When will a trip be canceled?

What goes into determining when a trip is canceled by the captain? The majority of our trips go off without a hitch or any threat of inclement weather. But there are times when we have to make the determination to cancel a trip. We know that you’ve been counting on this trip for a long time. A cancelation would be disappointing.

Our goal is to ensure your safety and the safety of the crew. If the sea conditions are too rough with large waves, we will cancel a trip. We may also cancel if we know for sure that there are incoming thunderstorms approaching.

Looking at the weather and determining when to cancel a trip is tricky business. The weather forecast on Cape Cod can change in an instant. Mark Twain, once said, “If you don’t like New England weather, wait a few minutes”. On the Cape that can’t be more true. If you try to plan your Cape Cod vacation around the long-range weather forecast, you might not come at all. Most of the time you’ll see a chance of showers or thunderstorms forecast for most of the week. The weather turns out fine. You have to play with the weather on the Cape day by day. Sometimes hour by hour. That makes it tough on us captains.

The type of trip

Sometimes it will depend upon the type of trip that we’re running. We look at the sea conditions in different ways depending on the trip. A half-day trip vs. a special kid’s trip would be two examples.

On a kid’s trip, small children don’t have their “sea legs”. If the sea conditions are rough then more than likely they will not enjoy the experience. The last thing that we want is to ruin their first fishing experience. They may never want to go out fishing with you again. Or they could get seasick or injured because of the rocking motion of the boat in the waves. We’re looking to make great memories, not bad ones. Unfortunately, that means we will cancel more kid’s trips than anything else.

Who’s coming out on the trip is also considered

Are you a seasoned fisherman or a novice who’s never been on a boat before? A seasoned fisherman is someone who has been on the water many times. They may have their own boat. They have been out on the water several times. They’re familiar with being in rough water and have their “sea legs”.

If you’re a novice and unfamiliar with being out on the water, we will take that into account. We don’t want to put you at risk or make you feel uncomfortable in any way. A seasoned fisherman will not think anything of a couple of waves or fog. They don’t mind getting a little wet from boat spray as we make our way through the water. Whereas, a novice might feel squeamish in a three-foot swell.

If you’re a family coming out with younger children, we may also take that into account. We want you to have a great time. If the sea is too rough we will speak with you before we leave the dock.

The wind direction

The direction of the wind will also play a significant role in determining when to cancel a trip. Fishing on the south side of Cape Cod is very different from fishing on the north side of Cape Cod out in the bay. When we have rough sea conditions, the bay might look calm and vice-versa.

For us, fishing in Nantucket Sound, a strong west wind can bring big waves. A north wind may look calm at the shore. But as you progress out into the waters around Monomoy, the waves can become quite large.

A strong southwest wind isn’t always a bad thing. It might mean a rougher ride out but once we round the corner at Monomoy, the seas will be calmer.

Most of the time, Cape Cod Bay is calm. Yet, a strong north, northeast, or northwest wind in the bay is the worst. A north wind will build up on the water creating large waves and rough sea conditions.

Timing

As they say, timing is everything. The captain will study the weather charts before your trip. The winds can be blowing at a steady rate, set to increase or decline over the course of your trip. You may start out in the morning with calm seas. The captain will inform you that the winds will increase. This will mean that the seas will build up too.

But, you may start out in rough seas and blowing wind. The captain may inform you that the winds will subside throughout the day. This will make the sea “lay down” and become calmer as your day progresses.

Timing the tides will also determine how the sea reacts. On an outgoing tide with an incoming wind, the waves will build up against the outflowing water. But if it’s the opposite, you have an incoming wind with an incoming tide, the seas will lay down.

When we will know if the trip got canceled?

Again, referring to Mr. Mark Twain, New England weather can be very fickle. There are many times when the forecast will call for a 100% chance of heavy rain and high winds. Gail warnings and small craft advisories will be posted. In those cases, we will cancel well in advance. But, even then things can change on a dime and big storms can blow out to sea. If your trip gets canceled the night before, please understand that it was for your safety. Even if you wake up the next day and the storm never happens. We can only rely on the tools at our disposal.

Many times, we will make the determination with you on the boat before the trip. We will have a better understanding of the weather conditions as they are happening. In this case, again, please understand that we’re looking out for your better interest. We apologize for any disappointment or inconvenience that this may cause.

What happens to my deposit if my trip got canceled?

Your safety is always our very first concern. A full refund is always issued in the event that we cancel your trip. This can be due to poor sea or weather conditions. We will always work to find you another trip timeslot. Your safety is our highest priority. We would never jeopardize you or your family, or your friends.

We will do our very best to reschedule your trip if we have openings. If not we will recommend another captain if our schedule is full.

Cancelation Policy

Once you’ve booked your trip you can cancel your reservation for any reason up to 72 hours before your trip. You will receive a full refund. You will lose your deposit if you cancel less than 72 hours before your trip.

Of course, if you need to reschedule your appointment time, we will do our best to accommodate you. Make your request at least 72 hours before your scheduled appointment.

Helpful Links

You may find that looking at the marine forecast is helpful before booking your trip aboard St. Pete. These are marine forecasts for several of the fishing grounds that we visit. Our most frequent destination would be the Monomoy Rips.

Another helpful page is What to Bring. This is a helpful list of things to bring along and some things not to bring.