Tips for Fishing on Party Boats

You don’t have your own fishing boat, and hiring a guide is a bit on the expensive side? You may want to consider jumping aboard a party boat. Party boats are large fishing boats that take aboard anglers, often dozens at a time, who pay by the head (which is why they’re also called “head boats” sometimes) to go bottom fishing. While its true that there aren’t a huge number of party boats out there, you will see them in most major ports (you’ll find most of them in Galveston, Freeport, Corpus Christi, and South Padre). Successfully fishing on a party boat does, however, require a bit of special know-how. Yes, anyone can walk aboard and be successful. But if you know these tricks and tips, you’ll be among the high-liners of the day.

1. Use weights heavy enough to keep your line more or less straight up and down. Lines that drift out at an angle are more likely to tangle with those of other anglers.
2. Bring fresh bait. Yes, party boats do provide the bait, but you can’t exactly expect it to be “grade-A.” Plus, it will usually be limited to a single selection. If you want to out-fish the crowd, come armed with your own fresh bait variety.
3. If you have appropriate tackle, bring it. Again, party boats have gear (usually for a very small rental fee). But you can figure it’ll be fairly low-end and probably fairly old, as well.
4. Make fast friends with the mates. You’ll need their help when you reel up a big fish and call for the net or gaff, or if you get tangled with other anglers. If they like you, they’ll come-a-running. And don’t gyp them at the end of the day – a 15- to 20-percent tip is considered the norm, and many of the mates work for tips alone.
5. Small party boats, like the one pictured above, are often better for seasoned anglers. Beginners may prefer the larger, more comfortable boats, but smaller ones can pin-point anchor over smaller structure and everyone aboard should be in a good position. On the larger boats sometimes everyone on the bow catches, or everyone on the stern catches, but people at the other end of the boat have slower action.

Bonus Tip: If you can get a spot at the transom, these are often the best. Most captains anchor so they can see the structure and fish on the fishfinder, and the transducer is usually located near the stern of the boat. Accordingly, the stern is often parked in the best position.