Time to Get Creative in Your Marketing

[Squidnation]

Get creative in your marketing. If you own an offshore fishing program that has seen reduced charters in the last two years and now are staring at a nearly blank calander, look at your marketing and you will see that you are either marketing to the wrong crowd (can't afford it) or marketing alongside the rest of the fleet (lost in the masses).

Offshore fishing has never been a cheap sport but you could still round up six work buddies to kick in $250 a piece and go to OI or HI and enjoy a great day of fishing. But it ain't that way anymore and those guys are getting priced out of the market. So why keep advertising to them. Our economy sucks and the dollar is at an alltime low. So what business is booming here in the states. Foreign tourism! Man these folks are coming to the United States to gobble up our cheap goods at a record pace but I bet no more then 4 Charter boat operations in North Carolina market their services to europeans or asians.

Charter boats turn commercial in the winter and send their Giant Bluefin to Japan so rich Japanese excutives can dine on fresh Toro. These guys would kill to have a chance to catch one. Europeans travel to Brazil so they can catch amberjack on the Royal Charlotte Bank and take them back to Europe. We saw it with our own eyes. We were Blue Marlin fishing and laughing at our buddy Shawn who had 4 italians wearing banana hammocks and braid harnesses catching amberjack. Shawn said that's all these guys want. How many amberjack could you guys rack up for the foriegn tourist.

Why is international fishing so appealing to americans. Part of it is the ease. One price plus tip gets you everything. We went to Guatemala and couldn't spend money because everything was included in the price. But geeez you can't get a bottle of water from the crew on a domestic trip. Market a package deal to the foreigners and see what happens. Sure it will seem like a hell of lot of money to go tuna or amberjack fishing considering you have to put together airlines, lunch, accomodations and tranpsortation. But do you really think Costa Ricans don't think we're crazy for spending $2,500 a piece to go fishing for something we don't even eat.

You might think its a daunting task but really its not anymore difficult then finding some of the best travel agencies in other countries and offering your services in part of a package. They will put together the rest. Herb Rosell at South Fishing puts together some incredible packages for americans to travel to latin america. Why can't someone put together packages to have foreigners travel to argueably the best damn tuna fishing in the world.

Or you could go back to the Harrisburg, Timonium and Raleigh shows again next year and listen to all the guys tell you they can't afford it.

[SeaMent]

very well stated Mr. Squid Salesman, sometimes taking the bull by the horns is alot better option than sittin on you ass and waiting for him to run you over

[captkev1]

Last time we had a boat load of asians they ate all the bait, no lie

[clt_capt]

Another thing to keep in mind - Right now the dollar is weak against the Euro - Meaning it is relatively cheap for Western Europeans to travel in the US...

[Mike Boehler]

I'm not sure I can deliver this message without pissing someone off, but I'll try.

I don't know a whole lot about the way your business works down where most of the charters of this site live, but I can offer this observation of the charter businesses at my port and several others that I frequent and have gotten to know.

I would say about 50% of the charters I know are charters because they are wicked good fisherman, but wicked bad businessman. Many have gone belly up before the gas crunch and not due to anything other than the fact that they simply didn't have what it took to be self employed. Its not for everyone.

When tough times hit, the herd begins to thin. A natural process. I think the largest mistake that charters make is putting too much emphasis on fish, and not enough emphasis on making sure the client is comfortable, happy and having a good time with good accomodations for his bucks....

My brother is the exception. He would sit on a wooded box for 15 hours if that meant getting on a boat that would put him on more fish.

Me? I'll take comforts of luxury with fewer fish. I'll have more fun, and I think I am the rule.

Fisherman don't always make for the best hosts, but you need to be if your going to be successful in a tough market..

Most of the charters that are out of business here, or about to be, would certainly fail in almost any business. When times are good, you can hang a sign out and be busy no matter what.

And finally?

My #1 rule when I'm fishing with other people.

"BE KIND TO THE KIDS!" They will remember you forever and yelling at them for jumping on your boat from the dock is going to piss their father off and they will also remember you forever!..

Mike

[flatbottom]

there is no shame in downsizing your business. Smaller craft, single engine, less fuel !!!. You do not need the biggest boat in the fleet to impress charters. Since year 2000 the price of fuel has been going up rapidly. That was 8 years ago.

With all sincerity to every charter owner. I hope you all get through this rut painlessly. This economy down turn, is a stinkin mess.

[Squidnation]

Last time we had a boat load of asians they ate all the bait, no lie

I can't believe they would actually eat that stuff

[gottaflylee]

I can't believe they would actually eat that stuff

I can't believe that you would eat that stuff...

[clt_capt]

So does that ballyhoo need a chin weight to run straight whth that stick up it's A$$???

[hotshot1]

Squid has hit it hard. To be be tops in your field you have to find that edge and keep it. even in tough times the smart will stay strong. In Nj if you asked me or most likely 80 % of the fishing public to name a Charter Business I would bet anything they would say Canyon Runner they are by far the most self advertising fishing company around and likely the financially strongest. There are worlds of oppurtuniyies out there that just need to be tapped.


Also a good Idea for SFC to tap into the travel market