Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about finding Captains, contacting them, and Captain Membership.
For Customers
How do I find a Captain?
Start on Find a Captain with a service, a location, or both. You can also use Help Me Choose if you are not sure where to begin. Open a Captain profile to learn more, then use the contact options they chose to share.
Does it cost customers anything to use FindCaptains?
No. Browsing Captains and using contact options on FindCaptains is free for customers. You pay the Captain directly for their service when you hire them.
What kinds of Captains and services can I find?
Fishing charters, boat delivery, tours, instruction, and other professional Captain services represented in our catalog.
How do I contact a Captain?
Open their profile and use Contact Captain, Call, Email, Website, or an external booking link — depending on what they chose to share.
Does FindCaptains handle booking or payment?
Not in Version 1. FindCaptains helps you discover Captains and connect directly. Trip and service payments happen between you and the Captain.
Does FindCaptains verify Captain credentials?
Captains may list credentials on their profiles. FindCaptains does not independently verify licenses, certifications, or insurance. Confirm anything important to your decision directly with the Captain.
What should I confirm before hiring or booking with a Captain?
Confirm services, location, availability, credentials, pricing, and safety details directly with the Captain before you hire.
Why don't I see Captains for my search?
We may not have published Captains matching that service and area yet. Try a nearby location, a related service, or Help Me Choose for a starting point.
Can I search by city, bay, island, river or waterway?
Yes. Enter a city or waterway in the Where field on Find a Captain or Help Me Choose.
What if I don't know what kind of Captain or service I need?
Use Help Me Choose. Tell us where you need a Captain and what brings you to the water, and we will suggest experiences to explore.
For Captains
Can I build my profile for free?
Yes. Join FindCaptains and build in the Portal at no cost. Choose Membership when you are ready to publish and appear in Discovery.
When do I need a membership?
Membership is required to publish and appear in Discovery. You can prepare your profile before you join.
What does membership include?
A public Captain profile, Discovery visibility when published, services and areas, boats and photos, Captain's Log, credentials, direct contact options, and profile insights.
Does FindCaptains take a commission?
No. Version 1 membership is a flat fee for your professional presence. FindCaptains does not take a commission on trips, bookings, or customer payments.
Do I have to use online booking?
No. You choose which contact, website, and booking options to share on your profile.
How can customers contact me?
When your profile is published, customers can use the contact options you enable — such as Contact Request, phone, email, website, or an external booking link.
Can I choose which contact methods appear?
Yes. You control which contact methods appear on your public profile in the Portal.
Can I change my services and service areas later?
Yes. Update services, areas, boats, credentials, and contact options anytime in the Portal.
What happens if my membership ends?
Your public profile may leave Discovery and public contact. Your profile data stays in the Portal so you can renew and publish again later.
Can I add my boat, photos and Captain's Log before publishing?
Yes. Build and preview your profile in the Portal before you choose Membership and publish.
How does Discovery work?
Customers search by service and location. Published Captain profiles that match can appear in results so customers can evaluate and contact you.
Is FindCaptains only for fishing Captains?
No. FindCaptains supports professional Captains across fishing, delivery, tours, instruction, and other services in our catalog.