planning the charter to coincide with a vacation, the re-scheduled time might not be within your allotted vacation time. Ask up front.

Seasickness

There are few worse feelings than being stuck on a swaying boat when you're already green from motion sickness. The captain isn't going to end a perfectly good fishing trip, even if you are feeding the sharks off the side of the boat with your partially digested breakfast. To avoid this agony, begin taking non-drowsy Dramamine or Bonine the day before your trip, and continue taking it every four hours or whatever the dosage guidelines recommend. You can also purchase a patch that delivers a similar medication.

Sun protection

Be sure to take a hat or cap and plenty of sunscreen. You'll also need sunglasses to protect your eyes from the glare of bright sunlight and its reflection on the surface of the water.

Outerwear

Depending on the time of year, you might want to consider taking along a jacket. Even in the warmer months, the trip to and from your destination can get a little chilly due to the wind, so a light windbreaker might be in order.

Tipping?

Before your trip, ask about tipping the crew.

Cleaning and bagging?

Some charter services will clean, fillet, and bag your catch for you, making it freezer ready. There's usually a nominal fee for this, so bring some cash or a credit card with you. This is something that you can't pay for up front because it's usually on a per-fish basis, and unless you have a crystal ball, you won't know how many fish you might catch.

Shop around

When shopping for a fishing charter service, don't book the first one you find on the internet. Do some comparison shopping, and don't just consider the price alone. Take into account the services provided, too. Some charter companies provide testimonials from former clients, so take the time to read all the reviews offered.

Camera

Be sure to take your camera with you. You might catch an impressive fish that must be released because of certain regulations, so even if you can't have the trophy, you can have a photo of it to prove to your friends that your experience wasn't just a "big fish story."

Learn more about this author, Holle Abee.
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