WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO BOOK A TRIP?
WHAT DO YOU PROVIDE?
DO YOU EVER SUBSTITUTE ANOTHER CAPTAIN OR BOAT?
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
IS THERE ANY COMMON ETTIQUETTE I SHOULD BE AWARE OF?
CAN I BRING MY OWN GEAR?
WHAT WILL WE FISH FOR?
WHERE WILL WE FISH?
WHAT FISH CAN I KEEP?
CAN I EXTEND MY TRIP WHILE WE ARE OUT?
IS THERE A DISCOUNT FOR MULTI-DAY BOOKINGS?
THE BOAT SEEMS LIKE IT IS SET UP FOR FISHING, WILL WE BE COMFORTABLE ON OUR SUNSET OR DINNER CRUISE?
HOW AND WHEN DO I BOOK MY TRIP?
It is always best to book your trip as far in advance as possible, especially during very busy times of the year such as Boca Grande Tarpon season. That being said, there are many times we can and will gladly accommodate a last minute trip as late as the night before you want to go out. Please feel free to inquire about a trip through email or over the phone, however Captain Tom will need to speak with you over the phone a day or two before your trip to find out what you would like to do the day of, and go over any weather, tide, or fishing related concerns. We also prefer that you do not email any credit card information.
WHAT IF I NEED TO CANCEL?
If you need to cancel, we ask that you do so no later than 9 days before your trip in order to receive a refund of your deposit. If you need to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances (a death in the family, weather related delays preventing you from getting into town, an injury, etc.) please just let us know and we will try to get you rescheduled and work something out with you as quickly as possible. No-shows will be charged for the entire price of the trip.
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO BOOK A TRIP?
The best time to book a trip can be determined two ways. The first is when you are in town, or have the time. There are always many great gamefish to chase in this area, its always prime fishing time for several of our species, and there really is no off season. However, if you have a particular target species then there is definitely a best time to book a trip. Tides and wind also greatly affect fishing for many of the target species in our area. When you call to book your trip we will try to schedule it around the best possible tide for the type of fishing we plan to do. As far as seasons for each species, our fish page has primes seasons for most of our target species. This is only a loose reference for prime seasons, many times we will catch 5, 6, or even 10 different species on a single trip. For example we list the prime time for Tarpon fishing as April-October, but Tarpon can be caught in our waters with some reliability year round! Please contact the captain if you have any questions or concerns about when to book your trip.
WHAT DO YOU PROVIDE?
We provide: The boat, fuel, all safety equipment, cell phone, only the finest rods, reels, and tackle, bait, ice, water, soft drinks, all required licenses, pickup/drop-off, music (Sirius satellite radio), and great fishing! We will try our best to take digital photos, however sometimes there is so much going on (especially with multiple anglers) that we are not able to take many, its always best to take your own camera. Due to the extremely wide range of personal preferences, we do not currently supply fly rods, reels, or tackle.
DO YOU EVER SUBSTITUTE ANOTHER CAPTAIN OR BOAT?
No! We do not substitute the boat or captain under any circumstances. When you book with Another Keeper you are booking with Captain Tom McLaughlin on his 2008 Century bay boat.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
You should bring: Hat, polarized sunglasses, sunscreen, a small bag or backpack, shoes with non-marking soles, any additional beverages you require, snacks, lunch (full day trips especially), your camera, and, any rods and reels you may have a special attachment to. Also feel free to bring your I-Pod or other MP3 player as the boat does have a hook up (bring any cords required other than I-pod). Those particularly susceptible to sunburn may prefer to wear a lightweight long sleeve shirt and long pants for additional protection.
IS THERE ANY COMMON ETTIQUETTE I SHOULD BE AWARE OF?
Please be on time for pickup and wear non-marking shoes. Be respectful of the boat, gear and your Captain. In return your Captain should be friendly, courteous, helpful, on time, and put you on great fishing. Ask many questions. If you are unsure about what to do, how to do something, a question about what is considered ok and what is not, or just about anything you have ever wanted to know, please feel free to ask. If there is ever anything your Captain can do to make you trip more enjoyable or make your more comfortable please let him know right away and he will be sure to do what he can to accommodate you. You are welcome to bring beer or other alcoholic beverages, however please do not become intoxicated. It is considered appropriate to tip your Captain. How much is up to you, please base it on how satisfied you were with your trip. The most important piece of boating and fishing etiquette is to always HAVE FUN!
CAN I BRING MY OWN GEAR?
Yes. You may bring any gear you feel like you can't be without. The boat will be fully equipped with only the finest rods, reels, bait, and tackle available. However we understand people have things they hold a special attachment to. Feel free to bring what you feel is appropriate and we will make every effort to make sure you catch some fish with it if it is appropriate. Likewise, if there is anything you feel like you would like us to include that is not mentioned, feel free to drop us a line before your trip and will be happy to try to accommodate you.
WHAT WILL WE FISH FOR?
This is determined by your preference and/or the particular season and weather patterns. We want you to have the best possible fishing trip. Your Captain will inform you of the current situation and likely scenarios both at the time of booking as well as shortly before your trip. You will decide together what will not only provide the best action, but also the best chance to accomplish what you would like to get out of the trip. Generally speaking we target Snook, Tarpon, Redfish, Snapper, Trout, Cobia, King Mackerel, Sharks, Grouper, Goliath Grouper, and other inshore and near-shore species. Most of the time we can target many of these at once making for a fun, action packed day. Please let your Captain know what you would like to fish for specifically, or if you just want to do what he thinks will be best for your particular situation. We are sure you will not be disappointed.
WHERE WILL WE FISH?
This depends primarily on the type of trip you book, your target species, and the current conditions. Captain Tom always goes where the fish are, regardless of where your pickup location may be. We generally will fish the closest area that is reliably holding your target species. If you have any particular requests or suggestions regarding our fishing area, we would be more than happy to try to accommodate you. For inshore trips, expect a run of 5-35 minutes each way depending on the days chosen locale. We fish from Lemon Bay to Estero Bay including Charlotte Harbor, Pine Island Sound, Boca Grande Pass, and near-shore ledges, wrecks, and structure. See our location and trips pages for more info.
WHAT FISH CAN I KEEP?
One of the great things about fishing in Southwest Florida is the large number of extremely good eating fish. Snook, Snapper, Redfish, Cobia, Trout, and Grouper are just some of the many species considered to be top-shelf table fare. A productive inshore trip can generally yield dinner for the entire family and sometimes the neighbors. There are many closed seasons, minimum and maximum size limits, and bag limits applicable to your catches, as well as some species that are not harvested anytime. We follow all applicable local, state, federal, and National Marine Fisheries Service laws. We often will still target species during closed seasons (such as snook) even though they will be catch and release only. In addition, conservation is of the highest priority for Another Keeper Charters. For this reason you will be unable to keep Tarpon (even if you possess the required tarpon tag) and sharks caught on any trip with Captain Tom McLaughlin unless it is identified as a potential world record fish. see the fish page for more info on the fish we might catch during your trip.
CAN I EXTEND MY TRIP WHILE WE ARE OUT?
Having such a productive day that you don't want to get off the water is a frequent occurrence with Captain Tom at the helm, so this question comes up a lot. Provided there is not another trip scheduled for the second half of the day, and your schedule allows, we will be glad to extend your trip while we are out on the water. If you feel like you want to stay out and keep on top of the action, just ask your Captain and he will be able to accommodate your request if at all possible.
IS THERE A DISCOUNT FOR MULTI-DAY BOOKINGS?
Multi-day bookings are a common occurrence, especially during peak seasons for target species. Please e-mail us for more information regarding these discounts.
THE BOAT SEEMS LIKE IT IS SET UP FOR FISHING, WILL WE BE COMFORTABLE ON OUR SUNSET OR DINNER CRUISE?
Absolutely! Ample cushioned seating, a smooth and dry ride, Sirius satellite radio, and many other creature comforts make our boat great for serious tournament fishing, family-fun outings, and romantic sunset cruises alike.
