Why Book a Tampa Bay Fishing Trip?

Whether you’re a local or visiting Tampa Bay for vacation, there are so many things to see and do. One thing you must put on your bucket list is fishing in the vast waters of the beautiful city. Tampa bay offers a ton of fishing opportunities made for everyone, whether you’re with your family and young kids, friends, or going solo as a beginner or seasoned angler.

But wait! Before you head out to the waters yourself, you may want to consider booking a Tampa Bay fishing trip with a fishing charter or guide. Some people presume that this is an extra expense and that they can go fishing themselves, but you’ll be surprised by the many benefits that booking a Tampa Bay fishing trip offers.

To help you decide whether to book a Tampa Bay fishing trip or not, read on. We share the pros and cons of fishing charters.

 

Pros of Booking a Tampa Bay Fishing Trip

These are the benefits a Tampa Bay fishing trip with reputable charters or professional guides offers:

 

Less Expensive

If you are a local in Tampa Bay, owning a fishing boat will be costly in the long run. Consider the initial price of the boat, along with the insurance, maintenance, slip fees, tackle, bait, fuel, storage, and costs of repair when needed… All those expenses will add up quickly!

And if you only go fishing about ten times per season, you’ll end up spending even more money maintaining a boat compared to booking a Tampa Bay fishing trip with a charter. Furthermore, charters already come with most of what you need, including the boat, captain, crew, fishing gear, bait, and other extra features, depending on the charter you book with. All you need to bring is yourself, some clothes, extra food and drinks, and personal belongings, and you’re good to go.

 

Focus on Having Fun

One of the major reasons why people opt to book a Tampa Bay fishing trip with a reputable charter is because of the maintenance that comes with owning and maneuvering a boat. Not only will you have to maintain the boat all year long, but navigating the waters can be tricky, especially if you aren’t familiar with the local waters in the first place.

When you book a fishing charter, you won’t have to worry about anything boat-related except following the safety policies the charter captain enforces for you and everyone’s protection. Because of that, you won’t have to think about where to go, create an itinerary, maneuver the boat yourself, and take care of any issues that may come during your trip. You won’t even need to prepare the boat before the trip or clean it up once you’re back on land.

You can simply sit back and relax, soaking in the sun and enjoying the views, as the captain heads to various fishing spots. And once you’re there, you can place your full attention on catching fish!

You save a lot of time and get to do what you love most, which is fishing. Sure, you can have someone prepare, clean, and maintain the boat for you, but this is very pricey!

 

Endless Opportunities and Flexibility

Charter fishing during a Tampa Bay fishing trip is a massive benefit. You get to experience various kinds of boats and different kinds of fishing trips depending on your target species (like tarpon) and how long you’d like to stay in the waters.

You won’t be limited to just one area; you get more flexibility over what boat to use and have an experienced captain who can go almost anywhere within Tampa Bay.

 

Get the Complete Fishing Experience

Joining a charter for your Tampa Bay fishing trip means that you will have a professional captain who is willing to accommodate your preferences, especially if you book a private trip. Even seasoned anglers who want to do the fishing themselves can benefit from a charter as the captain and crew will be there to assist you only when needed, with the focus of taking you to the best fishing spots.

But if you are a beginner, the captain and crew will teach you insightful lessons from how to set up your fishing gear down to reeling in your first bite. This will give you the complete experience from the moment you enter the boat until you get back on land with your fresh catch to cook!

Cons of Booking a Tampa Bay Fishing Trip

Of course, there are also a few minor downfalls to a charter when booking a Tampa Bay fishing trip with them, such as:

• Lessened Spontaneity: While charters offer simplicity and many benefits, the main limitation is that you cannot simply hop on a boat whenever convenient for you and go out spontaneously. You must book the charter well in advance if you want to go to a specific destination and catch the target species. With many people booking charters, especially during peak fishing season, you need to plan your trip ahead!
• You Won’t Always Get Your Desired Vessel: Professional captains will own quality and well-kept vessels, with the types of boats owned varying. If you book in advance, you can get the boat you’ve been expecting. However, note that you may not always get the first choice. Moreover, you might not get the flexibility of controlling your own trip, especially when you join shared charters.

 

Wrapping It Up

With all the pros and cons mentioned above, the best recommendation will still be to book a Tampa Bay fishing trip with reputable charters. While you will spend a bit more than going solo, you get more than what you pay for with professional services and many fishing lessons learned along the way.

If you decide to book a Tampa Bay fishing trip, contact us now to learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve a memorable day out on the waters.