Catch Your Own Commercial Deep Sea Fishing

Catch-Your-Own commercial Texas deep sea fishing is a unique opportunity for you and your crew to come aboard our commercial boat and fish as commercial fishers for the day.  Your crew will board at Bridge Harbor Marina (Yacht Club) and will head into the Gulf of Mexico to catch your prearranged catch to order seafood.  Your crew will fish for any species that our boat is licensed to catch and retain including your base order of red snapper as well as  cobia, king mackerel, vermilion snapper, grouper, amber jack, shark, mahi mahi, wahoo and other fishes.   The Captain has complete control of the trip and will select the fishing strategies that provide the greatest probability of filling all orders for that day.  You and your crew will do most of the actual fishing with the Captain performing duties such as documenting the catch and handling the boat. Initially the boat will target your catch to order and at your option, you and your crew will fish with rod and reel and single hook until your order is filled.  Then the boat will target any other orders on board and the Captain will determine gear selection.  This trip is best suited for experience offshore fishers that are familiar with and have proven to themselves that they can manage the challenges of deep sea fishing.  

Commercial trips return to port on a predetermined schedule unless an emergency arises or conditions become unsafe.  Sea sickness is not an emergency.  Unlike deep sea fishing charters, This is pure commercial fishing and the catch belongs to the boat for delivery to the dealer where your catch to order can be filled with your final payment.  Located in Clute

The simple answer to this question is No.  Simply put on a commercial trip you and your group are crew while on a charter trip your group go aboard as customers and passengers. Our commercial trips are run by Texas Deep Sea Fishing Charter and you may contact them to learn more about how the commercial trips are operated.   However, at any given time it may be difficult to distinguish between commercial fishing  and recreational/charter fishing.   Particularly when your crew is screaming with excitement, high 5ing everyone on deck and having the best day fishing ever.   Commercial fishing frequently includes the same tackle and techniques as charter fishing and by way of your crew's catch to order, you and your crew determine the initial species to be targeted.  Your commercial trip may include many of the comforts and pleasures of charter/recreation fishing such as bean bag rides and photographing .  However, the similarities between commercial catch your own and charter fishing become far less determinable after that.  On commercial trips you do not tip your Captain or other crew;  your catch is delivered as whole, fresh caught fish but may be processed at an additional fee;  return landing times are predetermined and Federally regulated and not at the crew's whim, and certain members of your crew will have specific duties, such as offloading, that can be physically demanding.  And, most importantly, on every catch your own commercial trip, the catch belongs to the boat for delivery to the dealer.  You may finalize your purchase after offload.  

Relax, as crew members you are not responsible for the boat's compliance with Texas state or Federal regulations.  As a matter of fact, crew members are not required to have a fishing license.  Your Captain and the boat are fully licensed for any species that will be included in your catch to order or that may be retained on any commercial trip.  We ran our first Catch Your Own Commercial trip in 2005. Since that time commercial fishing has become a much more highly regulated business and we feel these regulations are directly responsible for the huge rebound in the red snapper and other Gulf of Mexico fisheries. We support and abide by all regulations including seasons and season closures, quotas, reporting and any regulatory oversight at any point during any of our commercial trips. We look forward to sharing our skills and knowledge as commercial fisherman and the sometimes-complex regulations that maintain a sustainable fishery for all of us.  Let me repeat, as crew members, you and your crew are not responsible for nor are you required to know and understand commercial fishing regulations.  Your Captain and the Dealer are educated on the many, and sometimes complicated regulations involved with commercial fishing.  Your Catch Your Own trip will be run and operated in compliance with all of the Texas State and Federal regulations and the Captain and dealer bear full responsibility for knowing, understanding and performing in complying  with these rules and regulations.   

• What do I need to bring or furnish?  You bring only your food and drinks for the day.  All tackle, bait , ice and other gear is provided by the boat and dealer
• Will I have to process my own catch?  No, processing including filleting, is available at an additional cost
• May I bring my tackle?  No.  Unlike charter trips, crew are not allowed to bring tackle or equipment
• What if we catch more or less than my catch to order?  If we land a larger catch than your order (and frequently we will) you are only locked to your order.  If the boat lands excess catch, you may increase your order if you wish.  If the catch landed is less than your order, you are locked into the order price regardless of the size of the catch.
•  Is the fishing schedule flexible?  No.  On commercial trips Federal regulations and the boats targeted catch (including your crews order)  dictate a predetermined landing time - normally 4:30 pm.
• Can we pick our own crew?  Yes, subject to crew size and capabilities.  Your crew must include at least 2 members that can perform the offload duties.
•  Will my crew receive assistance and instructions on the trip?  Yes.  Your Captain has the knowledge and experience to assist and provide instructions.
• Will there be other crew members not related to our crew?  Usually not.  Depending on the size of your crew and the demands on your commercial trip, you may choose a "no other crew" trip.  We do offer mixed trips for 1 or 2 person crews

There is a very good chance that you and your crew are going to have the best day of fishing ever while filling your freezer with the freshest. tastiest Gulf of Mexico seafood you ever set down to.   You will be fishing under the direction of a professional Captain that has many years of experience in both Charter boat and commercial fishing in the area.  Come prepared to catch a heck of a lot of fish and learn a lot about commercial fishing.  Once your catch to order has been placed with us, we will provide a order summary describing the details of your order including targeted species, pounds targeted, special terms regarding size or other details and any related surcharge, deposit received and balance due.  All deposits are refundable or partially refundable depending on the size of the catch.  Your order will lock your price into a volume price that will apply regardless of the size of your catch.   In addition to your order, commercial trips frequently include one or more other orders for the dealer.   However, if your order includes the "No other crew" provision, your crew will be the only crew on board.  The no other crew provision is negotiated between the Dealer and you when you place your order and pay the deposit.  The Dealer will consider your crews order, the size of your proposed crew and any other demands on that particular commercial trip in agreeing to your no other crew request.  Your order will also include trip details such as date, time of departure and return, as well as suggestions to make the trip comfortable and successful.  Meet your Captain 20 minutes before the plan departure and load/board to depart on time.  Your crew will include at least 2 individuals that are responsible for the offloading of the catch.  Off loading will be supervised by the Captain and dealer.  You will have an opportunity to photograph the catch and, for an additional cost, your catch can be processed, packaged and iced in your cooler(s).

Catch Your Own commercial fishing is easy at GOM Fresh Seafood.  Simply give us a call at 281 384 8037 or email orders@GOMFreshSeafood to learn more and get your order started.  Your order will include a specified quantity of red snapper at fresher than restaurant prices.  See our prices page for current Catch Your Own prices.   Then you may add any quantity of other other fish species that you wish to order and catch.  The primary species, red snapper, as well as other snapper, grouper, amber jack, cobia, king mackerel, shark, mahi mahi and other fishes that our boat is licensed to catch and retain.  Depending on the season, duration of the trip, your proposed crew size and recent catch success, the dealer will direct you toward an order with a probability of success.  You may request a No Other Crew trip which will limit the crew to your crew only and requires the Dealer's approval.  You may also request special terms such as fish size which, with the Dealer's approval, will be included in your order and may require a surcharge.  A date as well as departure and landing time will be agreed by parties.  The Dealer will price your order and submit for your approval.  Once your order is approved by signature and returned with your deposit, your trip is scheduled.  NOTE:  Your order acceptance must be returned along with your crew ID sheet and at least 2 crew members must be identified as capable of performing the offloading.  Off loading includes lifting and handling tubs that weight up to 50 pounds as well as ice bags that weigh 20 lbs.  The crew assigned to offloading should provide gloves to protect from the gill, spine and other hazards of handling fin fish.  The crew ID sheet will also identify your crew leader, usually the individual that places the order.  All official communication and agreements between Captain, Dealer and crew will be performed with the Crew leader.