Choose the best fishing charter in St. Petersburg, Florida that will tailor a private charter to meet your individual needs. It will be the trip of a lifetime! Bucket list material? Don’t make the mistake of not doing some research on the options available. There are many to choose from, and like anything else, some do not turn out so good. Doing a bit of research before your booking can be the difference between a dream day out and a trip you would like to forget.
Tips for Choosing the Best Fishing Charter in St. Petersburg, Florida
1. Only Use an Experienced, Licensed Captain
- Choose a fishing charter in St. Petersburg with a Captain who has spent decades on the water.
- Ensure you speak directly with the Captain to review all the options and design a trip to your specifications.
- An experienced fishing charter Captain will know the best hotspots to target specific fish species, whether it is an inshore, nearshore, or offshore trip.
- They’ll also be able to make your experience extra special, with fun facts and advice during the trip.
- An expert Captain will be ideal for guiding beginners or helping experienced anglers get their dream catch.
- Only use a fully licensed and permitted St. Petersburg fishing charter.
- Some people make the mistake of going on unlicensed fishing charters, which means they’re fishing illegally! That can also lead to a terrible, unprofessional experience.
- If you’re fishing on a legitimate, licensed fishing charter like YACHTFISH Fishing Charters, then you don’t need to get any license or permit for anyone in your party.
- They’ll know how to make all skill levels and ages comfortable and have the best day out on the water – from kids to experts!
- YACHTFISH Fishing Charters recently celebrated its 20th year in business!
2. Always Use Private Boat Charters
- The best fishing charters in St. Petersburg, Florida offer private boats.
- These boats will be private for just you and your party.
- You’ll escape the common downside of “headboat” charters, where the boat is anchored up all day and overcrowded with up to 50 tourists.
- The Captain’s focus will be on you and maximizing your experience.
- YACHTFISH Fishing Charters provides private bookings for all types of trips and does not require an upfront deposit to book your trip!
3. State-of-the-art Boats and Fishing Equipment
- Don’t settle for anything less than a world-class vessel for your fishing charter.
- Look for a fishing charter company with multiple boats geared toward any type of fishing.
- It’s a common mistake to only look for bigger-sized boats. Bigger is not always better. Size depends on the type of fish being targeted and the location to be fished.
- The fishing equipment must be top-of-the-line with several different options available, depending on the type of fish being targeted.
- YACHTFISH Fishing Charters boasts a fleet of state-of-the-art boats with a 32-foot SeaVee Center Console which is great for offshore fishing and three Avenger center console boats that focus on inshore and nearshore fishing. These vessels are the perfect blend of comfort and performance for targeting all types of fish.
4. Checking Reviews is Critical
- The best fishing charters in St. Petersburg, Florida should have at least a 4.5+ star rating for their reviews and usually have over 200 Google reviews.
- Have a browse, so you can see what people say about their experiences.
- Check out the photos!
- View YACHTFISH Fishing Charters reviews here.
5. Choose The Location Wisely
- Location is important, especially for inshore fishing, as you’ll be staying close to the coast (whereas for offshore fishing, you’ll be traveling farther).
- For example, departing from St. Pete Beach or St. Petersburg is great for staying close to incredibly vibrant mangroves, wrecks, and beaches year-round.
- YACHTFISH Fishing Charters depart from St. Petersburg, St. Pete Beach, Tampa, and Clearwater.
6. Choose Your Experience
- There are different types of fishing charter trips available. Pick the best one suited to meet your needs.
- If you’re unsure and have any questions, ask the charter Captain when booking the trip. This is very important to get a feel for the Captain!
- Offshore Fishing Charters:
- These areas are also known as Deep-Sea Fishing.
- You’ll head miles out into the Gulf of Mexico to seek giant, trophy-sized fish!
- These are all-day trips that push you to your limits, but reward you with an incredible day of variety and action.
- Inshore Fishing Charters:
- These areas are also known as nearshore fishing.
- This is a very popular experience.
- There is less travel time and you’ll stay near the beaches and mangroves to experience heart-pounding fights with Florida’s top game fish.
Read Related: The Ultimate Guide to Shark Fishing Charters in St Pete Beach
7. Look for Freedom of Flexibility
- Use a fishing charter that gives you the freedom to choose your experience.
- For example, if you have kids you might want to limit how long your trip is.
- Or maybe you want to target a specific fish species, or try a new technique!
- Which trip will you choose, an inshore or offshore charter?
Read Related: 10 Reasons to Go Fishing with Your Kids This Summer in Florida
8. The Lowest Price is Not Best in The Fishing Industry
- Don’t assume the lowest price is the best deal when choosing the best fishing charter in St. Petersburg, Florida.
- Some Fishing charters run lower-priced fishing trips with no liability insurance, minimal experience, or licenses – putting you and your trip at risk.
- A legitimate fishing charter will have a reasonable price with great equipment, safety gear, experience, and licenses. Your party will not have to purchase any licenses.
- Beware of fishing brokers that advertise charter trips from numerous fishing charters. The charters not only have to pay the broker for the lead but are often part-time charter “Captains” or startups with minimal experience. And the brokers charge a deposit upfront! YACHTFISH does not charge any upfront deposit.
- If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
9. Book in Advance for your Private Fishing Charter
- Our final piece of advice is to book your St. Petersburg fishing charter in advance!
- The industry is very competitive, with tourists and locals keen to book the private fishing charters months in advance. Remember that YACHTFISH will not charge a deposit for your trip!
- This is especially true around summer and the holiday season.
Book The Best Fishing Charter in St. Petersburg, Florida
WE GUARANTEE A CATCH EVERY TRIP!
If you’d like to book the best fishing charter in St. Petersburg, Florida, then look no further than YACHTFISH Fishing Charters. With over 250 Google reviews and a 4.9 rating, you will not be disappointed!
YACHTFISH Fishing Charters has enjoyed over 20 years of experience in St. Petersburg, St. Pete Beach, Tampa, and Clearwater while guaranteeing you a catch every time! We welcome all ages and all skill levels, from young novices to experienced anglers.
CALL or TEXT: YACHTFISH CHARTERS (727) 433-4200 to book a private fishing charter in St. Petersburg today! Or BOOK NOW at www.yachtfish.com
YACHTFISH will provide an unforgettable experience second to none with Fishing Charters departing daily from St. Petersburg, St. Pete Beach, Tampa, and Clearwater.
