if you’re fly fishing in a river or boat shoes if you’re chartering a boat. In general, choose lightweight shirts and pants with cargo pockets for carrying gear.
When fishing, you shouldn't make a lot of noise or move around carelessly when fishing because it scares the fish and disturbs others. You shouldn’t touch a fish without first wetting your hands if you’re doing catch-and-release fishing. You also shouldn’t pollute the water or litter, and leaving fishing line behind is considered littering.
To become a fishing guide, you need to gain expert-level experience with the type of fishing you plan to teach others to enjoy. Learn all the rules and regulations for fishing in your state and anywhere you plan to take others. Advertise your service and register with fishing guide organizations, such as Boone and Crockett Club.
The median annual wage for fishing workers, which includes fishing guides, is $28,530. Some in this industry earn under $18,710 annually, while the highest-paid guides can earn over $48,170 per year. Geographic location and number of hours worked can affect how much fishing guides earn, and those in tourism areas tend to earn more.
The cost of outfitter’s insurance for a fishing guide varies by the type of fishing they offer. A guide who takes guests out on the water will have higher annual premiums of around $1,000. Inland fishing guides who hike with guests to the shore have lower yearly premiums of around $300.
