SB Charters - Frequently Asked Questions
- Why choose SB Charters?
We pride ourselves on providing a fun and safe experience for people of all backgrounds and experience levels. We love nothing more than putting someone on their first fish and we have the patience and skill to guide and encourage you through it all. We are local natives, so we know our way around, and we genuinely LOVE what we do. We offer competitive pricing for top-notch service! We also give our customers the option of an HD video highlight reel of your fishing trip to share with family and friends ($100).
- What kind of boat?
27' Sea Hunt Game Fish with twin Yamaha 200 outboards. Safety is our TOP priority. We meticulously maintain our vessel and we've invested in the latest and safest equipment, including on-board EPIRB (Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon) and AED (Automated External Defibrillator).
- Where do we disembark?
For fishing charters, we typically disembark from Bert Winters Park in Jupiter. However, we are more than happy to change our pick-up/drop off locations to accommodate guests. We serve Port Saint Lucie, Stuart, Jupiter, Riviera, Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Boynton, Lantana, Boca, and even further south into Broward/Fort Lauderdale for special occasions)
- How do I book?
If you are interested in booking a charter, please reach out through our contact form by clicking "contact" in the menu bar at the top right of the page, The more information you provide, the easier it is for us to assist you (dates you have in mind, number of guests, type of charter, etc). Want to plan a trip but don't have a clue where to start? Feel free to reach out and we will do our best to help!
- What is your policy on deposits/cancellations?
A refundable deposit of 30% is required to book any charter and we have a 72-hour cancellation policy. If you cancel at least 72-hours prior to the departure time of your charter, you are entitled to a full refund. (We understand, life happens. If you have to cancel within the 72 hour period for a valid reason, we will work with you) We currently accept deposits through cashapp, venmo, paypal or credit card. Please note- if you pay by credit card, we add a 4% fee to cover our merchant fees. If the captain has to cancel the trip due to weather conditions, you have the option of a full refund or a date change at no additional cost. Sea sickness is NOT a valid reason for a refund.
- Do we have to fish?
We LOVE to fish. However, we understand that some folks just want to catch some sun with a margarita in their hand. If you are interested in booking a private charter without fishing involved, we can help! We offer captain/deckhand services for private sunset cruises, booze cruises, trips to the sandbar, and more! If you are interested, please click the "contact" tab in the menu bar at the top of the page, and reach out to us directly. The more information you provide in your first message, the easier it is for us to respond to your inquiry.
- What should I bring?
We suggest that guests bring drinks (byob), lunch, snacks, sunscreen, hats, boat shoes, beach towels, sunglasses and zip-lock bags if you want to take fresh fillets home with you.
- Is there a bathroom on board?
Yes, there is a full-sized, enclosed toilet in the center console.
- Will there be music?
We've installed a world-class sound system on our boat. Even at full cruising speed, the music comes through loud and crisp. You can connect your own smartphone via bluetooth to control the music, or you can select one of our playlists.
- Should I tip the captain?
Tips are discretionary; however, it is customary to tip the crew 20%
- Is the price of the charter for each person or for the whole group?
The price listed is for your entire group, so you can spread out the cost. You can have up to 6 people in your group. This is a private charter, so we do not group you with other people. It will only be your group on the boat with us.
- Can I have more than 6 people?
No, the max we can take is 6 passengers, whether they are fishing or not. This is not our rule, it is how the U.S. Coast Guard licenses private charters. Most private charters operate under this type of licensing.
- We are staying in Ft. Lauderdale, is Palm Beach too far to drive?
Not at all. We are a straight shot, 45 miles north of Fort Lauderdale (about a 35 minute drive)
- Are we guaranteed to catch fish?
We guarantee that we will try very hard, but fishing is fishing and we cannot control all the factors that the ocean provides (That's why it's called fishing, not catching!) With that being said, we are very good at catching fish and we will try our best to put you on some!
- Do we get to choose what kind of fish we target?
You can request to fish for certain species and we will try very hard to catch what you want. It is, however, always a better idea to let the captain take you to fish for what is hot at the time.
Some people have a fish on their “bucket list”. If this is the case, please let us know so that we can discuss the likeliness of catching that particular fish during the time you are planning a charter.
Some people only want fish they can eat and that is okay. You may keep any fish that falls within the legal limits. Just remember fishing is fun and if your only goal is to fill up your freezer, you may be better off spending your money at the fish market.
Overall, when you leave it up to the captain you usually end up with good action and a few fresh fish for dinner.
- Is there a difference in the type of fish we can catch on half or full days?
On half days, we typically troll between 8 and 15 miles. Certain times of year, we get mahi and cobia. There is always a chance at sailfish or wahoo, although these are more of a trophy catch and we don’t get them all the time. We also catch a good number of fun action fish such as barracuda, bonito, and sharks.
On full days, we have time to go as far as 30 miles if needed to target fish. This opens up some other options such as bottom fishing for amberjack and grouper or trolling in the gulf stream for mahi. Many times on full days, we still fish between 8 and 15 miles because that is where the best action is. Also on full days, we have time to try a couple of different styles of fishing if need be.
- How far will we go out?
On average we fish about 10-15 miles out. However, it varies greatly, especially in the summer months. In the summer, when conditions are right, we can have great fishing less than a half a mile off the beach. Less travel equals more fishing time. Days and weeks after we have had rough seas or tropical storm activity, we sometimes need to travel up to 40 miles to find fish. However, we do offer inshore charters for folks who want a boat day, minus the waves