What Fishing Gear, Food, and Clothing Do I Bring to the Boat

Bring a cooler for food and drinks. Also depending on what type of fishing you will be doing you may need a large cooler for your fish. At least something to carry your catch home in.	A duffle bag is a good idea to bring for carrying your rain gear, extra tee shirt, hat, and other personal items that you need to bring on a salt water fishing trip.
Bring all your food and drinks. If you want to bring beer you should clear it with the charter Captain first.	Not as important on a large sportfishers with the luxury of a "floating family room" with all the amenities. On vessels without a cabin you certainly should bring some rain gear or foul weather gear.
Bring sun glasses. Preferably polarized fishing glasses to lessen the sun's glare that reflects up off the water.	Bring a camera to take snapshots of those big game fish you release and better yet bring your video camera to capture the charter fishing action.
Bring a ball cap or a fishing hat to protect you from the intense sun. Remember the ocean intensifies the suns glare and can cause you to burn much quicker than on land.	If you get sea sick or aren't sure if you get sea sick then it is a very wise idea to take your Dramamine before you leave the dock. Nothing can ruin a fishing trip worse than a guy named "RALPH".
For the same reason you wear your hat on the water you will want plenty of sun screen especially if you easily burn. The suns effects are doubly strong on the water and without sunscreen can cause you to burn very quick.	You probably already paid for the trip but you should make sure you have some cash in pocket so you can tip the First Mate. Being Mate on a charter boat is not easy work and these guys deserve every dime they get. Tip them well!

What Fishing Gear Does the Captain Supply?

On some trips you can bring your own rod and reel, tackle, and general gear. Usually for inshore flats or bay fishing the guide will let you use your own gear, fly rod, light tackle etc. On the flip side the big offshore boats usually prefer to supply all the rod n reels, tackle, bait, and other gear. The boat rules will vary from one to the next so ask your Captain what his policies are before you just show up with all your gear.

Things most charter services supply:

• All the fishing rods and reels are supplied though you are allowed to bring your own gear on some types of trips. Ask the Captain.
• Bait and tackle is supplied. This includes artificial baits, live bait, frozen bait, chum, and etc.
• All ice is supplied.
• A fish box to store your catch so you won't need a cooler for fish. You will need something to carry your fish home in.

What Type of Charter do You Need?

If you are new to fishing or have never been on a chartered fishing trip then you will need to decide what type of fishing you want to do. Once you know the fish or place then you can pick your charter.
What type of fishing are you interested on?

Offshore Sportfishing, Wreck and Reef Fishing

Offshore Sportfishing - Usually means fishing for tuna, wahoo, marlin, and the many other bluewater big game species. In some places offshore fishing is just called sportfishing because places like Hawaii or Mexico have big game sportfishing just a mile or two off the beach so you aren't really "offshore". To experienced anglers the term "Offshore" usually means fishing at least 20 or 30 miles off the beach and in many regions up too 90 or 100 miles off the beach.
Wreck and Reef Fishing - Some charters do wreck and reef fishing for certain bottom fish like sea bass, tautog, or other deep water bottom dwellers. When you wreck or reef fish the Captain usually finds the rough bottom, where the wreck is, by looking at his electronic gear. Once he finds the wreck he will anchor up and all the anglers will fish their lines straight down to the bottom - hopefully on the old wreck. For those that don't know a wreck can be anything from old subway cars to old concrete that was dumped in the ocean to create a man-made reef to sunken WWII ships, subs, or fishing trawlers.

Inshore Fishing, Bay and Flats Fishing

Inshore chartered or guided fishing trips usually refers to fishing that takes place in a local bay, nearby river, or local water basin. Examples would include Tampa Bay, Indian River Lagoon, or the Chesapeake Bay and anglers would fish for the local species that could range from cold water cod fishing in the north to warm water snook or speckled trout fishing in the south. Florida is well known for it's shallow water or "flats fishing" where anglers use light tackle like fly rods, small spinners, and bait casters. Inshore or near shore charters usually carry less than 6 people and many times is just the guide and one or two guests. For those not ready to spend upwards of 2000 dollars for a large sportfishing trip then an inshore guided light tackle trip may be the ticket.