It can be tough to select a captain for a fishing trip. Personal recommendations on chartering a boat are the best. If that is not possible, reading through the website for the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can help with the decision.
There currently are 18 choices on the BHCFA website of possibilities for a day on the water. A sensible plan is to come up with a list of items important to you for your own trip. First, determine how many will be going on the trip. Some of the boats cater to small numbers while others can accommodate large groups.
Then decide where your anglers would like to fish. There are boats fishing in the calm waters of the bay while others fish the ocean close to shore and others that travel many miles offshore. Your choice of area to fish will also dictate what fish you will likely catch. Flounder will be close to shore while fish such as tuna and billfish are farther offshore in the canyons.
There are pictures of the boats available on the website. You can see what boats appeal to you. Do you want one with a cabin where you can find shelter from the sun along with an inside bathroom.
Another especially important item is the cost. We all have our own budgets, and you will want to select the boat which meets your own financial needs. Once you decide on a boat you like, contact the captain, and work out a fishing date.
Most of the boats have flexibility in where and when they fish. The “Star Fish” with Captain Max Goldman can hold 19 passengers and not only fishes but does parties and sunset cruises. One recent trip for the “Star Fish” in bay and inlet waters brought a nice haul of fluke and even a weakfish. The highlight of the trip was a 25-30 pound black drum that was released.
Recent catches have been good when the weather cooperates. Captain Jonathan Kelly reports that the fluke fishing has been good lately on the “Outcast.” A few of his trips have caught well over 50 fish.
Captain Bret Taylor of “Reel Reaction Sport Fishing” has been catching an assortment of fish besides fluke including occasional bluefish, weakfish, and black sea bass.