If you want to catch a 10 pound plus bass then heading out on a charter boat and bouncing heavy shads off the sea bed on the drift may be your fastest route to success.

Advantages of hiring a charter boat that regularly targets bass.

1. The skipper will know where the bass should be at different states of the tide.
2. Most charter boats can take about 8 people jigging for bass so the cost can be split.
3. Charter boats can safely reach the areas that smaller boats shouldn’t go.

Potential disadvantages of hiring a charter.

1. You may end up hiring a skipper that doesn’t really know where the best bass fishing is even though he said he did when you called.  He may be more focused on cod, bream, place and other popular fish.
2. The majority of skippers don’t really understand the newer methods of jigging soft plastic lures.  When they think lure fishing they think old school redgills fished on a trace and massive balls of lead.
3. He may not really care if you catch just as long as he gets the charter fee.  A charter captain who always departs at the same everyday could be someone just going through the motions.  If he wanted you on the best bass fishing available he will recommend leaving at a time just before the tide is at its best.
4. As the best tides for bass are usually big springs you’ll need a powerful boat.  A slow boat will lose you fishing time as it struggles to make progress against the tidal flow.

Before you get your fishing buddies together and charter a boat you can do the following.

1. Check out his website for an idea on his bass fishing experience.
2. Ask the skipper about tides and departure times.
3. Find out how many knots the boat goes.  (20+ knots is what you’ll need)
4. Get him to tell you what methods work.
5. Ask what he thinks about jigging.
6. If the captain sounds right book an individual place on a bass drifting trip.  You’ll be with live bait fishermen so will have to stop and catch bait but that can be fun anyway.
7. Don’t book a charter based on price.  If one captain is charging £400 for boat and another £650 find out why.  Most likely the £650 trip will be heading off the best offshore bass marks and will be using lots of fuel to get there.

Once you found a good charter for lure fishing for bass you should do the following to get the best of the captain.

1. Build a relationship by paying on time, not cancelling trips and being friendly.
2. Keep asking him for info on the best tides and dates.
3. Clean the deck on the way back to harbour.
4. Have a laugh and include him in your group.

Remember don’t get stuck in your ways, always try a few new charter boats each year.  You may be missing out on a chance to catch a 20 pounder.