Trips and Adventures Ludington Sport Fishing Charters

Looking for that fishing trip where you can get the whole family out at once? Or a group of friends or co-workers? And still have things to do after the fishing is done for the day?
Join us in Ludington for a fun day on the water. Hop aboard the “Hattrick” a 31′ Tiara Yacht designed for comfort on the water and considered by many to be the elite charter fishing boat.
Our season in Ludington runs from May through the first week in September. We can accommodate up to 6 anglers on the “Hattrick” and offer two trips a day. Morning trips are my favorite and begin around 5 am, afternoon trip times can vary but usually start between 3 and 4 pm. We work with many other boats in the Ludington area and can arrange as many boats as needed for large groups.

There are plenty of things to do when the fishing is done for the day….clean sandy beaches, take a walk out to one of the two light houses in the area, plenty of places to eat and things to do after you fish or for the non fisher person in your group. Check out the silver lake sand dunes just a few miles south of Ludington.

The kick off to our season on the big water forces us to make a choice on what to fish for….near shore for the chance at a Brown trout of a lifetime? Or head out to deeper waters and look for the early King salmon?

Shallow water brown trout fishing can be great in early May. These fish are spooky and require a bit of stealth for success, multiple lines placed out to the sides with in line planer boards and flat lines hundreds of feet behind the boat trolling shallow running stick baits and flashy spoons are the baits of choice. Looking to tangle with the King of the lake? We can also head to deeper waters and hunt for the King salmon. Early season King’s are what I consider the most aggressive hardest fighting fish on the big water. Maybe not as big as the fish in late summer…but the fight is unexpectedly hard. These fish have been mostly dormant for the last few months and are looking to put the feed bag on as the waters begin to warm. The years spawning crops of baitfish are moving near shore and these hunters are hungry and ready to feed. Find the food and the fish numbers in the boat can grow quickly. We use just about every tool in the boat to increase our chances at these early Kings..Downriggers, divers and long lines on planer boards rigged with anything from spoons to flashers and meat rigs help us to connect.

Mid summer fishing usually means one thing… offshore fishing for pods of Steelhead, Salmon, and suspended Lake trout. This time of year we usually pay very close attention to the winds, waves, and water temps. These three things are very important due to these are the things that help gather and collect baitfish, and baitfish draw the interest of the predators. Covering water and fishing most baits near the surface get the most attention from our quarry this time of year. The action can be fast and furious offshore. Mixed bag fishing for sure.

Late summer brings two things to the Ludington area….Big mature King salmon and the crowds that want to catch them. Large mature King salmon begin to come near shore and stage for their run up the rivers to spawn. This is the time of year that you have the best shot at a trophy King! In recent years we have seen Kings pushing the limits of our tackle and our scales past the 30lb mark. Big Kings in open water will test even the most experienced angler, sore arms and heavy coolers are the norm. The fishing can be fast and furious but short lived as the fish key in on the sunrise and sun set times of the day. It pays to start early this time of year. Rods rigged with glow in the dark baits as well as big flashers baited with herring strips are the menu items of choice for mature Kings and Coho’s.

The best time to fish in Ludington is a hard question to answer…..I guess that’s good, because its always a good time to fish in Ludington!

What to bring

Michigan all species or daily fishing license
Proper clothes for the day; rain jackets and sweatshirts are often needed
Sun glasses
Camera
Sunscreen
Cooler with ice to transport your catch
Food and/or drink (no glass containers – small coolers only on board)
Soft soled shoes required
Remember you are going on a 6-8 hour charter and not on a 7 day cruise

Dock Location

Ray’s Marina
801 S Washington St
Ludington, MI 49431
Click here for a map