Why You Might Favor An Inshore Fishing Charter

Booking a fishing charter with friends or family can be a fun way to spend some time together, regardless of whether you're serious anglers or you just enjoy fishing on occasion. Depending on where you live, you may have the opportunity to take one of several different types of charters. Two charters that are common are deep-sea (which is also known as offshore) and inshore. Deep-sea/offshore charters take place well away from land, while inshore outings remain closer to the shore. There are several reasons that your group might favor an inshore fishing charter, including the following three points.

The Water Is Calmer

There's no denying that offshore fishing outings can be a lot of fun, but being out in a large body of water often means that the conditions will be rougher. This might be fine for those who are accustomed to being in rough water, but not everyone will be comfortable in this environment. Inshore fishing charters commonly take place where the water is calm, which can be pleasant for your group. This can especially be true if you're planning to enjoy a meal during the outing — something that may not be as appealing during rougher conditions.

The Outing Can Be Shorter

While different charter companies offer different outing lengths, you'll often find that inshore outings are shorter in length than their offshore counterparts. A big reason for this difference is travel time. In an offshore excursion, your boat may need to travel a considerable distance to reach where you'll be fishing, which adds time at each end of the experience. Conversely, inshore outings can be shorter because the travel time to get to where you'll be fishing is often minimal. While longer outings can be fun, the reality is that peoples' busy schedules can make charters that are shorter in length very appealing. For example, you might take a charter on a Saturday morning and still have enough time afterward to run your regular weekend errands.

The Cost May Be Less

You may find that an inshore fishing charter can cost less than an offshore one. There are several reasons why this can be the case. Offshore outings typically require larger boats, which cost more to operate and may require more crewmembers, too. On the other hand, inshore boats tend to be smaller and the crew can be minimal — which means that the cost to the customer is less. If you're trying to keep the cost of your fishing charter low, you'll likely find that an inshore outing is a better choice.