What does it take to make it in the angling business?
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Captain Jimmy Samia has operated Ace Charters on Lake Ontario and on the Hudson River for the past 27 years. It sounds basic, but he said that it’s essential to love fishing — “which I do,” he said. “I think making people happy and helping them catch some fish when you go out is the key.”
His tour targets striped bass on the Hudson and brown trout, trout and salmon on Lake Ontario.
At Broad Horizons Guide and Charter Service in Oswego, owner Andy Grisenthwaite said that in addition to keeping people happy by helping them catch fish, “you’ve got to be an entertainer to an extent.”
His stories and lively conversation help build a relationship with clients. Fishing with a friend is always more fun than someone who makes it feel more like a business transaction. Grisenthwaite has operated his charter since 2010 and specializes in salmon and trout.
“I try to provide them with a good experience, a well-rounded experience, not just the fish,” he added. “It’s the experience of being on the boat on the lake. It’s basically vacation travel. Lake Ontario provides a destination you can’t reach unless you go to the West Coast or Lake Michigan.”
In addition to plenty of fish and trying to build friendship with clients, Captain Dave Wilson, owner of the eponymous charter business in Oswego, works to get current clients to rebook.
“I have in the past reached out during the year and ask them when they’re leaving if they’re interested in the same day next year,” he said. “Nine times out of 10, they do.”
He also asks them on the tour when they’d like to book again. Some of his customers tour six or seven times a year. Wilson has operated his business for 21 years.
“We do this because it’s a way of life,” Wilson said. “It’s a passion, beyond fishing.”
Brent Perkins, owner of BP Adventures, advertising his Oswego-based charter business on social media has helped the 29-year-old business grow. His girlfriend, Tina Morcombe, manages his marketing.
“What grabs people is good reviews and photos,” Morcombe said. “Most people I talk with who come out fishing say that they found us through researching online and looking at the reviews to compare us with other charters. Word-of-mouth advertising also matters.”
The couple also advertises at Wade’s Diner in Oswego and has posted handbills around the city. It’s these kinds of administrative and marketing efforts that make BP Adventures thrive, said Morcombe.
“It’s something you’ve got to want,” Perkins said of the charter business. “You’ve got to want to do the business to make this successful.”
BP Adventures draws many repeat customers, mostly from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Pennsylvania.
“We’re very successful at catching fish,” Perkins said. “We have all the upgraded electronics for fishing, like water temperature sensors, fish finding and autopilot.”
Over the winter, Perkins emails and calls customers, depending upon how they first contacted him. He uses the app FishingBooker to keep the business organized and to make it easier for clients to connect with him.
