Ohhh….. the Experiences!
As I sit drinking coffee on this blustery New Year’s morning its easy to think about the great past year our guests provided us with on and off the water. 2024 was a banner year with just over 170 trips run on our vessels. Captain Tom’s switch to full time guiding, securing a Commercial Use Authorization from the park service and expanding our business model to provide Apostle Islands Water Taxi Services as well as customized fishing/sightseeing tours definitely made for a dynamic year.
As we plan for the upcoming 2025 season it is important to note we have made some changes. First off, we are keeping our pricing structure the same since 2022 acknowledging that while everything else has increased in cost, our core expense of fuel has remained relatively steady.
Captain Tom just purchased a 26 foot Sea Cat for jigging and Apostle Islands Water Taxi Services. Years of mapping the structure in the Apostle Islands has provided some great options that are not accessible via traditional trolling methods, hence our interest in providing jigging options. The Sea Cat is a wide and stable catamaran suitable for jigging in most situations with ample room for 4 anglers or 6 taxi guests and gear. She is powered with twin 150’s for a quick and convenient run to wherever the day takes us. The shallow draft of the Sea Cat will also allow us to make landfall at the majority of the 64 campsites peppered throughout the islands.
Additionally, we have added a few vessels with our expansion of services. Captain Jim brought online a 28 foot Tiara named “Hot Pursuit” that his wife Captain Katie has successfully begun running some trips on. Jim and Katie also bought a smaller, trailer able Smokercraft for early and late season trips while our big boats are still on the hard. Jim was out this past week with the Smokercraft and had a great morning with a mixed catch on the open water. That makes 2 years in a row he was able to troll in the end of December.
Finally, we have changed our online booking platform. This change was needed to be able to provide access to all of our services. This also allows for a more dynamic booking experience allowing you to choose who you would like to get out with and reduced fees for the user.
Not a lot of changes for you, the guest. But quite a few for our captains options for getting our guests on fish and exploring the natural beauty of the islands. We look forward to hosting you in 2025 for whatever type of trip you are looking for! Whether it’s trolling, jigging, Apostle Islands Water Taxi Services, a sunset cruise or just a day at a beach. Let us continue to be your guide to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
Be well,
Captain Tom