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Let\u2019s call it like it is \u2014 offshore fishing is a rich man\u2019s game. That\u2019s not to suggest there aren\u2019t places where giant tuna can be caught within range of your buddy\u2019s single-engine, 22-foot center console, but by and large, getting after these fish is expensive. You either need a big, capable boat equipped to make long runs, or you need to hire a charter captain to take you to the tuna grounds. That latter option isn\u2019t cheap, especially as fuel prices continue to climb. A private offshore tuna charter can run you anywhere from $2,000 to $8,000 depending on the size of the boat and your location. For many people who dream of battling these brute fish\u2014and enjoying fresh, never-frozen tuna back home\u2014the cost is a barrier. But party boats can make the dream of catching a cooler full of tuna a reality for far less money (less than $500 in many cases), and even if you\u2019ve never spent a day offshore in your life, anglers of all skill levels can cash in on the deck of one of these giant vessels.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Party boats that run overnight offshore trips are most common in the Northeast and Southern California. Captain Darren Dorris, who now runs a private sportfishing yacht to tournaments all over the Atlantic Coast and Bahamas, started out as a mate on a party boat many years ago. He\u2019s also spent years fishing on them, taking members of the fishing club he started at the New Jersey high school where he teaches on \u201covernighters\u201d every fall. Though Dorris agrees party boat fishing is a great option for tuna hopefuls on a budget, if you\u2019re a first timer there are some things you should know before you go that will make the trip as enjoyable as possible. <\/p>\n