How to Start a Fishing Charter Business

The short answer: starting a fishing charter business takes five things: the right Coast Guard license for the boat and number of guests you plan to carry, any state and federal fishing permits for your waters, a business entity and insurance, a properly equipped boat, and a way for guests to find and book you. Plan the trips and the numbers first, then work through the paperwork.

This is a general planning guide for the United States, not legal advice. Requirements vary by state and by the species and waters you fish, so confirm them with the agencies listed below before you take paying guests.

1. Decide what kind of charter you will run

Your boat and your guest count shape everything else. A captain carrying up to six paying passengers on an uninspected vessel needs different paperwork than one carrying more guests on a Coast Guard inspected boat. Decide early:

• Inshore, nearshore, offshore, river or lake.
• Maximum guests per trip.
• Trip lengths and the target species for each season.
• Whether you run one boat yourself or plan to add captains and boats.

2. Get the right captain’s license

To carry passengers for hire in U.S. navigable waters you need a U.S. Coast Guard credential, issued through the National Maritime Center.

• OUPV, often called the “six-pack”: lets you carry up to six passengers for hire on an uninspected vessel. It requires at least 360 days of documented time on the water, including 90 days in the last three years.
• Master license (25, 50 or 100 ton): needed to carry more than six passengers on an inspected vessel. It requires at least 720 days of service.

Both also involve an exam or approved course, a medical certificate, a drug test and enrollment in a drug-testing program. Check the National Maritime Center for current requirements.

3. Check state and federal fishing permits

• State charter licenses: most coastal and many inland states require a charter or guide license, and many sell a vessel license that covers your guests’ fishing licenses. Check your state’s fish and wildlife agency.
• Federal for-hire permits: some species in federal waters, such as Gulf and South Atlantic reef fish and highly migratory species like tuna and billfish, require a federal for-hire permit from NOAA Fisheries.
• Local rules: marinas, parks and some rivers have their own permits or outfitter rules.

4. Set up the business

• Form a business entity, often an LLC, and open a separate business bank account.
• Get charter insurance that covers passenger liability, not just the boat. Ask your broker about hull, liability and any required coverage levels in your state.
• Have guests sign a liability waiver before every trip. A lawyer in your state can tell you what it should include.

5. Equip the boat

Carry the Coast Guard required safety gear for your boat’s size and number of people, plus tackle, a cooler, a first aid kit and anything your state requires. A free Vessel Safety Check from the Coast Guard Auxiliary is a good way to confirm you have everything.

6. Price your trips

Work out what a trip actually costs you: fuel, bait, tackle, ice, insurance, maintenance, slip fees, booking fees and your time. Then look at what charters near you charge for similar trips. Price to cover your costs with a profit even in a slow month, and take a deposit so a cancellation does not cost you the day.

7. Get found and get booked

• Set up a Google Business Profile the day you are ready to take guests.
• Build a simple website with one page per trip, real photos, prices and a Book button. Our fishing charter SEO guide covers how to rank it.
• Take bookings and deposits online. RIVERRISE BOOKINGS does this on your own site for $99 a month with no platform or booking fees (standard card processing applies), and collects waivers before the trip.
• Consider a marketplace listing while your own site builds up, and compare what it costs in our booking cost comparison.
• Ask every group for a Google review. See how to get more Google reviews.

Starting a fishing charter: questions

How long does it take to get a six-pack license?

It depends mostly on how much documented time on the water you already have. You need at least 360 days of qualifying time before you can apply, and processing at the National Maritime Center adds more time on top.

Do my guests need fishing licenses?

Usually, unless your state sells a charter or vessel license that covers them. Check your state’s fish and wildlife agency.

What is the biggest early mistake?

Relying on one booking channel. Build your own website, Google profile and guest list from the start, so you are not paying commission forever on guests who would have found you anyway.