Five questions to ask a captain before you book

When you are gearing up for a fishing trip with an experienced captain, you just need to show up wearing the right attire and ready to catch fish. It's like a workout with a good instructor. If you can just get to the gym, you're going to get results. If you've hired an experienced charter fishing guide, just show up and be ready to have a great time.

Here are some important questions you may still want to ask before your trip:

1. What is included and what should I bring?

If you're booking through a site like ReelEzfishing.com, it should be obvious from your booking confirmation what is included. For instance fishing rods are almost always included. Depending on the length of your trip, you might need to bring something to eat and you could ask the captain if it's okay to stash that in the cooler.

2. What kind of fish are we going to catch?

What I typically do is ask the captain what has been biting lately and if he has any good spots, he will usually give you a few options. Typically captains are really flexible and while you're on the water they'll take you to different spots based on what they and their buddies are talking about.

3. What if the weather gets ugly?

If you've booked through a platform like ReelEzfishing.com, you'll typically see a weather cancellation policy. Usually this is a full refund but it's decided by the captain. Many times, a captain will know how to avoid things like scattered thunderstorms without disrupting your time on the water.

4. What is the real total I'll actually pay?

If you're booking through a platform like FishingBooker or ReelEzfishing.com, the balance will be clearly labeled when you pay, but there could be a fuel surcharge noted on the trip page. It's typical to tip 20% to the captain and crew. Gratuity is customary in the charter fishing industry, so be sure to budget for it ahead of time. If you are fishing with a group of friends, be sure to contribute together.

5. How long will we be fishing and who else will be on the boat with me?

If you know how far the boat is going out and how long that takes, then you can subtract it from the total time. That will help you understand how long you'll get to be fishing. A booking platform like ReelEzfishing.com will clearly show you whether you're going on a shared trip or if you've purchased the whole boat through what's called a private charter.

Booking platforms like ReelEzfishing.com only allow licensed captains. That's one of the benefits of booking through a secure online platform, because you can trust the captain because we've already done the verification. You can also keep an eye out for the Veteran badge if you prefer.

You should pick a captain with good reviews and great photos. I recommend messaging your captain ahead of time to get a feel for their communication style. After all, you'll be spending a few hours with them on the boat, you'll want to feel comfortable and have somebody you can talk to.

If you have booked through ReelEzfishing.com be sure to show up 15 minutes early, or however early your booking confirmation dictates.

Like a great workout, if you can just show up to your meeting location and be along for the ride, you'll have a great time, and we hope that you'll book with us again soon!