Question 1

Do I need a fishing license?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if you are 16 years old or older you will need a current Alabama fresh water fishing license.

Question 2

How do I get a fishing license?

Accepted Answer

Call Alabama Department of Conservation at 1-888-848-6887 and have a credit card ready. They are open 24/7. You can also visit www.takemefishing.org. Local Wal-Marts, Bass Pro Shops, and some bait and tackle stores around Lake Martin also sell fishing licenses.

Question 3

What do I need to bring?

Accepted Answer

1) Comfortable clothing for current weather conditions. (Rain suits are also suggested.) 2) Food, snacks, and drinks of your choice. (Alcohol is okay, but no excessive drinking.) 3) Cooler with ice, etc. is okay to put on boat. (If possible, please limit coolers to no more than 2.) 4) Camera (Alex City Guide Service has a camera on board if you forget yours.)

Question 4

Are young children allowed?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You may want to bring PFD (life jacket) for young children. Alex City Guide Service does have children PFD’s available, but most kids like to bring their own.

Question 5

Do you charge for children even if they do not fish?

Accepted Answer

Yes, trips are priced based on each person in the boat fishing or not.

Question 6

How many can go on each boat?

Accepted Answer

Most of our guide boats are able to carry 6 persons, but we suggest you book a second boat if your trip will have more than 4 persons. A 4 person trip plus the captain (guide) is most common and recommended.

Question 7

Will we be sharing our boat with other fishermen?

Accepted Answer

NO! When you book a trip, the boat is for your group only! Even if the boat is booked for 1 person, the boat belongs to that one person for that charter, and the boat will not be shared with others.

Question 8

Does trip price include tips?

Accepted Answer

NO! Tips are not required, but tips are very common and are really appreciated.

Question 9

What is the common tip?

Accepted Answer

Most common tip is 20% of the total. (Example: If you booked a $500.00 guide trip, then an appropriate tip would be $100.00)

Question 10

Do you offer fish cleaning?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Alex City Guide Service offers fish cleaning, packaging, and ice for your catch. (Guides do this with their personal tools (knives, etc.), bags, and ice. A fish cleaning tip is common.)

Question 11

What time does a trip start and end?

Accepted Answer

Alex City Guide Service start and stop times vary with fishing conditions, and with a customer’s request. This will be established at the time of booking.

Question 12

How long is a trip?

Accepted Answer

The most common trip time is 6 hours. Some customers want to fish longer and some want to fish less. We are here to please you, and we’re able to adjust our times according to your schedules on most occasions. However, there is an additional charge by the hour for trips that want to fish longer than 6 hours.

Question 13

Do you guarantee a catch?

Accepted Answer

NO! Alex City Guide Service guarantees to fish hard for you and try our best to find fish, but we cannot make them bite if they do not want to.

Question 14

Do your trips usually catch fish?

Accepted Answer

YES! At present, Alex City Guide Service has a 90% catch history for trips over the past several years.

Question 15

How many fish can we keep to carry home with us?

Accepted Answer

Each species of fish has a different creel limit. This question is best answered directly from your captain or guide at the time of booking.

Question 16

What are the best days to fish?

Accepted Answer

We personally suggest Monday-Friday. However, we fish seven days a week.

Question 17

Are you saying weekends are bad?

Accepted Answer

No. Weekends are great fishing. You just have more traffic on the lake than you do during the weekdays. Less traffic gives you more peace and quiet.

Question 18

If I have to cancel will I get my booking fee (deposit) back?

Accepted Answer

No. We just roll your deposit over to your next booking as long as you cancel within 48 hours of a scheduled trip. Booking fee is $100.00 per boat, per day.

Question 19

Do you take credit cards?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We take credit cards!

Question 20

Is there a closed season for fishing Lake Martin on any species?

Accepted Answer

No. It’s open year-round, and we catch fish year-round. There is not a bad time to fish. The Alex City Guide Service theory is you fish when you can go, and we adjust to the season whether it’s types of bait, location of fish, or the time of day.

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