West Michigan charter captains see slow 2008
Pete Daly

High gasoline prices and a shaky economy may have put a double whammy on the charter fishing industry on Lake Michigan in 2008. Indications are that fewer customers were able to ante up for a day on the big lake; at the same time, it cost the charter captains more just to leave the dock.

The skippers of two boats operating out of Chinook Pier in Grand Haven each reported that the number of charters they took out this year was down about 10 percent compared to previous years, while Dick Stafford, the past president of the Michigan Charter Boat Association, guessed that the decline overall in Michigan was higher than that.

"Overall, I would say the business is down at least 30 to 40 percent," said Stafford, who runs a charter boat on northern Lake Michigan near Escanaba.

Tom Vanderwest is the owner and captain of Woods & Waters, a 31.5-foot Chris-Craft that operates from Chinook Pier. This was Vanderwest's 25th year in the charter business, and it was down from previous years.

"We survived pretty good," he said, but "some of the guys were down 40, 50 percent. We were down 10 percent, which is pretty good compared to a lot of the other guys."

Vanderwest said the economy is the main reason, but added that the weather was not the best either. He said there were quite a few cancellations in May and June because of the weather.

"We don't go when it's rough. Some guys go regardless: They've got boat payments. I don't have boat payments so I don't have to go."

Like agriculture, good weather is essential for consistently good business in the charter fishing industry.

"If you take a first-time customer and get them seasick, you'll never see them again," said Vanderwest. "You're better off to reschedule if you can."

Vanderwest offered his prediction for the charter business next year.

"I would think it would be down, because the economy is still getting worse and worse. Let's face it: $400 to $500 is a lot of money for one day's vacation — especially a family.

"One thing that really hurt us this year was the price of fuel at the gas dock. Fortunately, that's gone down — but next spring's a different season."

He said the average price of gasoline in the marinas this year was about $4.25 to $4.50.

Gasoline used by charter boats is "the same thing you're getting on the street. The only thing is, whatever the street (price) is, you can almost figure 40 to 50 cents higher at the marina," said Vanderwest.

Fuel is a major cost factor on each charter trip.

"Boats only get about anywhere from a half mile to maybe a mile and a half per gallon," said Vanderwest.

Dan Tebo, who operates the D'Ann Marie from Chinook Pier, also guessed that his total number of trips was down by about 10 percent because of the economy.

"We are a luxury item, you know," he said. Tebo has been a charter captain for 22 years.

The high price of fuel hurts the charter operators and also hurts the customers driving to the boat dock, he said.

Tebo estimated that between 20 percent and 30 percent of his business is from businesses taking out groups of customers, clients or employees. He said he is still getting business from companies but he has seen a change. Some large companies or business groups used to charter two or three boats at a time, all going out together for a day of fishing on Lake Michigan.

"Now they end up taking one (boat) out," said Tebo.

"We are still working with (businesses), but they have cut back, too. Almost everybody is saying they have to cut back. And, of course, entertainment is one of the places they cut back," he said.

Donna Wesander is an employee of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in Charlevoix. She compiles the year-end report on charter fishing on the Great Lakes, originating in Michigan ports.

While emphasizing that it is "preliminary" to make a conclusive statement about how good or bad the year was for the charter fishing industry in Michigan, she did say she has received some conflicting reports.

"Some captains have commented to me that they are definitely down this year," she said, but added that some captains "were up a little bit, as far as the number of trips and number of customers they had this year." Ports in southwest Michigan seemed to be reporting a better season than other parts of the state.

She did note that those who reported a decline in business said that "it was due to the weather in the beginning of the (season) — a lot of wind and cold weather. And some of it, they believe, was the economy and gas prices."

But then, there were some captains who told Wesander they were "equal with where they were in 2007." The reports vary, depending on where in the state they are coming from, she said.