Clothing
Here in Key West, we experience relatively mild weather patterns. Clothing in the spring and summer months usually consists of shorts, light shirt, hat, sunscreen and sunglasses. In the fall and winter months, long-sleeved shirt, pants, a light jacket and hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Our Florida Keys weather is usually sunny and warm, but because of our tropical location, it is possible to experience a brief rain shower from time to time. It is advised that you check the local weather before your trip and plan accordingly. It is recommended that you bring a light rain jacket in the spring and summer months if rain is in the forecast.

Fishing Trip Times and Lengths
All trips leave the dock at 8:00am, unless an earlier or later take off is arranged ahead of time. The ½ day trips are 4 hours, the 5/8 trips are 5 hours, the ¾ day trips are 6 hours, the full day trips are 8 hours and the extended day trips are 10 hours, dock to dock.

Reconfirming your trip and arriving at the dock
Please call your captain at the number listed on your confirmation letter, after 5:00pm the evening before your trip. You should arrive at the dock about 10 minutes before your scheduled take off time. This gives us a chance to ice down your drinks and gather any last minute items.

Fishing Instruction/Necessary experience
All of our guides are experts in teaching you the 'feel of the bite'. You do not need to be a pro to hook and land nice quality fish. Many of our anglers have never fished in saltwater before and many have never even fished before. Our guides will teach you how to operate the rods and reels and show you how and what to feel for when the fish takes your bait. Whether you prefer fly, spinning or conventional gear, our guides are experts in instructional teaching, very patient and will have you catching fish in no time.

Mounting your Trophy
Here at Key West Pro Guides we use some of the best replica mounting agent in the world, Grays Taxidermy. Take the memory home with you with a stunning replica mount and brag to all of your friends and family for years on end. Please let us know if you would like to mount a fish and we'll take care of everything. Remember, all billfish are release mounts only.

Captain Gratuities
It is often asked how much of a gratuity is considered customary to tip your captain for great service. The answer is similar to a restaurant gratuity, 15-20% of the trip.

Keeping your catch
Here at Key West Pro Guides, we practice catch and release on many of our species. For the fish that are considered good eating, you are certainly more than welcome to take your legal limit of fish home with you.

Payment for your trip
To settle the balance of your trip after a great day on the water, we accept; CASH, personal & travelers checks and last but not least, Visa or MasterCard. If using a credit card, you must present the card in person after the trip for settlement. We cannot use the credit card information used to reserve your charter for final payment, without that card being present. Credit card transactions will be subject to a 3% convenience fee. This fee helps to recouping costs incurred with processing credit card transactions. All checks must be drawn on a U.S. bank

Deposits
Key West Pro Guides operates year round with a group of professional full time fishing guides. When scheduling a fishing trip with one of us, we ask that you please try to avoid rescheduling or canceling your fishing trip as this creates booking and scheduling conflicts within the guide service. Below is our deposit and cancellation policy. This policy reflects the rights of Key West Pro Guides and applies to all of our fishing trips.

A 20% deposit is required for all fishing trips. We accept both checks and credit cards. If sending a check, please make it payable to: Key West Pro Guides, G31 Miriam St., Key West, FL. 33040

If you wish to pay your deposit with a credit card, we accept American Express, Visa or MasterCard. A deposit of 20% will be applied at the time of your booking reservation. This deposit reserves your guide for a specified trip length on a particular day. A confirmation will then be faxed, emailed or mailed to you confirming your trip with Key West Pro Guides. The remaining balance will be due in full at the end of your trip. All credit card deposits appear as TailChaser Charters Inc., Key West on your credit card statement.

Cancellation/Refund of Deposit policy
Deposits are only refunded if the captain cancels the trip. If the captain cancels the trip you will be given a cancellation number, this number can only be issued by Key West Pro Guides and is unique to your reservation. There is no refund if you cancel your trip less than 15 days before the scheduled trip date or in the case of a 'no-show'. If you must cancel within 15 days prior to your trip and we can book another trip for that day, we will refund your deposit to you.

If for any reason you cancel within 48 hours of your trip, Key West Pro Guides reserves the right to charge 50% of the trip rate, less your deposit, to help cover cost incurred in preparing for your trip and to compensate the captain for his loss of opportunity. This 48 hour cancellation fee will be charged to the credit card presented to pay your deposit when you reserved your trip and appear as TailChaser Charters, Inc.. Credit card deposits that are refunded are subject to a 5% handling fee. This fee helps to recouping costs incurred with processing credit card transactions.

Seasickness Policy
If your charter wants to return early because of seasickness, you will be responsible for full payment of your charter, regardless of length of time spent on the water or remaining on the charter. There will be no refund of the charter deposit due to a trip being terminated early due to seasickness.

We do not want this to happen to you, so take precautions! If you are planning an inshore trip, seasickness is very unlikely to be a problem. However, if you are going offshore, you should definitely consider some form of medication and/or wrist band to help prevent seasickness. This is your day, the evening before, take it easy! Key West is known for being a party town. Save the celebration for the night after your charter. Avoid excessive drinking and staying up to late, we see this as the #1 cause of seasickness.

Inclement Weather Policy
Your captain reserves the right to cancel or delay the start of your trip if there is inclement weather that may be considered dangerous or unsafe. If the winds at Sand Key, sanf1, are more than 20knots sustained on the day of your charter or there are numerous showers, you may cancel your trip and receive a full refund. If your trip is cancelled, either by you or your captain due to inclement weather, you must have a cancellation number in order to receive a full refund. This number can only be issued by Key West Pro Guides and is unique to your reservation.

Scheduling Conflicts
In the rare case that the guide and/or boat you have been scheduled with is unable or unavailable to run your trip, Key west Pro Guides reserves the right to assign a similar boat and/or Captain to run your charter. If this is the case, you will be notified as soon as possible via e-mail or the contact number provided by you to inform you of the change. We make every possible effort to make sure this doesn't happen and rest assured that whomever you are rescheduled with is a member of the Pro Guides and an outstanding captain.

Personal Items liability
Baggage, personal items and personal equipment are the sole responsibility of their owners at all times. Boats are inherently wet; items that you wish to keep from getting wet should be placed in a dry storage bag or container. We highly recommend not bringing any unnecessary items. Key West Pro Guides and its affiliates shall not be liable or responsible for any loss, expense, damage, or inconvenience which results directly or indirectly from any act or failure to act whether negligent or otherwise relating to any activity offered by Key West Pro Guides and its affiliates.

Additional Trip Information:

• All rates quoted are for your group and your captain.
• All trips are private charter. Sorry, we do not offer split or shared trips.
• Light Tackle boats may take up to four guests. Additional charge for the 5th or 6th guest.
• Flats and Backcountry boat capacities vary by captain.
• Alcohol is allowed on your charter, please limit it to beer or wine.
• No hard liquor please.
• All trips include bait, tackle, rods, licenses and a cooler with ice.
• Please, no coolers. Our boats have coolers built in for your refreshments.
• Fish cleaning is available, as is short-term freezer storage.

Departing Marina Services
If your trip departs from either Hurricane Hole, Oceanside or Garrison Bight Marina, there are ship stores on premises that offer everything from drinks, snacks, sandwiches, sunscreen, hats and lots more for your convenience.

Hurricane Hole Marina also has an outstanding restaurant and bar to cook up your catch when you get back to the dock. The food is excellent and the beer ice cold. There is no better way to eat fish than fresh from the boat. Please click this link to print out your 'Hook & Cook' voucher, good at Hurricane Hole restaurant.

Items you should bring:

• Drinks, plenty of liquids (Gatorade, Powerade, sodas, etc.)
• Lunch or snacks if you're on a ¾ or full day charter.
• Sunscreen (please, no aerosols), sunglasses and a hat.

Last but not least, don't forget the CAMERA!