New eBook from John Phillips Details Fall – the Best Time to Fish Salt Water
John E. Phillips 08.20.12
With school back in session, and the weather beginning to cool-down, the saltwater fishing along the Upper Gulf Coast starts heating-up. The prices for food, lodging and fishing decrease. Because of less fishing pressure, you’ll find more and bigger fish to catch now. To go offshore fishing during September, how can you make sure you enjoy the fishing trip of a lifetime? This information will make sure you and the captain you fish with know the type of trip you want. This fishing trip planner will help you determine what kind of trip you’ll take and what the cost of this trip will be.
Saltwater Fishing Trip Planner
1) I want to fish _________________ (date).
2) I’ll have ___________ people in my party. (Even babies in arms count as people)
3) I want to fish:
(a) 4 hours ________
(b) 6 hours ________
(c) 8 hours _______
(d) 10 hours ________
(e) 12 hours ________
(f) 15 hours ________
(g) Overnight ________
(h) A weekend for a tournament ________
4) I’ll have non-fishermen in my party.
Yes ______ No ______ Cost for Non-fishermen ______
5) I want to:
(a) bottom fish _____ (snapper, grouper, amberjack, triggerfish, etc.)
(b) troll ________ (king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, etc.)
(c) cobia fish only ________
(d) cobia and bottom fish combination ________
(e) offshore bluewater fish ________ (marlin, sailfish, dolphin, tuna, wahoo, etc.)
(f) inshore fish ________ (speckled trout, redfish, pompano, etc.)
6) I want my fish cleaned and bagged.
Yes ________ No ________ Cost ________
7) I prefer to have a package trip that includes the cost of:
(a) chartering the boat;
(b) filleting the fish and putting them in plastic bags;
(c) tipping the deckhand(s) which is usually 10% to 15% of the total cost of the trip;
(d) tipping the captain, if he expects a tip
Yes ________ No ________ Cost ________
8) I want box lunches for the trip.
Yes ________ No ________ Cost ________
9) I prefer to bring my own food and drink.
Yes ________ No ________
10) I’d like a catered meal onboard. (Here are my ideas for a menu. Please give me prices.)
Yes ________ No ________
11) I prefer a private charter. I realize I must have six or more people.
Yes ________ No ________
12) I prefer a multi-passenger boat for 10 to 40 anglers.
Yes ________ No ________
13) I understand that if I have fewer than the minimum number of people needed to charter a boat that our group may be combined with other people.
O.K. with Me ________ No ________
14) I prefer to fish on an air-conditioned boat.
Yes ________ No ________
15) I need shower facilities.
Yes ________ No ________
16) I want you to help us find accommodations.
Yes ________ No ________
Hotel/Motel _______ Condo _______ Campgrounds ________
(a) First Class ________
(b) Tourist ____________
(c) Cheap and Clean ________
17) I’ll have physically, mentally, medically and/or emotionally handicapped angler(s) fishing with me who may need special attention. I’ve enclosed a brief description of special needs on a separate sheet of paper.
Yes ________ No ________
18) I need airport pickup and return.
Yes ________ No _________ Cost ________
19) What amount of deposit do I need to send to hold the boat for a trip?
(a) 10% ________
(b) 20% ________
(c) 30% ________
(d) 50% ________
(e) 75% ________
(f) 100% _______
20) When are the final fees due, and to whom do I make the check?
21) Will I need special baits not covered in the overall price of the trip?
Yes ________ No ________ Cost ________
22) If there are any other possible charges, please note them and the amount I may be expected to pay.
23) Do you have references I can call?
For more information on saltwater fishing on Alabama’s Gulf Coast and for an opportunity to meet the captains that you can fish with, get the new Kindle ebook “Alabama Offshore Fishing” by John E. Phillips. Go to http://www.amazon.com/Alabamas-Offshore-Fishing-Year-Round-ebook/dp/B008VT4FBM/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344718855&sr=1-1&keywords=alabama+offshore+fishing. Or, you can go to http://www.amazon.com/kindle-ebooks and type-in the name of the book to find it.
John, the 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the year and the 2007 Legendary Communicator chosen for induction into the National Fresh Water Hall of Fame, is a freelance writer (over 6,000 magazine articles for about 100 magazines and several thousand newspaper columns published), magazine editor, photographer for print media as well as industry catalogues (over 25,000 photos published), lecturer, outdoor consultant, marketing consultant, book author and daily internet content provider with an overview of the outdoors.
Phillips has been a contributor to many national magazines, has been affiliated with 27 radio stations across Alabama serving as their outdoor editor and wrote for a weekly syndicated column, "Alabama Outdoors," for 38-Alabama newspapers for more than 13 years. Phillips was Outdoor Editor for the "Birmingham Post-Herald" for 24 years. Phillips was also the executive editor for "Great Days Outdoors" magazine for 3 years.
The author of almost 30 books on the outdoors, Phillips is a founding member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) and an active member of the Southeastern Outdoors Press Association (SEOPA). Phillips also is the owner of Night Hawk Publications, a marketing and publishing firm, and president of Creative Concepts, an outdoor consulting group.
Phillips conducts seminars across the nation at colleges in freelance writing, photography and outdoor education besides teaching courses in how to sell what you write to writers' groups. Phillips received his photography training as a still-lab photo specialist for six years in the Air Force. He was the chief photographer for Mannequins, Inc., a Birmingham modeling agency, for 11 years.
While serving as 2nd Vice President of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, Phillips was in charge of all press releases for the organization as well as serving as Chairman of Alabama's Big Buck Contest, which he founded more than 30 years ago. He also was president of the Alabama Sportsman's Association for three years.
Phillips is the recipient of a Certificate of Merit from the Governor of Alabama and the Department of Conservation for his work in the outdoor field. Phillips is vitally interested in the outdoors and travels the nation collecting personalities, stories and how-to information for his articles and features.
EDUCATION: B.S. degree from the University of West Alabama with a physical education major and a history minor.
EXPERIENCE: 10 years parttime and fulltime physical director for YMCAs and 34 years as a freelance writer, photographer, editor, book author, lecturer and daily-content provider for websites. Currently, Phillips is a field editor for Game and Fish Publications; serves on the editorial board of Grandview Media; is a regular contributor to 12 internet magazines and a daily content provider for 8 websites.
WRITING AWARDS: Runnerup - Best Outdoor Magazine Feature - 1981 - SEOPA; Certificate of Merit - Awarded by Alabama's Governor for writings on conservation; Most Outstanding Sports Writer in Southeast - 1983 & 1984; Best Outdoor Feature in Alabama, 1987 - Alabama Sportswriters' Association 3rd Place; Best Book of the Year - 1989 - SEOPA; 2007 - inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Communicator; 2008 - received award naming him 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the Year from the Crossbow Manufacturers' Association; 2009 - GAMMA Honorable Mention for Consumer/Paid Best Essay for July/August 2008 in "Southern Sporting Journal."
