So you’re going on a charter fishing trip. Great. What should you bring along so that you get the most enjoyment out of your fishing adventure? When customers book a trip with us on St. Pete Sport Fishing, they always ask us, “what should we bring”. If you bring the right things along on your trip, you’ll make your excursion all that much more enjoyable.

The environment when you’re out on the water vs. sitting on a beach is two completely different things. We’ve had days when it’s in the high 90s at the dock and by the time we start fishing, I’m brandishing my wool fisherman’s sweater. These are things that if you’re not used to being out on the water, you might not think about. We’ve put together a list of recommendations for things to bring along.

In addition, we’ve also put together a list of things that you might not want to bring along. Every charter boat and charter boat captain is different, but you might want to consider some of these things to leave at home as well or at least ask your captain about them before your trip.

What to bring:

•  Dramamine – If you’ve never been on the water or if you’re prone to seasickness, we suggest that you take Dramamine before the trip. Dramamine works better if you take it before you start feeling queasy. There are a few different brands, we recommend the non-drowsy formula. We don’t want you to fall asleep.
• Cooler – A small personal cooler to hold your food and drinks and to transport your fillets at the end of the day.
• Snacks – Whatever you would like to eat or snack on. Make your snacks something easy to eat like chips, simple sandwiches, etc. Think of trying to eat a Sloppy Joe on a boat. That wouldn’t be easy. Silly example but you get the idea.
• Water – Bring plenty of water. It’s really easy to become dehydrated when you’re out on the water. Other beverages like Gatorade are good as well to replenish electrolytes in your system.
• Sunscreen – You should apply at least a 30 SPF. Even on hazy or cloudy days, the sun can be intense on the water so it’s really easy to get a sunburn. You’ll get the worst sunburns when it’s hazy.
• Sunglasses – Polarized sunglasses will help with the sun’s glare off the water. It gets incredibly bright on the water and it’s really hard to see. A good set of polarized sunglasses will also help you to see things under the water.
• A Hat – Sounds simple, but so many people forget to bring a hat. A hat will keep the heat off your head as well as aid in reducing the water’s glare. Just make sure that you hang onto it when the boat is moving. They do tend to fly off.
• A sweatshirt and or a windbreaker – As we stated earlier, it can be really hot onshore but very cool on the water. The water temperatures offshore can dip into the high 50’s so the air gets much cooler than the temperatures onshore. If you’re too warm, you can always take it off.
• Raingear – If it looks like rain or a chance of showers bring some kind of water-resistant outerwear. Don’t rely on the boat to provide you with raincoats. Most charters might have a couple but they’re usually for the crew.
• Sneakers or Deck Shoes. Flip-flops or any open-toe shoes are not a good idea. You’ll see fish flopping around on the deck with sharp dorsal fins and lures with sharp hooks. You don’t want one getting stuck in your foot. It’s fine to wear flip-flops when you’re just out for a boat ride but not when you’re fishing.
• Gloves – Gloves can protect your hands from sunburn, line burns, etc. Most of the time you won’t need them since the mate will be handling the fish, etc. but you might want to consider them if you’re planning on being more active in the fishing process or if you’re targeting big game fish.
• Cash to tip the mate. The typical tip for charter boat mates is 15 – 20%. They’ll be helping you throughout your trip and they should also fillet your catch at the end of the trip.
• Camera or cell phone for pictures! Lots and lots of pictures. Share them online with friends and family and don’t forget to mention the name of the charter and the mate.

Here’s a list of what not to bring:

In addition to making sure that you bring along the right things on your next charter fishing trip, there is also a list of things not to bring. If you’re not sure check with your captain before your trip.

• No drugs of any kind! Most captains will have a zero-tolerance policy about drugs on board the boat. That includes marijuana, whether you have a medical card or not.  Smoking or possession of marijuana on a boat in federally patrolled waters remains illegal, despite the recent legalization of marijuana in many states.
• You may want to leave the hard liquor at home. Some captains don’t allow hard liquor on board because fishhooks and booze simply don’t mix. In addition, drunk people are a liability not only to themselves but to the crew and other members of the fishing party.
• Beverages that are served in a glass. Wine for instance. You’ll probably end up wearing more than you drink.
• Expensive clothing. Fishing is a messy business and you can get dirty. There are things like fish blood, reel oils, and other things on the boat that could stain your clothes.
•  We don’t recommend bringing really expensive sunglasses. It can be easy for them to fall off or get knocked off into the water when you’re trying to bring in a fish and losing a $200 pair of Costa Del Mar Sun Glasses will ruin your day. You can usually find a cheap pair of sunglasses at any local shop or online.
• Open-toe sandals or flip-flops! Normally flip flops or sandals are a great option on a boat but open-toed shoes on a fishing boat can be dangerous. There may be lures or live fish flopping around on the deck. This can create a very dangerous situation.  We recommend a comfortable pair of sneakers or deck shoes.
• Your own equipment. Of course, this depends on what kind of charter you’ve booked. Head boats usually require or let you bring your own gear and equipment. Other charters provide everything that you need. If you’re unsure check with your captain.
• Spray-on sunscreens. With the ocean breeze, the sunscreen ends up on all of the fishing gear and the deck making them very slippery. None of it ends up on you but everywhere else.  Lotions work much better.
•  Finally, No Bananas! They’re just bad luck.

Your expectations:

If you have any questions about your upcoming charter, contact the captain or the business office. The more information that they have about you, the better they can prepare for the trip as well. These are some facts that you might want to share with the charter well before your trip.

• Is this your first time on a fishing charter?
• How many people are coming along?
• Are there any children coming along and what are their ages?
• Is there a particular fish you would like to try to catch? Keep in mind that some fish may require a longer trip or a different charter. Also, sea and weather conditions may limit the type of fishing that the captain is able to do on the day of your trip. It’s best to remain flexible.
• Do you want to keep the fish that you catch or would you rather just have fun and release your catch? You might want to ask who gets to keep the fish. There are some charters where the boat keeps the fish.
• Would you rather fish inshore (closer to land) or offshore? If you’re not used to being on the water, you might want to ask for an inshore trip. This keeps you a little closer to land. Inshore trips can target fish like Black Sea Bass, Fluke, Tautog, and Scup.

When should you arrive at the marina?

You should arrive at the marina well before your trip is scheduled to depart. We recommend at least 15 minutes in advance. That way you have plenty of time to find a parking spot and locate the slip where your charter is located. Sometimes you might have a tough time finding a parking spot at the Marina, especially on weekends or holidays. So leave plenty of time so you’re not rushed.

Charters usually don’t add time to the end of your trip if you arrived late to the docks. They will have another trip scheduled for later in the day so they have to accommodate those customers as well. My dad used to say that 10 minutes early was 5 minutes late.

Finally, hit the head (bathrooms) before you head out. Most boats have some kind of restroom on board but the ones at the dock are probably much nicer and provide more comfort without the boat rocking back and forth.

We hope that you’ve found this list helpful. I’m sure that we haven’t covered everything but at least you have a starting point. If you’re on Cape Cod and considering a fishing charter, please consider St. Pete Sport Fishing. We’d love to have you along.