About Us & FAQs

ShoreCaptain is a simple online platform where anglers can browse and book private fishing spots and guided shore fishing charters—all at a fraction of the cost of a traditional boat charter .Shore Fishing Guides and Private Fishing Spot Owners (Spot Hosts) can both use ShoreCaptain to advertise their services, set up hourly calendar availability, accept bookings, receive payments, and collect reviews. Whether you’re an experienced guide, a new guide just starting out, or a property owner offering shoreline access, ShoreCaptain gives you the tools to grow your business and connect with anglers.Best of all, ShoreCaptain does not charge Guides or Spot Hosts any platform fees—only a small Stripe payment processing fee applies.

A shore fishing guide is a professional who assists and educates individuals or groups in fishing from the shore, rather than from a boat. These guides typically have extensive local knowledge of fishing techniques, the best fishing spots, tides, and the types of fish that can be caught from the shoreline. Shore fishing guides cater to those who want to enjoy fishing without requiring access to a boat, making the activity more accessible and cost-effective.

• An amazing can do and happy attitude

• The best times and places to fish from shore

• The best bait and lures for the fish

• Teaching casting, retrieval, and other techniques.

• Explaining regulations, such as size and catch limits.

• Offering safety tips and environmental stewardship advice.

• Customizing the experience for various skill levels, from beginners to seasoned anglers.

• All the fishing rods and equipment

• Assistance with fishing during the charter

• Cleaning and packaging of the customers legal fish

• Videos and pictures of the trip

Our team at ShoreCaptain speaks with every new fishing spot owner and new guide to ensure they have the best attitude, fishing spots and equipment to provide an unforgettable experience for every customer.

If you are not already a Shore Fishing Guide it is easy to get set up and to start booking trips on  ShoreCaptain. Simply make sure you have the proper licensure with your State, meet all the requirements for gear and catching fish, sign up your business on ShoreCaptain.com, get approved, go fishing and get paid. Usually this  process takes about 72 hours depending on how much you put into building your business.  If you are already a ShoreFishing Guide business, complete your ShoreCaptain.com profile and  list some Trips, you can get going in less than 48 hours.  

Building a Marketplace Takes Time—But It’s Worth It!

As a new shore fishing guide or new to listing your private fishing spot joining a marketplace, it’s important to understand that growth doesn’t happen overnight. Here’s why it takes time and how you can set yourself up for success:

• Customers Need Time to Discover the Platform

  • A marketplace starts smaA marketplace starts small, and it takes time to attract anglers looking for shore fishing experiences.ll, and it takes time to attract anglers looking for shorefishing experiences.

  • As more customers find and book through the platform, demand will grow steadily.

  • ShoreCaptain actively follows where Guides and Owners are joining the platform and actively markets to the fishing enthusiasts in that market.

• Reviews & Reputation Matter

  • Each successful trip builds your reputation

  • Positive reviews help build trust and make future customers more likely to book you.

• Marketing & Awareness Take Effort

  • ShoreCaptain will be spending time, energy and money on promoting owners and guides, but word-of-mouth, social media, and local outreach also play a role.

  • The more exposure the marketplace gets, the more bookings will come in.

• Competition is Normal—But Early Adopters Win

  • When a new marketplace launches, guides who join early have an advantage.

  • Being one of the first helps establish your presence before more guides sign up.

  • When a new marketplace launches, guides and owners who join early have an advantage. Being one of the first helps establish your presence before more guides sign up.

• Patience Pays Off

  • Like any business, success comes with consistency.

  • Engaging with customers, having a great attitude, sharing photos, and providing great experiences will help you grow over time.

Earnings depend on your location, booking frequency, and the quality of the experience you provide. Shore fishing guides often charge less than local boat charters since trips are shorter, do not require travel on the water, boat maintenance/licensure etc. Private fishing spot owners can increase income by offering gear, bait, and other amenities that create a higher-quality trip. In both cases, anglers are willing to pay more for consistent catches, knowledgeable hosts, and access to prime fishing. Success comes from providing a memorable experience, building strong reviews, and being available during peak seasons.

Guide’s and fishing spot owners are not charged a fee to use ShoreCaptain. Instead, guests are charged a platform fee of  15% per booking. Please adjust your prices accordingly.  

ShoreCaptain has teamed up with the third party payment processing company Stripe. You can learn more about them here https://www.stripe.com

Florida and most Gulf and Atlantic coastal states (including Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi,  and Texas) do not require a special license to guide fishing trips from shore—only a regular  fishing license is needed. However, Maine, California, and Pennsylvania do require shore  guides to be state-licensed. Maine requires a Registered Maine Guide with a Tidewater  specialty, California mandates a CDFW Guide License, and Pennsylvania issues a Fishing Guide  Permit with insurance requirements. Always verify local state rules, as regulations can vary.

• Alabama

• Alaska

• Arizona

• Arkansas

• California

• Colorado

• Connecticut

• Delaware

• Florida

• Georgia

• Hawaii

• Idaho

• Illinois

• Indiana

• Iowa

• Kansas

• Kentucky

• Louisiana

• Maine

• Montana

• Nebraska

• Nevada

• New Hampshire

• New Jersey

• New Mexico

• New York

• North Carolina

• North Dakota

• Ohio

• Oklahoma

• Oregon

• Maryland

• Massachusetts

• Michigan

• Minnesota

• Mississippi

• Missouri

• Pennsylvania

• Rhode Island

• South Carolina

• South Dakota

• Tennessee

• Texas

• Utah

• Vermont

• Virginia

• Washington

• West Virginia

• Wisconsin

You are a Proven Shore Fishing Expert with a great attitude.

• Provide a picture of you and and a brief bio of you and your fishing experience.

• Provide pictures of you catching fish from your favorite shore fishing spots where you will take  guests.

• Provide a brief explanation of your fishing spots, techniques, fish you catch and more

• Provide pictures of the fishing gear you provide and explanation

• Gear should be as follows:

  • A nice cart/pack to carry all your supplies and gear

  • Rod and reel combo’s fitted properly for the fishing trip you bring a guest on - one combo  per guest with two additional spares at all times. (i.e. 4 Guests = Guide needs 6 rod and  reel combo’s)  
    

  • Gear will vary depending on the type of fishing (i.e. fly fishing, bow fishing, bottom  fishing)  

  • Guide should have all the appropriate lures and bait available to guests

  • Water and Snacks for guests

• Fishing License and/or Guide License, business license, liability insurance - please check with  each State Guidelines
  

Insurance is not legally required in most states, but it is highly  recommended to protect yourself and your clients. Some states, like Pennsylvania, do require  liability insurance as part of their guide permitting process. Even where it’s not mandated, having  general liability coverage can protect you from claims related to injuries, accidents, or property  damage during a trip. Many guides also choose additional coverage for equipment or business interruption. ShoreCaptain strongly encourages all guides and owners to carry appropriate insurance  for peace of mind and professionalism. 

After your trip if confirmed the guide or fishing spot owner you have chosen will reach out to you directly. If you need  to reach them directly their contact information will be part of your confirmation email where  you can review your trip and reach out if you have any special preferences or questions. Should  you want to contact a Guide or fishing spot owner prior to booking a trip our in-app messaging is available.  

When booking your trip you will be informed of the exact location the trip will be. We will also provide this information in your confirmation email. You are always welcome to reach out to your guide or fishing spot owner with additional questions. And as always your team at ShoreCaptain is available to answer questions.

Please check with the guide or fishing spot owner for their preference, local ordinances and use of alcohol and marijuana in public spaces.

The guide or fishing spot owner will have the number of people that can be on a trip with them on their profile. You will have to select the total number of people that will be on your trip. Typical is 2 to 4 people.

Depends on the fishing spot owner, guide, where the guide is taking you, and of course the animal. Check the description of the guide or fishing spot to see if animals are allowed. Service dogs of course are welcome. Proof required!

In many cases, yes—you can keep your catch, as long as it complies with local fishing  regulations. Each state has its own rules about which species can be kept, size and bag limits, and  seasonal restrictions. Your guide or fishing spot owner will explain what's legal and ethical to keep in your location.  Always check local fishing rules and follow the guidance of your professional guide or fishing spot owner to ensure  you're fishing responsibly and within the law.

If the guide or fishing spot owner provides you with a great experience then a 20% cash tip is
suggested.

Log in, go to booking and click cancel booking or work with us and your guide or fishing spot owner to reschedule your trip for a time that works better. Contact us!

The Referral Program rewards ShoreCaptain guests and guides for introducing new guides or
fishing spot owners to the platform. When your referral’s first two trips are booked, you’ll earn
the commission ShoreCaptain would normally receive.

Both guests and guides on the ShoreCaptain platform can refer new guides or fishing spot
owners.

You’ll earn ShoreCaptain’s commission (typically 15%) from the first two trips booked by your
referral.
For example:

• If your referral books a trip for $250, the ShoreCaptain commission would normally be
  $37.50. That entire amount goes to you.

• If they book two trips at $250 each, you’d receive $75 total.

• Share your unique referral link (found in your ShoreCaptain account).

• Your referral must sign up through your link and complete their account setup.

• Once their first two trips are booked and completed, you’ll automatically earn the
  commission.

Referral rewards are added to your ShoreCaptain account balance once the referral’s trips are
completed. Payouts follow our standard payment schedule.

Nope! You can refer as many guides or fishing spot owners as you’d like. Each successful
referral earns you the ShoreCaptain commission from their first two completed trips.

A successful referral is when:

• The person you refer signs up through your referral link,

• They set up their profile as a guide or fishing spot owner,

• And they complete at least one booked trip through ShoreCaptain.

Simply create a listing with photos, a description of your property, availability during prime  fishing times and details such as available fish species, amenities, and access rules. Guests can  then book your spot directly through the platform.

It’s optional, but offering gear, bait, or added comforts (like shade, seating, or restrooms) can  increase your earnings and improve the guest experience.

Guests are responsible for having the proper fishing licenses or permits required in your area.  ShoreCaptain provides reminders during booking, but we recommend clearly stating any  requirements in your listing.

Private Fishing Spot Owners (Spot Hosts) should maintain safe conditions and clearly outline  rules for guests, signs are suggested for safety. However, all guests must agree to ShoreCaptain’s  Terms of Use and Hold Harmless Policies, which helps protect property owners. For added  protection, you may also want to carry liability insurance.

Yes. You control your availability down to the hour and can update your calendar at any time.

Clear photos, honest descriptions, providing specific availability during prime fishing times and  highlighting features like honey hole, easy access, or included gear will help your spot stand out.