Fishing Charter Courtesies and Etiquette in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama

In recent years, customer service on a charter fishing boat in Orange Beach, Alabama has become one of the most important aspects of the entire trip. Below is a list of common courtesies and etiquette that you should expect when deep sea fishing or inshore fishing in Orange Beach, Alabama.

What to look for and expect when choosing a deep sea or inshore fishing charter in Orange Beach, Alabama

Look for a fishing charter that suits your expectation levels and provides great customer service.
You should expect your captain and deckhand to be on time for their own trip.
You should expect a crew to be professionally dressed and ready to go.
After narrowing down and just before deciding on a fishing charter, do some research and find out what kind of reputation the boat and crew has. Read testimonials and other articles about the boat and crew.
Tips are usually 15% to 22% of the price of the charter. Better deckhands make 20% to 25% percent.
Some boats offer complimentary fish cleaning. Some boats charge .30 cents per pound to clean your fish.
Look at pictures of the boat and see if you could picture yourself on that boat.
When booking a charter, ask if their fishing tackle is new or in good shape? You might be surprised to find out after you get onboard that the tackle is old and worn out on some charters.
You should expect the fishing boat to have enough fuel onboard to make the trip and have all the bait necessary for the day.
If you are looking for a "family friendly" charter, make sure you see a history of family pictures and fishing reports on the company website. Remember to do your research.
If you are looking for a charter to take you out to fill your freezer with meat, you might be disappointed unless you take a full day or overnight charter. Overfishing of species like Red Snapper, Amberjack, Grouper and Triggerfish has ended for now, but the short federal fishing seasons ensures that it will never happen again. The best a fishing charter can do is catch you a handful of fish to take home or have a few for supper. If you want Amberjack for instance, you need to plan on a full day charter to have a chance to catch them large enough to harvest. If you want Tuna, you need to plan on taking a 24 hour charter or longer to have a chance to catch them. If you want to have fun, a 6 hour offshore charter is ample.
Choose a fishing charter that does not take a 50% deposit up front. Many fishing charters that take a deposit up front for short, half day fishing trips is doing so because they need your money to live on. Because of the expense of a full day charter, you should expect to pay a deposit to hold your spot.
Choose a fishing charter that promotes sustainable fishing practices like selective harvest and catch and release. The reason we have short seasons now is because private rec anglers and charter boats in the past killed the "limit" everytime they could. They never thought about taking what they should and be accountable and responsible with their fishery. Now we are all paying the price and have short seasons because people being greedy in the past and keeping everything they caught because they could.
Choose a fishing charter that has professional cancellation policies and does not try to keep your money and force you to re-book your charter in the future.
Choose a charter that will not take you out in rough seas. Some take you out and make you hollar "Uncle" and tell you that it is fine but bring you in and try and keep your money. Reputable charters don't fish in rough seas. If the weather is questionable, a good captain will say "let's try it" and if he turns around because it is too rough, he will only charge you for the time used at an hourly rate.

What is expected from customers upon arrival at the charter boat and during the fishing trip in Orange Beach

Customers should have had a good nights sleep prior to the fishing charter.
Customers should eat a light meal the night before and the morning of the fishing charter.
Customers should have already taken medications for seasickness prior to the fishing trip beginning.
Customers should not be hungover from night before. Being hungover can make for a miserable day on the water.
Customers should be on time and arrive at least 20 to 30 minutes prior to your scheduled departure.
Customers should be properly dressed for the day.
Customers should bring protective clothing, hats, sunscreen, hand towels, medications, sunglasses and wear soft shoes for comfort. Flip flops are ok, but they become a tripping hazard when the boat is rocking.
Customers should bring their cameras to be able to catch every shot of family and friends catching fish.
Customers should bring their own cooler, filled with plenty of water, favorite beverages (cans only) and food and snacks for their group. It is not customary, expected or necessary to feed the captain and crew. You are welcome to feed them if you want too.
Customers should have the money ready to pay for the trip and the tip, before the trip begins.