Charter experience opptys (advice pls)

[wm_son]

Howdie folks,

I'm very impressed w/ the generous candor that's offered on this site; I am obviously new and have spent the last two evenings scouring just a few of the many bits of information contained here. I hope someday I can have a few stripes on my sleeve while contributing back to the site.

So with that, I propose this scenario, asking for advice. I am 45 y/o, no wife/kids, kicked all my bad habits, good health, fit and am financially independent for the next 10 yrs, and can afford a decent sized fishing vessel at this point ($40 - $50k). As a boy and continuing into adulthood I have always been a boater and enjoy the camaraderie and boater mentality, and of course I love to fish and entertain people.

I have an oppty to move to Houston near Clear Lake and am considering the charter boat business; I don't mind spending a few years as a deckhand and am curious how crazy this idea seems. Some of my questions are:

1. Is there decent oppty in Clear Lake, or do I need to be down in Galveston.

2. Is it possible for a 45 y/o newbie to break into the market.

3. I will be in Houston on vacation in early Sept; would you recommend walking through the docks talking w/ the Capts and discussing employment opptys. My goal is to obviously get hooked up w/ a sharp Capt and bust serious axx, win their respect and their peers respect.

I'm not in it to make serious cash; I want the satisfaction of entertaining paying customers w/ the best possible service; I refuse to finish the rest of my working career slaving behind a desk workn w/ a bunch a apes who think they know everything. That's my story, and I'm stickn to it. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! Thanks, Wm

 

[watermellonI]

Re: Charter experience opptys (advice pls)

hey wm
I just had a couple of friends go to key west I know that s not your neck of the woods, but just give to you an idea they searched and searched for reasonable charters and I guess the bottom line was things were tight down there on charters, pretty expensive (800 or so as I recall) there wasn t enough business to make charters real competitive, course that s key west.

Your plan sounds feasible and respectable, I m sure you could find someone lookin for a hand, you may even find someone lookin to get out of the business.

I d be extremely discrete concerning finances and that sort of thing (this day and time people find out ya got a nickel and they try to find a way to sue ya to take it from you.)

 

[wm_son]

Re: Charter experience opptys (advice pls)

Thanks for the reply Wmelon. You're about being discrete...no problem there; I'll be on a bicycle comb'n the docks. Luckily have a friend down there who's going to give me a place to live and eventually may want to buy in. In other words the 10 yr financial independence is predicated on having this place to stay and working odd jobs to afford insurance, food and other necessities. I'll know more after my visit down there.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Charter experience opptys (advice pls)

I pretty much feel the same way you do WM. I sit behind a desk and make a decent living but I would tell my boss where to stick it and take the best opportunity in a heartbeat. Unfortunately Michigan has been in a recession for basically 4-5 years and its is getting uglier= no $$$ to spend around here like the good ol days.

To add insult to injury the Salmon population has nosedived in Huron and Michigan so the charters are struggling to say the least. We used to catch 20-30+ lb salmon routinely and now people get all pumped if they catch anything over 15lbs

Good luck with your venture...let us know how things shake out down in TX

 

[pine island fred]

Re: Charter experience opptys (advice pls)

Can understand your plans and dreams but my advice is dont do it. Cant comment on TEXAS but the charter fishing here in the gulf off FL. is in the toilet. To many people with capts or masters license looking for charters with none to be had. Dont think you will get the full story if you cruise the docks as most will not admit how bad things are. My homework assignment to you would be to hang out at the local taverns and talk to them after a few beers in the evening, thats when the truth comes out. Notice they drink the cheapest beer and leave a 50 cent tip. regards FRED

 

[wm_son]

Re: Charter experience opptys (advice pls)

Good points Huron & Fred, thanks. Excellent homework assignment; I'll let you know how it pans out. One follow-up question though Fred, when you say they can't find charters, do you mean no bareboat opptys are avail or do you mean no patrons avail. I'm really looking fwd to this fact finding mission in Sept.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Charter experience opptys (advice pls)

It was my dream as well. I was a mate on a charter to get through school. Did it for a couple of years afterward until I figured out that was way too much work for way too little money.

Sounds fun until reality sets in. You don't go out you don't get paid. Its that simple. You loose 2-3 days a week becouse of weather and that's money you can't make up.

Getting paid also becomes a problem sometime. Bad checks, credit card fraud, you name it. It?s a business that needs run like one.
It?s a heck of a lot more than taking a couple of guys out for a day of entertainment on the boat.

The charter industry is in the toilet. Hard to break even these days with the cost of fuel, insurance, maintenance, slips fees, etc. Most guys business is off 50-60%. Most I know commercial fish on the side to try and make ends meet. Notice, I say try.

We're loosing watermen everyday. They just can?t make it in today's economy.

 

[wm_son]

Re: Charter experience opptys (advice pls)

Thanks for the feedback dingbat. I know it's going to be a tough road to hoe for a few years, but at some point the economy has to turn around. And maybe during these tough times certain opptys will present themselves that ordinarily wouldn't. My glass is half full as you can tell. You mentioned commercial fishing as a substitute, and that's something I've thought about as supplementing (some, like u said). So basically, at this point I've received 4 responses that are telling me to tread very lightly. No yes-men thus far; I love it.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Charter experience opptys (advice pls)

The economy is part of it but participation in the sport in general has been on a decline for the last 10 years.

Bad press, PETA at the docks, there is a changing public attitude on how we should best use the Oceans. Don't hurt the poor fishes? mouth with a hook, let alone eat him.

Pictures of dead fish on the docks after a days fishing cause uproars on the net. Our local DNR will not publish pictures of dead or dying fish anymore. They have to be happy joyful pictures with the fish smiling for the camera. Pretty hard to advertise a fishing charter using flowers and balloons