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Thread: Starting a charter business - what do you look for??

  1. #16

    Re: Starting a charter business - what do you look for??

    Thanks heaps - some very good points there, and thankfully most we've already thought of & planned for.

    We have a boat being built to survey - capacity of 6 - skipper, deckie & 4 clients. The skipper (not me, my business partner) has over 20 years experience in the area (which I'm not telling yet - it's unchartered waters, but proven fishing!) & knows what he's talking about. Top guy too. It will be mainly offshore & barra, but we'll mix it up a bit with some mud crabbing.

    Another question - how far in advance do you generally book your charters? First 3 day charter is planned for Feb 08, but we won't be ready to advertise until October...

    Thanks again guys - these are very exciting times for us, and we want to make sure we get it right from the start.

    Cheers
    Ward

  2. #17

    Re: Starting a charter business - what do you look for??

    hope its not your only form off income its long hours and a lot off work been there done it and would never do it again .
    but good luck

  3. #18

    Re: Starting a charter business - what do you look for??

    Quote Originally Posted by Wardy1 View Post
    Thanks heaps - some very good points there, and thankfully most we've already thought of & planned for.

    We have a boat being built to survey - capacity of 6 - skipper, deckie & 4 clients. The skipper (not me, my business partner) has over 20 years experience in the area (which I'm not telling yet - it's unchartered waters, but proven fishing!) & knows what he's talking about. Top guy too. It will be mainly offshore & barra, but we'll mix it up a bit with some mud crabbing.

    Another question - how far in advance do you generally book your charters? First 3 day charter is planned for Feb 08, but we won't be ready to advertise until October...

    Thanks again guys - these are very exciting times for us, and we want to make sure we get it right from the start.

    Cheers
    Ward
    now thats more like it!!!!!!!!!,,,, experienced skipper,,,, fish,,,,crabs,,,, offshore,,,
    sounds great,,,,, hoping that ausfish members get a discount

    a couple of things that i found a bit disturbing on some of my trips,,, and perhaps other members can add to,,,,without repeating the above points

    lack of communication,,,,,, (afterall we are the PAYING clients and some of us like to know whats going on)

    boredom,,,,,, coincides with above really,,, but theres nothing worse on a charter

    lack of humour,,,,,,, c'mon we all like a laugh,,, especially if your with a bunch of people that you will probably never see/meet again,,

    elbow room,,,,,,,,,,,this is by far the worst disaster,,,,,,,,, if you can fish a comfortable 6 fisho's,,, don't book 7,,,,, it only takes an inexperienced one to stuff the day up for another,,,,, especially with tangles,,,,

    good luck on your adventure,,,,,,, hoping you stick around and keep us posted on the journey

    choppa
    can it get any better??????????????,,,,,,,,,,,,,,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgG_TxEPaQE



  4. #19

    Re: Starting a charter business - what do you look for??

    choppa said it all.
    once you get it up and running and keep the punters happy you wont have advertise as much as happy punters alway tell their mates.

    if i was to organise a charter i would book say 2-3 months before.
    i would also only book a trip with a boat that carries 6 if i could fill the boat with mates. Nothing worse than getting a stick in the mud or a w*nker that you have to put up with for the whole trip.

    neil

  5. #20

    Re: Starting a charter business - what do you look for??

    HI wardy
    LIVE THE DREAM!!

    I think you can't do any better than really really good CREW. Having been on a few chaters, the ones that stand out in my mind are not allaways the ones where the most fish were boated, but where we had a good friendly, knowledgeable, expereinced, and in a lot of cases patient crew.(and then secondly the fish!! )

  6. #21

    Re: Starting a charter business - what do you look for??

    I normally only go on charters at small to no notice when I am out of town on work and get a day off. one thing I would like to see and it would cost bugger all is the charter take a digital camera and take some photos and email them to the people that were on the charter. what would it cost bar the digital camera and maybe 10-15 minutes time?
    Stuie
    IF IT CAN'T EAT A WHOLE PILLY I DON'T WANT IT

  7. #22

    Re: Starting a charter business - what do you look for??

    Been out on a fair few charter, and one thing I have to say, old salty gear is a turn off, worst still is a deckie with attitude!!!
    I would pay double the charging price to go out and learn how to fish and catches fish, in general have a nice day even I diddn't catch fish, but learn a few new techniques.
    Also pay some attention to those poor sods who are seasick, as I've seen plenty of charter shoved them into a corner and forget about them. They are also paying customers.
    Humility is not a weather condition.

  8. #23

    Re: Starting a charter business - what do you look for??

    Make the deckie a blonde bombshell in bikinis and you can't go wrong !

  9. #24

    Re: Starting a charter business - what do you look for??

    Quote Originally Posted by rumy1 View Post
    Make the deckie a blonde bombshell in bikinis and you can't go wrong !

    Why didn't anyone else think of this , good one rumy!

    So to review the list:

    Priorirty Number One: A super hottie that wanders around in bikinis all day every day (She doesn't need to do anything else and if need be this will also prevent boredom)

    -Knowledge of area
    -Knowledge of potential species
    -Good quality, well maintained gear
    -Be free with information, such as how to read a sounder, why this technique works etc).
    -A good crew that's is not only knowledgeable but good for a laugh
    -Show the punters you are working hard putting them on to fish by using different techniques, moving spots, burleying, etc.
    -Don't ignor those who are seasick, take some emergency kwells or other remedies along for the ride.

  10. #25

    Re: Starting a charter business - what do you look for??

    I'm liking the female decky concept.

    Being nice to the green outs isn't always that easy when you've still got a deck loaded with punters who need taking care of theres not much you can do but keep the water in them and give then a few words of encouragement. The one and only time i have ever deckied was also the first time i ever chundered out at sea. There was 8 charteries and a few of them started catching the bottom, i had to tie a few more rigs up and then it was all over, i was sick as a dog for the rest of the day. If you think greening out is tough try tneding to 8 punters at the same time (half of whom also greened out at some point) not a good day.

  11. #26

    Re: Starting a charter business - what do you look for??

    I like everyone here has been on a number of charters... Most on boats out of Darwin and a few out from the Sunshine coast...

    What to do:
    Supply good gear
    good food
    GOOD BAIT
    FRIENDLY DECKIE
    nice boat
    good electronics
    Know your fishing grounds

    Don't:
    treat the customers as gumbies
    be grumpy in the mornings
    get grumpy if people bring thier own gear


    Some people should just not have dealings with the general public IMHO..... a friendly posative attatude goes a long long way....

  12. #27

    Re: Starting a charter business - what do you look for??

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeremy87 View Post
    I'm liking the female decky concept.

    Being nice to the green outs isn't always that easy when you've still got a deck loaded with punters who need taking care of theres not much you can do but keep the water in them and give then a few words of encouragement. The one and only time i have ever deckied was also the first time i ever chundered out at sea. There was 8 charteries and a few of them started catching the bottom, i had to tie a few more rigs up and then it was all over, i was sick as a dog for the rest of the day. If you think greening out is tough try tneding to 8 punters at the same time (half of whom also greened out at some point) not a good day.

    Geez Jeremy, your making me sick just thinking about a day like that

  13. #28

    Re: Starting a charter business - what do you look for??

    depending on how big your boat is going to be you will have to go and get your coxwains ticket.(something im doing now) which allows you to charter a vessil up to 5m i think and bigger you have to get your master 5.
    its bloody hard to get!

  14. #29

    Re: Starting a charter business - what do you look for??

    Quote Originally Posted by Stubbie Holder View Post
    Good Tackle.
    Decent Food.
    Show the punters that you are doing your best to put them on fish.
    Be interesting and informative.
    You will have a good business for many years.
    Stubbie!
    HERE HERE, well said mate. I went to the swaines in July aboard the Norval out of Gladstone. Now I have been on many charters and I have to say that it was the best trip ever and the weather didnt really play the game either. The skipper was knowlegable and worked hard to make sure we hit good ground and boy could he cook.
    I CAME INTO THIS WORLD KICKING, SCREAMING AND COVERED IN SOMEONE ELSES BLOOD. I HAVE NO PROBLEM GOING OUT THE SAME WAY.
    NEWBY T.G.

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