Thread: Party Fishing Charters

Looking for experience and/or opinions on the large group fishing charters, ie Hudson Marina. I'm bringing down a group of 8 (5 kids ages 7-12) and was considering this fishing experience as some of us aren't really into fishing.

The Party Boat fishes up 65 anglers. That's a lot of lines going over the side of the boat. Has anyone tried this fishing charter? Is it an experience worth pursuing? What are the target fish?

I'd appreciate any and all comments.

Thank you in advance.

Went out on a party boat a few years back during red snapper season and it was a good experience. Since we were bottom fishing, I don't recall any crossed lines or issues with getting the fish on deck. These charters have experienced captains and crews to make sure everyone has a good time and catches fish, IMHO. The kids seemed to really enjoy themselves.

Target fish would depend on the time of year/season and fishing conditions.

If you can afford a charter kids in that age range will have a much better time nearshore trolling for Spanish Mack with the possibility of a king or two thrown in.

Depending on what that particular boat charges for kids, a charter, rather than party boat, should not be that much more expensive, if any.

A 6 hr party boat trip will be at least an hour riding out, probably 1 and half, with the same time for the return trip. That's rough on a young kid. A nearshore charter will be fishing a few minutes after clearing the pass. If you want to bottom fish for a little variety, there are nearshore reefs within three miles of the pass that can be quite entertaining.

With this description: "a group of 8 (5 kids ages 7-12) ... some of us aren't really into fishing," I would not go out on a party boat.

Thank you very much for your comments. The review are all over the map. Many loved the experience. While others hated it because it was elbow tight around the entire boat. This is a late December trip, so I don't know how busy this will be at that time.

Please keep the comments coming

I didn't know it was December. Unless we have an very unusually warm year you will not do well trolling for Mackerel in December, but there are the nearshore reefs.

My wife and I like party boat trips and go every year, but the difference in my mind is the young children.

Checks to make sure the party boat runs in December, I seem to remember them being hard to find at that time of year.

That age group might like to ride the Ferry across Mobile Bay, maybe visit Sea Lab.

I did. They are running during the last week of December. But, I need to speak with them and learn what they target & what's the least number of anglers they'll go out with. Because, although they max out with 65 anglers, maybe there'll only be an average of 30 during that time period. I don't want to be elbows to elbows.

With the 7 year old you will do most of the fishing. Or you hold the rod and he reels, most likely he will not be able to do both. I have used Hudson's party boat and liked it a lot. We usually got to fish for 2 hours in most cases. If it was rough we fished less cause it took longer getting there. Should not be crowded in December

Originally Posted by bodebum

That age group might like to ride the Ferry across Mobile Bay, maybe visit Sea Lab.

Sea Lab?? I'll look into that. Thanks for the recommendation