FAQS

Do I need a fishing license?

Anyone 16 years of age or older needs a valid Wisconsin fishing license. 2 day licenses are sold on board for $14 each. The 2 day license is good for both resident and non-residents and no stamp is required. If you already possess an annual Wisconsin fishing license, make sure it is endorsed with a Great Lakes Trout and Salmon stamp.

How many fish can we keep?

The limit is five fish per person (of any age), per day.  There is a minimum size limit on all species of 10 inches. When the fish are biting very good, it is not uncommon for a charter group to “limit out”. When each client has caught his or her 5 fish limit, we will pull in the lines and begin heading for the harbor. We do not stay out and fish for the “Captain’s limit”.

The weatherman says it’s going to rain, are we still going?

Yes, fishing in the rain is no problem at all. All 3 boats have sheltered areas but raingear is strongly recommended. Safety is number one and thunderstorm activity is always monitored via radar and marine weather radio.

Can we drink and/or smoke on board?

Alcohol is allowed. Cans are preferred to bottles. Smoking is allowed. Excessive drunkenness will not be tolerated. Absolutely no illegal substances.

What if the weather looks crummy?

Sometimes high waves and high winds from the wrong direction can make our trip impractical. The decision to cancel the trip is usually made the day of the trip. If we do cancel the trip, I will refund your deposit fully or reschedule for another date. Please know, the final decision to cancel a charter due to weather is ALWAYS made by the captain.

Can I trust the “internet fishing reports”?

No, check out our Facebook page for weekly reports with photos. Please know fishing conditions change daily and even hourly. Fishing can be excellent one trip and poor on the next and visa-versa.  Call or text me and I will let you know what’s been going on.

Do you fish at night?

No, we offer two trips daily. The Morning Bite usually leaves at 5 AM and our PM trip starts at noon usually.

When is the best time to catch lots of great eating fish?

Catches of really good quantities can and do happen at any time during our season. However, the months of May and June are usually the strongest for numbers of high-quality eating fish.

How many people can we have?

Coast Guard Rules allow no more than 6 passengers on Lake Michigan charter boats. Not including captain and crew. Stellar Charters LLC offers only private charters. This means it will only be your group on board. We do not mix groups or combine singles to form groups.

Do I need to bring my own fishing gear?

No, our charter boats are well stocked with the finest Lake Michigan fishing tackle.

Is there an age limit?

I don’t have an actual age limit but recommend kids 8 or older.

What time do we head out?

We try to schedule two trips per day. Our Morning Bite usually leaves the dock at 5 AM May – August, and leaves a bit later starting in September. Our PM trip usually leaves at noon. Just call or text me if you are unsure.

How far offshore do we go?

While charter fishing on Lake Michigan out of Kenosha, WI, we can usually find good fishing in the 3-5 mile range with depths of 70 – 150 feet being most common. However, sometimes the best fishing can be found right near the shore in depths as shallow as 6 feet! Other times the best bite can be 7-10 miles out in depths of 180 – 250 feet. It just depends on the day!

Who cleans the fish?

Fish are cleaned and bagged on board by the captain free of charge. If you wish to take your fish home whole, that’s fine we will bag them for you.

Are we going to catch anything?

It is always our goal to come in with a good catch. It is extremely rare to return to the dock without any fish. Keep in mind Lake Michigan is gigantic, and does have a very strong fish population. This does not mean they are always easily caught.  I can never guarantee what we will catch on a trip but I can guarantee an honest 100% effort to produce a good catch on every trip from all of our captains.

Are you going to charge us a fee to use credit cards?

No, I gladly accept Visa and MasterCard and do not charge a “convenience” fee. I do prefer to only run one card per charter though.

Will I get sea-sick?

Lake Michigan is a huge body of water, similar to an ocean. It can be flat calm some days and quite choppy on others. If you have been sea-sick before, I would recommend taking precautions before your trip. A good night’s sleep is also important before your outing.

Are you going to charge us a fuel surcharge?

Absolutely not. Our rates are set and all of our expenses have been figured into our rates. Occasionally, I may recommend upgrading your 5 hour charter to a 6 hour charter if the best bite is located unusually far from the harbor. The extra time will be necessary to effectively fish these areas.

What do all of these salmon and trout feed on?

The primary forage fish or what we call baitfish, are Alewives. They are actually a non-native fish from the Atlantic Ocean and they thrive on Lake Michigan. They are a relative to the Herring species and average 2”-7” in length.

How deep does Lake Michigan get?

922 feet maximum depth. 279 feet is the average depth.

How do I sign up?