Insider Secrets About Fishing Charter Brokers
The purpose of this page is to let you in on some insider secrets about fishing charters that will help you educate yourself and help you get the best fishing trip for you and your family. We will explore hot topics that you did not even know existed. This way, you will know what to look for. The information on this page can save you money and help you make better decisions.
What Are Charter Fishing Brokers?
Brokers are middlemen. They charge a fee for making your reservations. The amount of money brokers charge the charter boats or their customers ranges from 10% to 30%. The most common fee is 15% to 20%. Most of the time the captain when setting up their account with a broker, set the percentage. This is a pay to play scheme. Most local marina charter offices charge a flat 15%. The brokers push more trips to those who are willing to pay more money.
Who Are The Charter Fishing Brokers You Need To Know About?
The Secret Online Brokers:
FishingBooker™ - A Serbian Owned Company. They have taken on like a storm and are very popular among fishing charters that need someone book their boat. They offer consumers instant booking and confirmations. However, the negotiated fee they charge customers is very misleading and consumers don't even know their money is being taken off the top and out of the good ole USA. The deposit consumers pay, is really a commission. You can tell the percentage the charter boat is making their customers pay by the amount of the deposit consumers pay up front.
FishAnywhere - A Winter Garden, Florida Company. They are trying to be a major player, but we will see how they do. They advertise "Lowest Price Charters," which is worrisome to us, because they are selling price, not service. Good service costs money, but low prices leave everyone wanting more - everyone loses.
Fisherguiding - Is yet another online fishing broker based out of Charlottesville, Va. We don't know much about them, but they too charge customers a commission.
Fareharbor - Is a booking software company that is very popular among marina owners because of its booking calendar. It allows customers to book a trip and get instant confirmation. However, they take a commission from anglers every time they book a trip through their website. So, if you click on a company's website and it redirects you to fareharbor, that is when you are about to pay a commission.
Local Marina or Local Brokers:
Zeke's Marina Charter Office
Reel Surprise Charters Office
AAA Charters
Orange-Beach.Saltwater-fishing-charters.com
Do All Fishing Charter Brokers Charge Hidden Fees, Disguised Deposits or Commissions?
No. This website is the only charter fishing broker that offers consumers a free service to the consumers and to the charter boats we refer you to.
The Best Way To Save Money And Get The Best Fishing Charter?
Find the charter boat you want to go fishing with and go DIRECT to their personal business website and book your trip.
What Are The Dangers and Concerns Consumers Need To Worry About When Using A Big Fishing Booking Website?
At this time, those big fishing websites promote anyone who has a boat and has a captains license and agreest to pay them big commissions and deposits. Many of the boats listed on these sites are charters nobody has ever heard of before or are new in business. Because many unknown charters are listed on brokers websites, they too have put their boat on the website so they can run trip.s
What you need to know is, they may not have commercial charter or Liability Insurance that protects you in case of an accident.
Many of them don't have proper Federal Fishery Permits that allows you to catch fish offshore in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). If you get caught fishing outside of the charter boats permitted area, you personally can get a big ticket or a fine. Many of those new or fly by night fishing charters are not members of random drug testing consortium's. Being a member of a random drug screen consortium is a requirement of the U.S. Coast Guard and it protects you.
Another requirement is for the fishing guide to have a current first aid and CPR certification on board. Reputable fishing guides have insurance, are members of a drug testing consortium and have all of the state and federal fishing permits that protect you. You have the right to ask your fishing guide to show you proof that they have all of these documents.
Can You Really Trust Self Reported Reviews That These Broker Websites Post Online?
These broker websites from what we found out, encourage customers to write reviews on for their own website so they can publish them. Nobody trusts self reported reviews. You should only trust reviews posted on google, trip advisor or yelp in order to find out who is the best charter boat for you. These third party websites are strict about who writes reviews and frown on people who try and game the system and post fake reviews.