How does a party boat work, exactly?

Party boats are considered public charters, so individuals and small parties share the boat with others. The price is per individual, and the boat has multiple parties on board.

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How many people do your boats hold?

The Cavalier, usually used for bay fishing, holds 86 fishermen. The New Buccaneer, usually making the deep sea trips, holds 100 fishermen.

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How big are your boats?

The Cavalier is a 70ft catamaran, and the New Buccaneer is an 85ft catamaran.

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Do you offer private charters?

Our boats are available for private charters. However, the prices are based on the capacity of the vessels. These prices are the most economical for very large parties.

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Do you offer group rates? What about a senior citizen discount?

We’re sorry, but at this time, because of the high price of diesel fuel, we are unable to offer any discounts on our already-low rates.

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Are reservations required? If so, how do I make them?

Reservations are recommended, because not every trip is available everyday. We ask that you please call our office to make reservations. At that time, one of our staff members will go over our policies and procedures with you.

What are your sailing times?

Typically, our 4hr bay trips are from 8am-12pm and 1:30pm-5:30pm.

Our 12hr trips leave at 7:30am, and return at 7:30pm.

8hr trips are from 7am-3pm. (Please note the scheduled dates for this trip under the pricing link.)

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What time is check-in?

Check-in is absolutely no later than 30 minutes prior to the boat’s scheduled departure time. For example, if the boat is scheduled to leave at 8am, we do not honor reservations after 7:30am, even if we have a deposit. Please note that large parties without a deposit will be required to check-in at least 45 minutes prior to sailing time. When making a reservation, a specific check-in time will be given.

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What is the required deposit?

We require a $40 deposit per person on all deep sea trips. On the bay trips, large parties require a $10 deposit per person. Parties of ten or more require payment in full on all trips. Tuna trips, as well as stern positions on any trip, require payment in full.

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How do I pay my deposit? Do you take credit cards via phone or internet?

We do not take credit cards over the phone or internet. We accept in-state checks, cashier’s checks and money orders through the mail. We also accept cash or credit cards in our office.

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What if I need to cancel my reservations? Will I get my money back?

For a refund of your deposit, you will need to cancel at least 7 days before the trip’s date.

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What if the weather is bad? Will I get my money back then?

If the weather prevents us, as a company (not you as an individual), from going out, we will refund your money in full. Any other refunds will be up to the discretion of the owner.

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How bad does the weather have to be in order for you to cancel?

We typically try to go out with wave heights up to 6 feet. Any wave heights higher than 6 feet usually cause us to cancel our trips. Bay fishing is rarely affected by weather or wave heights. Please note that the true weather may differ from what is predicted by the NWS

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What can I bring on the boat?

Customers are allowed to bring small, soft-sided 6-pack sized coolers onboard. We do not allow hard coolers, Styrofoam coolers, glass, strollers, car seats, buckets, or alcohol to be brought on board. Customers are also allowed to bring on backpacks or beach bags with personal items, and small tackle boxes if they choose to bring on their own rods.

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Do you sell food on the boat?

We have a grill on our vessel that serves food and drinks at fast food prices. Customers are also allowed to bring on soft-sided coolers with food and drinks.

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Do you serve alcohol? Are we allowed to bring our own?

We do not allow people to bring alcohol onboard; however, we sell beer on the deep sea trips. The bay trips are alcohol-free.

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What amenities do your boats have?

Both of our boats have an air-conditioned and heated galley, a grill with food available at fast food prices, café style seating, his-and-hers restrooms, and a sundeck.

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Are your boats wheelchair-accessible?

We are able to allow manual wheelchairs aboard our boats. Unfortunately, we cannot allow motorized wheelchairs or “scooters” on board, as space is limited. Please keep in mind that entrance to our galley (where the restrooms are located) may be difficult to navigate in a wheelchair, as the water-tight doors have a four-inch threshold that comes off the ground.

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Do you allow pets on board?

With the exception of guide dogs, we do not allow pets aboard our vessels.

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Are fishing licenses required for your trips?

Technically, salt water fishing licenses are required for both the bay and the deep sea trips. This rule is not strictly enforced by us as a company. The only time we check is if, on a bay trip, a customer catches an over-sized red fish and would like to keep it. There is a red fish tag on a state license for this purpose. Please keep in mind that, although we don’t check for licenses, a Texas Game Warden could be waiting at the dock at anytime to do so.

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Is there an age limit?

We allow people of all ages on our trips. However, because we do not allow strollers or car seats aboard our vessels, we suggest careful consideration before bringing infants. To prevent jeopardizing the trip for others, we also ask individuals with any health or physical problems to carefully consider our trips before going out.

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What is the best time of year to catch fish?

We usually catch more fish when the water is warm. Historically, this has been between April and October. This applies to both the bay and the deep sea trips.

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When is the red snapper season open?

The federal red snapper season opens and closes at the whim of the federal government. This season is strictly enforced by our company. When we can’t keep red snapper, we focus on the other fish listed under “expected catches” in the pricing section of this website.

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Are there any guarantees on catching fish?

Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee a catch. That is the nature of fishing.

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How do we get our fish cleaned? Do you pack for travel?

We have cleaning tables for the use of our customers. Also, there are men at the dock who offer a cleaning service. They are not employed through us, so they do charge a separate, but reasonable, price. Unfortunately, we do not pack for travel. However, we do sell ice, so customers are welcome to bring coolers to leave in their vehicles.

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