Charter Information

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Charter rates for 2023 are:

1-4 Anglers
6 hours:              $ 600.00     (Our most popular trip, by far!!!)

8 hours:              $ 700.00

4 hours:             $ 500.00

Our typical groups consist of 1-4 anglers.   If your group requires a 5th angler onboard, that will be billed at  $150.00 on top of the rates posted above.   Please consult with Capt. John about this when booking.

One of the most common questions we get is how long a trip to book?   By far, our most popular trip is the 6 hour trip, particularly if your crew aren't diehards or if the weather is hot or nasty.
 

We do accept personal checks for your deposit and balance due.  However, there will be a $40 service charge for any returned checks.   Trips of other lengths are by mutual agreement between the captain and your party.  Any extra hours will be billed at a rate of $100.00 per hour.
 

On both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, we generally leave the dock by 6:30 a.m. unless other arrangements have been made by your party.  We provide all equipment, and likely a story or three!  Your group gets to fill in the blanks!

DEPOSITS
A $75.00 deposit reserves your day(s) of Great Lakes Fishing.  You may send us a check to hold your date, or you can use our PAYPAL option, available on our contact page.  Any remaining balances are due at the dock upon the conclusion of your trip and are payable by check or cash.

CANCELLATIONS
Cancellation of your charter due to rough water, foul weather or any other reason will be at the discretion of the Captain.  If the Captain cancels your trip, you will receive a full refund of any deposits made or you will have the option of re-booking.  Rough days or foul weather is not fun for anyone, and occasionally the need may arise to cancel your trip.   We will do our best to safely get you on the lake.

Our primary port on Lake Erie is Dunkirk, NY, which is located about 40 miles west of Buffalo, NY, and about 40 miles east of Erie, PA.   For 2019, we will again be on "C" dock, #C7, at Chadwick Bay Marina, directly behind the Clarion Hotel.

Dunkirk, NY is close to many major cities, including:
      Buffalo, NY          1 hour                       Erie, PA                             1 hour
      Rochester, NY      2 hours                   Pittsburgh, PA                2.5 hours
      Toronto, ON         2.5 hours                Syracuse, NY                  3 hours
      Cleveland, OH      2.5 hours                Morgantown, WV       4 hours

To Get to Dunkirk from the East/West:
Take the NYS Thruway (I-90) to the Dunkirk-Fredonia Exit 59.  Turn right after passing through the toll booth and travel north about 3 miles on Route 60. Turn left on NYS Route 5 in Dunkirk.  Drive past Tim Horton's Restaurant and the Clarion Hotel, then turn right at the traffic light and head towards the lake and marina.  There is ample parking in the Marina yard.  Chadwick Bay Marina is directly behind the hotel.

In addition to the Clarion Hotel, there are several other hotels available for overnight stay by the I-90 exit.  We will also be happy to offer you some suggestions for places to eat if you decide to stay overnight.

(For our Lake Ontario dates, we are fishing out of Wilson, NY and are docked for the month of May at Bootleggers Marina in Wilson.   For those that are chartering with us there, we will give you directions to the marina when we finalize your trip.)

For your charter, you will need:

• A Valid New York State Fishing License. Locally, these are available at Walmart (in Fredonia NY) or purchase online at the New York State DEC website (www.dec.ny.gov).  Please note:  Licenses are currently not available at the marina office.
• Food and Beverages (please limit your group to (1) 54 quart cooler (no glass bottles, please).
• Seasick Medication (if needed)(please remember to take ahead!).
• Appropriate clothing including hat/raingear.  Be prepared for changes in weather.  Remember, even though "Times Two" has a soft top/enclosure, you will be fighting fish in the back of the boat where you may be exposed to the elements.  
• Soft sole shoes or sneakers.
  (Please, if possible....No black soled shoes, work boots or dark soled crocs.)
• Suntan lotion/sunglasses.
• Camera/video camera to capture the "Big One".
• Cooler to transport your catch home.
• "Times Two" is a drug free vessel! ABSOLUTELY NO ILLEGAL DRUGS as prohibited by Federal Law (this includes marijuana which is not legal at the federal level).    As Captain, I am in full support of the Zero Tolerance program of the US Coast Guard and US  Customs Service. All illegal drugs WILL be reported to the authorities  without exception.  

On Lake Erie, we are targeting walleye and will fish the length of your trip or to your group's limit.   Lakers, steelhead or brown trout are considered to be a bonus catch.

In May, on Lake Ontario, we target king salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, brown trout and lake trout.   The best time for each depends on when you come.

We supply all of the fishing equipment for your day.  You supply your groups food and beverages.

Occasionally, we do have groups that want to take their catch, as is.   However,  for those of you that don't want to, we will gladly clean your catch for you at no additional charge.   Please remember to have an empty cooler to ice the filets on the way home!

In the middle of winter, locals may ask themselves, why do we live here?  I'm sick of snow and cold!   But you can't beat WNY once spring arrives!!!

If you have the chance to spend a few days in the local area, there is bound to be something to appeal to you and your family's tastes.   Within a 45 minute drive, you can reach two zoo's (Erie, Pa and Buffalo); see one of the 7 wonders of the world-Niagara Falls; go to a Triple AAA baseball game featuring the Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays Triple AAA team); visit the new "Canelside" area of Buffalo; visit the world famous Chautauqua Institute; sample famous "Buffalo Wings", Friday Fish Fry's or Beef on Weck at most area restaurants; revisit "Ameracana" by attending the Chautauqua County Fair in late July or the Erie County Fair in early August; visit over a half dozen local wineries; enjoy a nice cold beverage at an area pub; attend a number of local summer festivals including the City of Dunkirk's Music on the Pier every Thursday evening; enjoy buying fresh produce at a local farmer's market or simply take a stroll on a Lake Erie beach!

We love to make sure we get pictures of your catch and your day with us!  Some of those pictures will be on our report on our Captain's Journal page on this website or used in our booth at various fishing shows. We do not post personal information.  If for some reason you would prefer that we do not use your groups photo's, please let us know and we will gladly honor your request.