Here's some helpful information about our charter service...
Reservations and Payments
In order to book your trip, you just have to call/text or email Capt. James and let him know that you're interested in a charter! He will help you to pick and plan the perfect trip for your group.
Check out our "Options & Pricing" page for your selection of fishing experience and the corresponding cost.
A minimum $200 deposit is required in order to place your charter reservation.
We use PayPal and Venmo for all of our deposit payments.
The balance is due upon safe return to the dock after the trip.
It is customary to give a tip to your fishing guide after the charter, but it is not necessary. We appreciate the relationship much more!
Cancellations and Refunds
If you cancel your charter reservation at least 30 days in advance, you may receive a full refund of your deposit payment OR transfer the deposit to a different date.
There are no refunds if you cancel within 30 days of your charter, and we cannot transfer that deposit to a different date. However, Capt. James will do his best to work with you.
In the case of inclement weather or unsafe water conditions, the captain may have to postpone the trip on the day of the charter. If that is the case, the captain will make every effort possible to find another date that works for your group. You would not receive a refund of your deposit unless there is absolutely no way that you can reschedule the fishing trip.
If you choose to cut the trip short for whatever reason (i.e. sea sickness or cranky child), please know that we will not issue any refund. We hope you kindly understand!
What to Expect
The captain will meet you in the parking lot of the Galveston Yacht Basin, located at 715 N Holiday Dr. Galveston, TX 77550 and walk you down the docks to our boat dock. The marina's parking lot is located at the dead-end of 4th Street (a.k.a. Holiday Dr.). All of our trips are private charters, so you'll have the entire boat and the captain for yourself and your family.
You can count on the boat to be clean, fueled, and ready to go fishing! Before boarding, Capt. James will go over some safety information and also make sure that all children under 13 years old and all non-swimmers have properly put on their life jackets.
If you brought a cooler with drinks, Capt. James will transfer the contents of your cooler into the large built-in cooler on the boat. (We cannot have any loose coolers sliding around the deck.)
After a short prayer, Capt. James will drive the boat to the best fishing location depending on the fishing option that you had booked.
Capt. James will have the rods and reels ready to fish, and he will also bait the hooks and remove caught fish as needed. He is going to do his absolute best to help every angler catch a fish!
Upon arrival back at the dock, Capt. James will say a prayer of thanksgiving and then he will clean all of the fish you desired to keep.
Take any final pictures with Capt. James and the boat, and then we will part ways! You can take advantage of the amenities at the marina, and we strongly recommend the restaurant located inside the Galveston Yacht Basin property!
We hope to send everyone home with some wonderful memories of Reel Family Time!!
What to Bring
You'll need to bring your own snacks, drinks, fishing licenses (for everyone 17 and up), sunscreen, and a good attitude! Capt. James will provide all of the fishing tackle, equipment, bait, and ice necessary for the style of fishing desired.
The water we fish will be saltwater, so you'll need to buy an "all-water" or "saltwater" fishing license. (Purchase online through Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.) One-day licenses are super cheap and they will cover "all-water."
Dress for the outdoors! Please be sure to bring extra layers during the colder months due to the extreme windchill factor when we are making way in the boat. During the hotter months, you'll want to make sure everyone has a hat to wear and plenty of sunscreen. (Please put on the sunscreen and wash hands before getting on the boat... It'll kill the bait!) Modest bathing suits are also appropriate.
You may also want to bring an extra change of clothes for the kiddos.
Not allowed: Glass containers/bottles, Alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, etc.
Conservation
We encourage catch-photo-release, but Capt. James will gladly clean any legal fish you decide to keep for food. Please be sure to freeze any fillets that you don't cook the same day.
If we are blessed to catch a speckled trout or flounder that is 20 inches in length or longer, Capt. James will encourage the angler to release it immediately after photos are taken. This helps to ensure the conservation of our resource for generations to come.
We can keep up to five speckled trout per person, but that's only if you are certain that they will be consumed in a timely manner.
Fish will go bad in the freezer after about a month, but PHOTOS will last a lifetime!
Photography
You are more than welcomed to bring your own photography equipment with you. We have plenty of dry storage on the boat! Capt. James will gladly take pictures for you so you can focus on your family and the fishing! Check out our "Fishing Pics" page to see some of the beautiful memories we have captured over the years.
Capt. James uses FaceBook and this website to promote his business. He will never mention the name of any minor children that are pictured in his posts. Please let him know if you do not want any pictures of yourself and/or your child posted on social media...it won't hurt his feelings!
Kid-Friendliness
Our "Family Fun Fishing" charter option is great for people of all ages, including young children! The minimum weight is 15 pounds in order to come aboard. That is usually around 6 months old. This will ensure a good fit for our life jackets.
Our boat has a bathroom! There is a porta-potty inside of the console of the boat.
Capt. James has four young children of his own, so he's used to having his patience tested while fishing...you don't have to worry at all!
Special Needs & Accessibility
We welcome ALL persons to enjoy Reel Family Time! Please let Capt. James know if there is something he can do to help you or your child to have a better experience on the water. He will make every accommodation possible, while still ensuring the safety of all passengers. Capt. James may have some suggestions for activities to do before the trip in order to better prepare your loved one for the fishing and boating experience.
Please note that we do not yet have a wheelchair lift at the dock. We do, however, have very comfortable seating in the back of our boat and we can get help to transfer persons in-and-out of the boat as needed. We have tie-downs in the boat to secure wheelchairs as well.
Safety Equipment
Reel Family Time will provide all of the life jackets needed on the boat. You may also choose to bring your own USCG-approved life jacket. Please be sure to tell Capt. James the approximate weight of all children under 13 in order for him to have the right size life jacket ready for them.
Our boat is equipped with a fire extinguisher, whistle, flares, and a powerful VHF radio for instant communication with the Coast Guard. We also have cellular signal in most of the areas in which we will be fishing.
All children under 13 years of age must wear a life jacket while the boat is underway. We strongly recommend that all non-swimmers (regardless of age) wear a life jacket.
We are Christian
Reel Family Time is founded on Christian principles and practice. Please be aware that Capt. James will begin and end every charter with a humble prayer, invoking the name of Jesus Christ. Everything we do is for the glory of God!
Our logo contains the reference to John 21:3, where Peter says, "I am going fishing." We also keep Matthew 4:19 in mind on every trip, where Jesus says, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
We pray that your fishing experience will help you connect with your family AND with the Lord!!