- Fishing Guide and Charter Boat
Information
Fishing guides and charter boat captains operate small
passenger vessels on inland or near coastal ocean
waters. The Oregon State Marine Board defines a guide
boat as one operating on inland waters only and a
charter boat as one operating on near coastal ocean
waters. With only a few exceptions all fishing guides
and charter boat captains are required to hold a USCG
Merchant Mariner Credential endorsed as either
Operator or Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV) or
Master 25 tons or higher.
- The exception to this rule is fishing guides using
drift-boats (without a motor of any kind or size)
and fishing guides operating exclusively on non-
federally navigable waterways are not required to
hold USCG credentials. Click Here to view a list of
non-federally navigable waterways for the Pacific
NW.
Fishing guides and charter boat captains operating
power-driven vessels on ocean or the federally
navigable inland waterways of the United States are
required to hold USCG issued Merchant Mariner
Credentials (MMC) when carrying passengers for hire (a
passenger for hire is any passenger that contributed
anything as a condition for riding on the vessel). The
most common license held by fishing guides and
charter boat captains is the Operator of Uninspected
Passenger Vessel license, AKA the OUPV license or 6-
pack license because of its limitation to six passengers
for hire. Charter boat captain's carrying more than six
passengers must hold an MMC endorsed as Master 25
tons or higher.
 |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| Call (503) 841-6066 for more information or to schedule a class. (c) Dennis A. Degner 2006-2011 |
Fishing Guide and Charter Boat Information
You do not need to register as a fishing guide or
charter boat operator if you are going to work for an
existing company or boat owner. They should already
be registered with the state as a business owner, but
you still need the appropriate Coast Guard
endorsement to operate the vessel.
Oregon Fishing Guides and Charter Boats
To become an Oregon Fishing Guide or Charter Boat
Operator you need to register with the Oregon State
Marine Board as a Guide and Outfitter.
The Oregon State Marine Board requires charter boats
and fishing guides operating on ocean waters to carry
addition safety and survival equipment.
Washington Fishing Guides and Charter Boats
To become a Washington Fishing Guide or Charter Boat
Operator you need to register with the Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife as a guide.
Alaska Fishing Guides and Charter Boats
To become an Alaska Fishing Guide or Charter Boat
Operator you need to register with the Alaska
Department of Fish and Wildlife as a guide.
You do not need to register as a fishing guide or
charter boat operator if you are going to work for an
existing company or boat owner. They should already
be registered with the state as a business owner, but
you still need the appropriate Coast Guard
endorsement to operate the vessel.
Oregon Fishing Guides and Charter Boats
To become an Oregon Fishing Guide or Charter Boat
Operator you need to register with the Oregon State
Marine Board as a Guide and Outfitter.
The Oregon State Marine Board requires charter boats
and fishing guides operating on ocean waters to carry
addition safety and survival equipment.
Washington Fishing Guides and Charter Boats
To become a Washington Fishing Guide or Charter Boat
Operator you need to register with the Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife as a guide.
Alaska Fishing Guides and Charter Boats
To become an Alaska Fishing Guide or Charter Boat
Operator you need to register with the Alaska
Department of Fish and Wildlife as a guide.