Things You SHOULDN’T Do When Joining a Newport Oregon Fishing Charter

Fishing is an exciting activity many people enjoy, whether they are complete beginners or pros. This sport can be done as a pastime, sport, and for some, a career! One of the top places many anglers head to is in Newport, Oregon, where the waters are brimming with fishing opportunities. Moreover, the shore is filled with many charters waiting for you to join them!

If you already booked a charter or you’re planning to during the next best fishing date, the next step is to prepare for your trip. But other than knowing what you should prepare for, you should also know what not to do during the trip. With that said, we share what you shouldn’t do on a Newport Oregon fishing charter!

Things You SHOULDN’T Do When Joining a Newport Oregon Fishing Charter

Charter captains are here to ensure you have a great time, but if you don’t prepare yourself as well, you may experience the opposite. Prevent that from happening by knowing what you shouldn’t do on a Newport Oregon fishing charter:

What You Shouldn’t Bring

A Newport Oregon fishing charter will usually offer everything you need, from the fully fueled boat to the fishing gear! All you need to bring is yourself, though it’s best to bring other personal belongings, like food, water, extra clothes, medication, and the like.

Besides what you should bring, there are things you shouldn’t bring as well, such as:

• Liquor – It sounds fun to enjoy hard alcohol while on the boat. After all, it’s a great way to unwind! However, especially with hard liquor, things can go from fun and relaxing to accidents and embarrassing moments! You should never be drunk while on a fishing charter, so stick to light beers or skip the alcohol altogether.
• Jewelry – Unfortunately, we’ve heard of many people losing their valuables on vacation, and that includes expensive jewelry. Rings, earrings, or bracelets can easily slip and fall into the waters, and there won’t be a high chance of retrieving them.
• Weapons – We want to keep fishing charters as safe as possible, and weapons pose danger, especially when missed with alcohol. It’s also inappropriate to carry any weapons!

Don’t Disrespect the Fish

It’s fine to take photos of your fish, but you should be reasonable, especially when you just caught one that’s catch-and-release.

Fishing charters discourage clients taking a multitude of photos of, let’s say, a walleye, at different angles with everyone else waiting their turn. When you unhook the fish you caught, make sure someone is ready to snap one or two photos before releasing the fish back into the water.

Speaking of releasing fish, make sure you treat fish with respect when doing so! Do NOT launch fish as far as possible. If you will release fish that’s been out of the water for a few minutes, cradle it into the waters, moving it back and forth as you hold it near its tail. The water flowing over the fish’s gills will revive it and it will swim away once ready.

Don’t Be Late

This is a must in about everything we do, really! If you want to make the most out of your day and begin the trip on time, you must be early. The captain and crew put a lot of time and effort to create an itinerary based on where and when clients’ target species are most active. This will give you higher chances of catching as many fish possible.

Usually, peak fishing times are early in the morning, hence the early meetup times. Moreover, it’s best to go about 15 minutes earlier since they give out safety orientations prior to the trip as well.

Don’t Forget to Tip

When booking a Newport Oregon fishing charter, the fees would usually only cover expenses like gas, bait, and the like, with only a small portion of that their profit. Fishing guides and charter crew members make a living through tips as well, so it’s best to bring enough cash to leave a tip. The standard is 20% but if you’d like to add more, that will be greatly appreciated!

 

Don’t Get Sick or Sunburned

No one wants to deal with getting seasick during the trip or extremely sunburned and in pain the day after. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent both, and it all begins with packing quality sunscreen and your anti-seasickness medication.

If you get easily seasick, other than medication, make sure that you avoid consuming alcohol and to stay hydrated with water. While it may sound counterintuitive, it’s best to have a light snack now and then.

You should also always bring sunscreen or sunblock with you. It’s a small item that will make a huge impact in your trip. You wouldn’t want to end up with a nasty sunburn in the second half of your trip and in the days after. It’s recommended to reapply sunblock or sunscreen every two hours or so.

For those who are more prone to getting sunburnt, use sunscreen with zinc oxide, wear long-sleeved clothing, wear a hat, and protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses! Remember, you will get almost no protection from the sun if you are on a smaller boat, so you need to take extra precaution.

 

Wrapping It Up

Joining a Newport Oregon fishing charter is a fun and unique experience that you should also plan for so things can go well. While fishing charters do their best to ensure that you have a safe and complete fishing experience, you must still prepare ahead and learn what you shouldn’t do as well. That way, all you need to focus on is having a good time once you’re on the boat.

If you haven’t booked a Newport Oregon fishing charter yet, contact us now! We can connect you with reputable fishing charters or guides in the area.