• A valid New York State fishing license for each day you plan to fish. Anyone 16 and older is required to have a license. Out of state licenses are 15 dollars per day, 35 dollars for 7 days, 70 dollars per season. New York residents are 5 dollars per day or 29 dollars for the season. In Olcott, you can pick up a fishing license at the Boat Doctors or the Slippery Sinker. In Newfane they are available at the Town Hall and the Lake Ontario Motel.

• Food & Beverages for your trip. Most people bring snacks and sandwiches. It is also a courtesy to bring enough food for the captain and first mate.

• Sunscreen & or raingear – Depending on the season you are fishing, you will need to check the weather for your trip and plan accordingly

• Camera or video recorder – You won’t want to miss capturing your day on film

• Non-rubber soled shoes – black streaks on boats are wicked to clean

• Cooler for your fish and freezer bags – If you plan on keeping your catches, the captains will have your fish filleted for you so you can take them home for a great day of grilling or cooking.

CHARTER BOAT HINTS

– Whether you are old or new at fishing a charter, there are some things that you should know about booking fishing a charter. Here are some helpful hints to make the best of your trip:

• Always ask your captain if he has a valid USCG approved license. This is the most important part of booking a charter. US COAST GUARD approved captains must go through a rigorous series of testing and keep up to date on all the current specifications and rules.

• It is common courtesy to tip the first mate. They are working hard for you to enjoy your day, setting up all the rods, reels, baits, keeping the boat clean and helping you land those big ones. There are some charters out there that do not pay their first mates. They work only for tips. Some captains do pay their mates and the mate gets tips, some cover if they don’t receive a tip and some don’t give them anything. Some have signs on their boats “mate works for tips” and some have no sign at all, and yes – it is okay to ask your captain.

• You get what you pay for – Basically in the fishing industry like any other, undercutting does happen. There are even people who take other peoples trips from them. Watch out for that type. It isn’t worth the small print. Some may take trips out there for much less, but also shorten your trip while catching fish that you almost have to stretch to meet length requirements, then limit you out and before you know it – you paid for a full-day trip that is one hour long. It is important to speak to the captain you are going to be fishing with prior to the trip so you can have the best day ever.

• How much experience does your captain have? How long has he been fishing the area, for these types of fish, what kind of fish will be most readily available the dates you want to fish.

• Timing - Fishing anywhere has prime times and lower times. There is nothing like the fight of a big king, or the visual and wild experience of catching a steelhead as it jumps out of the water the entire fight. Let your captain know what kind of fish you are looking to catch. On Lake Ontario you can catch king/chinook, coho or atlantic salmon, brown trout, steelhead/rainbow trout, lake trout and others. Work with your captain to find the best time to take that trip.

• Catch and release – or eat your catches. An important rule of thumb is, if you are not going to eat it, don’t keep it. Your captain will have your fish filleted for you if you plan on keeping them, but if you want to throw fish back – talk to your captain about this before you book your trip.

• Derby fishing – If you want to fish in a tournament, most all captains will be more than happy to accommodate you. I would highly recommend entering a tournament during the season (several available) to get more bang for your buck. Logically, if you book a charter, and get a one-day derby pass when you get your fishing license, your captain will take you out for the bigger fish. When fishing a tournament, a one-day pass will range between 10 and 15 dollars per person. Each person on the boat must enter to be eligible in the contests.

• Multi-boat trips – Most captains will be more than happy to accommodate multi-boat trips for any –sized groups. You all fish near each other and can even make up your own contests.