I want to take my father in law on a deep sea fishing trip in May when he visits the US for the first time.
Unfortunately the sum total of my knowledge about fishing wouldn’t fill newspaper headline. So I would like to check with the anglers out here for advice.
Most folks are telling me to check out the charter boats in Cape May, which is not too far away. How far in advance would I need to book a trip? What kind of fish will be we able to catch at the end of May? What’s a fair price for a six-person charter with a good crew?
A friend who went fishing a few times in the 1980s said that the mate on his boat handled all of the fish he caught and packed everything up. Is this still the case? I don’t mind tipping a guy to take care of that for me rather than making me do the dirty work.
Actually, I’ve taken quite a few trips out of Belmar. I don’t know exactly where you are in Jersey, but Belmar’s just a little bit south of Sandy Hook.
As far as booking a trip, you can charter your own boat for a day. I think the best way to find one is just to drive around and look for billboards, or hit some of the local bait shops.
Hey, it’s a start. But it’s great for a day trip!
Tripler
I once pulled up a sand shark. My buddy pulled up an octopus which dropped ink all over the deck.
I also recommend the Belmar Marina. I see you are in Montgomery County, PA. You can come across Rt.195 and get straight to the Belmar Marina.
For Info or Reservations call 732-681-2266 or Email Marina@Belmar.com
Party Boats are usually much cheaper than Charter Boats. With a Charter Boat, it’s just your group that’s on the boat and you pay for everything. Party Boats are usually larger and you go with whatever fishermen show up that day. Either way, you’ll be able to rent all the gear you need at the marina and the crew will help you sort it all out. They want you to catch fish and have a good time! If you go on a party boat, tip the deckhand when you go onboard and ask him to look after your group. If you go on a charter, the upfront tip won’t be necessary.
(At least that’s the way it works here in California. Your Mileage May Vary)
Hope you have a strong stomach. Or at least aren’t prone to motion sickness.
The one time I took a deep-sea fishing trip - 12 hours out to the Gulf Stream (out of WIlmington NC) I spent 11 hours of it either puking or sleeping so I wouldn’t puke. Oh, and one of my fellow fishermen got obnoxious drunk, and had to be chained to an interior post for most of the trip by the crew. Hated it, and will NEVER do it again.
This brings up a good point, even if you do not regularly get seasick, bring some saltines in a Ziploc bag and some ginger ale. Both do wonders for settling stomachs not use to ocean rolls and the constant smell of bait and fish.
Also, dramamine the night before does wonders to combat the seasickness.
Also, make sure your boat is ONLY fishermen. Can’t tell you how many stories I’ve heard of operators taking divers as well, which is dangerous for both parties. You also don’t have to go deep sea fishing, there are many reefs and wrecks that can provide a lot of tasty fish.