Avoid Booking Illegal Fishing Charters with These Tips!

If you’re planning to go fishing, one of the first things to do is to find a reputable charter captain. Fishing charters in Oregon are a great way to head out to the waters with a knowledgeable captain and crew who can increase your chances of catching fish. However, a quick Google search for fishing charters in the area will be overwhelming. There are dozens of charter services to choose from, making it challenging to narrow down your options.

Besides learning what you should look for in a fishing charter in Oregon, there are red flags you can also watch out for. Unfortunately, you can find a lot of illegal fishing charters operating, which can ruin your overall experience. Because of that, you need to ensure that you know what charters to avoid. Check out these red flags to stay away from!

Fishing Charters that Require You to Buy Your Own Fishing License

This is a big red flag to watch out for! All charter captains must possess a state-issued fishing charter license. That license will cover them and all passengers on board.

If you need to buy a fishing license before the trip, then you are likely boarding illegal fishing charters.

To avoid this from happening, ask the charter captain for their U.S. Coast Guard’s Captain license and state-issued fishing license before the trip. Besides that, you must also check that the licenses are valid and up-to-date. If the captain cannot send the license for any reason, then cross them out of your list.

Booking and joining illegal fishing charters may result in paying hefty fines, so the appropriate licenses are the first thing to look for.

You Need to Tell Officers You’re Friends with the Captain

When communicating with the captain, did they tell you to lie about being on a charter? When he requests that you tell law enforcement you are friends or joining a tour, then they are likely operating illegal fishing charters.

Sure, they may be less expensive than other charters, but you won’t want to risk expensive penalties and even jail time! You must book with a charter captain who is both licensed and insured to focus more on having fun rather than feeling anxious about getting caught.

The Charter Captain Says Licenses Aren’t Required

If the charter captain tells you that you both won’t need a fishing license, then they are likely illegal fishing charters. All fishing charters that head over nine miles offshore to catch reef fish like grouper and snappers require federal fishing permits. If not, then they face fines adding up to $30,000!

Don’t take your chances. Again, always ask for licenses before you book a trip. Moreover, you should research all the charters ahead of time to avoid booking illegal fishing charters. Check for both licenses and insurance, as well as a captain you feel comfortable communicating with.

The Charter Captain Allows More Than Six People

A common Coast Guard license is called the 6-pack, which will allow only up to six people on the vessel. If the charter captain possesses this type of license but says they can take over six people onboard, then they are either breaking the rules of their license or have none in the first place.

This is another unlawful act that can result in penalties or jail time for the crew and passengers. That’s why when you talk with the charter captain, ask about their licenses, insurance, and how many people they can handle per trip. There are no exceptions to this rule!

Check Reviews

Another important thing to do to check if you are dealing with illegal fishing charters is to check reviews and platforms that can verify a company’s legitimacy. This is easily done through a quick Google search on the charter company. Just make sure that the reviews you see aren’t from the company’s official website and that past client show proof that they availed of charter services in the past.

Past clients can share their experiences, indicating what you can expect from the fishing charter and crew members. Moreover, their reviews can even give you an idea of whether or not you are joining illegal fishing charters. The more positive reviews you see about a fishing charter, the more likely you’ll have a great experience with them.

What You Should Find in Reputable Fishing Charters

Now that you know about the red flags to avoid in illegal fishing charters, what should you ask the captain for?

Other than the appropriate licenses and insurance, request these from your captain:

• Merchant Mariner’s Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard. If the captain requests that you provide fuel, money, and/or supplies before or after boarding, then the captain must possess these credentials.
• Inspection Certificate. This is required for charters carrying over six passengers on the vessels. The certificate means that the boat has met all S. Coast Guard safety standards. For Uninspected Passenger Vessels (UPVs) that carry less than six people, the captain may take a UPV exam, which isn’t required, but highly recommended for clients to be assured the vessel is safe to board.
• Certificate of completion from drug and alcohol testing programs. This is required for all charter captains and crew members. All commercial vessel operations, regardless of how big or small they are, must conduct drug and alcohol testing with a letter or enrollment card to be presented as proof.

Wrapping It Up

While there are a ton of great fishing charters and captains to work with, you’ll come across a few who don’t follow the rules. By sifting through illegal fishing charters, you’ll be able to find the one you will have fun with in the waters.

Here at Pastime Fishing Adventures, we can offer charter services that don’t only follow the appropriate fishing regulations. We also ensure the captains are well-trained and focus on their clients’ safety while having a fantastic time reeling in fish!