I think it is good , but seems like all businees makes it out to be great and than the cost will go up after everyone finds out. can you put out there how long you tend to keep the cost low and to help the average get off shore.. not saying you have a nice isea or anything..

Freshwater partyboat actually sounds like a great idea. No guarantee of fish is ok too at that price. You're still a guide though ... just a 'no-frills' boat driver guide, which is fine for what you describe.

BUT - if your attorney is any good, he'll pick up real fast on that fact that a guide on Texoma MUST have a USCG license.

Best of luck to you!

ALRIGHT, WE ARE IN!!!!

We realy want to keep that "party boat" attitude out of the equation for sure. I guess when I say we're not a "GUIDE SERVICE" that would still be a true statement based on our own guidlines and objectives. The word "GUIDE" seems to be causing a stir here. My apologies.

Chads....your first trip is on us!

I also recall on tawokoni had something similar to this.... it was kind of like a fishing party boat... they would take us for 4 hours and fish... i think we paid $25 a peice.... its been years ago... had a great time also! caught alot of fish as well.... these guys werent guides either

There we go....now the lightbulb is BRIGHT!!!!!!!!!

20lb, calling your idea a 'partyboat' is not disparaging at all. You're describing an open party trip, where the price is per person, rather than hiring out the whole boat for oneself. Partyboat fishing can be loads of fun!

Everybody knows you have to have a USCG licence to operate on Texoma. Good luck with that drug test.

Hope your business works out for you man. Sounds like a good deal for guys wanting to get off the bank, without breaking the bank. You can't please'em alll.

That's what I would do. I would also go out with all the guides and secretly mark their spots on a GPS and then write off the guide fee at the end of the year as a business expense. LOL.

sounds like a great idea to me, once the proper licensing and safety issues are resolved
party boat fishing can be a load of fun
we took a trip a few years back on Ivie with a "guide" who had a similar setup- it was pretty much just like renting a boat and driver- caught a lot of fish and had a lot of fun and did not pay anywhere near the going guide prices

The term "boat driver" comes to mind.

If you build it they will come sounds like a solid marketing plan to me.

I have several contacts in Nigeria that can help you get this puppy to fly.

What color of filet knife will you use?

Now, now, weren't you paying attention? The customers have to fillet their OWN fish, so the knife is whatever color you bring!

20lb -

I sincerely hope this venture works for you. The party boat concept has worked on saltwater, so I don't know why it wouldn't work on freshwater (especially since you are operating close to the 4th largest metropolitan area in the country).

You've identified a target market that is underserved. Apparently, you also feel as if that target market is large enough to sustain a successful business.

Let me offer you a thought that is just my opinion. There are a lot of really accomplished guides on this forum that serve an entirely different market. I know you are using this forum to target the people who don't have a boat, can't afford a real guide, etc, but I think you might be underestimating how much your target market respects the thoughts of the real guides. When advertising through a channel that allows people to negatively comment on your business, you run the risk of creating a negative network effect that can tarnish your reputation before you get started.

lol.