Hkdollarboy

We will be traveling to cape Cod with four kids. they are 15, 14, 13 and 9. We want to do some fishing. Is it safe to charter a boat with young kids? Seasickness? I also heard that there are companies that operates a fishing tour in a big boat. Do I need to book ahead? Thanks.

RoamsAround

There are scores, if not hundreds, of fishing boats available on Cape Cod. You basically have two types:

1) Private charters which take up to 4 or 6 people (depending on size of boat) for 1/2 day or full day trips. These boats normally do "trolling" for game fish but on occasion also do "bottom fishing". Normally you book these trips a day or two in advance. You can expect to pay anywhere from $600 for a 4 hour trip up to $1,200 for a full day's trip.

2) "Party boats" which take between 20 and 60 people (again depending on size of boat). these boats go off shore to do what is known as bottom fishing. These are usually half day trip(4 hour) but some go for the full day. Prices range start at about $30 PP for the half day trip. It's not usually necessary to pre-book if you want to go on a party boat.

Regardless of which type of trip you choose prices include all the necessary equipment and bait. You can find private fishing charters and party boats in just about every waterfront town on the island.

Google "Fishing charters, Cape Cod" and "Part boat fishing, Cape Cod" for lots of links.

Ackislander

There is a company in Hyannis that does both. I don't know their name, but I saw their big boat from the Nantucket ferry on Friday. The big boats are called party boats and take out 40-50 people at a time, fairly cheaply. A friend who operates the other kind of charter fishing boat (but on Nantucket ) says the party boat fishermen generally get their limit.

You could google "party boat" "charter fishing" and Hyannis and look for the intersection. I am sure the same thing exists in places like Harwich and Chatham. Private charters (up to 8) are more expensive, shorter, and may, may, be more prone to sickness. Charter boat captains are, IMO, more committed to game fishing and catch and release.

Ackislander

I was a minute too late, but we sure do agree!

RoamsAround

Let me address seasickness - That will be totally dependent upon the individual's tolerance to "motion" and the state of the seas the day you go fishing. I've been deep sea fishing well of 50 times and gone boating in the ocean hundreds of times and have never gotten seasick no matter what the sea conditions have been. On the other hand I have a very good friend who gets queasy just thinking about being on a boat. Everyone is different. If you are prone to motion sickness but are still determined to go fishing ask your doctor for advice on medication you can take to relieve or ease the symptoms.

As Ackuslander said, a person may be more prone to getting seasick on a charter boat because it is constantly moving vs. a party boat which spends a portion of the trip either at anchor or just drifting, however, even the party boat will be moving across the water getting to/from the fishing grounds.

RoamsAround

Oh, and YES there's nothing to stop you from bringing your children on either a private charter or a part boat. I did it often when my boys were even younger than yours.

Hkdollarboy

Thanks.

zootsi

Of course you can also fish without going on a boat. There is some great fishing in the Cape Cod Canal (as well as a nice bike path), from the docks at many harbors, and along the surf at beaches like Herring Cove.

clarkgriswold

Also Cape Cod has over 300 lakes and ponds, many of them stocked for fishing.