Email Marketing for Fishing Charters: Build Your List, Share Your Reports & Get More Bookings

Step 2: What to Send Your Charter Email List

Once you’ve started building your list, the big question becomes: what do you actually send them?

The key to successful email marketing for fishing charters is value over sales. Your subscribers didn’t sign up just to get constant “Book Now” emails — they want insider fishing reports, seasonal tips, and useful info to help them plan their next trip.

If you make your emails helpful and interesting, your audience will actually look forward to them — and you’ll stay top of mind when they’re ready to book.

Best Types of Content for Fishing Charter Emails

• Recent Trip Reports & Catches
  Short recaps of successful trips, with photos and highlights — linked back to full reports on your website.
• Seasonal Fishing Updates
  What’s biting now, what to expect in the next month, and any seasonal patterns to watch for.
• Fishing Tips & Techniques
  Short, actionable tips — gear recommendations, bait advice, knot tutorials, or species-specific tricks.
• Special Offers & Open Dates
  A gentle reminder when you have last-minute availability or off-season deals — but don’t overdo it.
• Local Events & Tournaments
  Share info on upcoming local fishing tournaments, festivals, or conservation events.
• Personal Notes from the Captain
  A quick personal message from you — the more authentic and conversational, the better. Even a short story from the water makes your emails more engaging.

Pro Tip: Every email should drive traffic back to your website. Whether it’s a link to a full fishing report, your availability calendar, or a blog post, the goal is always to get them back on your site, where they can read more, browse photos, and — ideally — book a trip.

Step 3: Choosing the Right Email Platform

Before we dive into email platforms, it’s worth emphasizing that your email marketing will only be as strong as the content you have to share. That’s why publishing regular fishing reports, blogs, and seasonal updates on your website is critical. These give you valuable content to share via email and keep your website fresh for search engines. (We covered this in detail in our article on fishing reports and localized blog content.)

Once you have content to share, you need the right tool to manage your email list and send professional-looking emails.

Why You Need an Email Platform (Not Just Gmail)

A lot of guides are tempted to send emails directly from their personal email account, but that’s a big mistake. Professional email platforms:

• Ensure your emails comply with CAN-SPAM laws (like including an unsubscribe link and your business address).
• Help your emails avoid spam filters by authenticating your domain.
• Provide simple tools to design good-looking emails — no coding required.
• Let you track open rates, clicks, and unsubscribes, so you know what’s working.

Best Email Platforms for Fishing Charters

• Mailchimp
  Beginner-friendly with easy drag-and-drop templates. Great for small lists and simple campaigns.
• Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)
  Affordable for larger lists, with automation tools and solid email design options.
• Constant Contact
  Excellent customer support, especially if you’re new to email marketing.
• Kit
  Originally built for content creators, but its simple automations and list management work well for charters who want to send different content to past customers vs. prospects.

Pro Tip: Whichever platform you choose, make sure you authenticate your domain (your web person can help with this). Proper authentication helps prevent your emails from landing in spam folders — and it’s a must if you want to keep your list engaged.

Step 4: Designing Emails That Look Professional & On-Brand

When it comes to email marketing for fishing charters, how your emails look matters just as much as what they say.
A clean, professional design that reflects your brand helps build trust and keeps your audience engaged.

While email platforms like Mailchimp and Brevo offer basic templates,
custom-designed templates tailored to your charter business will always stand out.

What Every Charter Email Template Should Include

• Your Logo & Colors
  Consistent branding reinforces your professional image and helps readers immediately recognize your emails.
• High-Quality Photos
  Include recent catches, action shots, or scenic views from your trips. Visuals are key for keeping anglers engaged.
• A Short, Friendly Message from the Captain
  Whether it’s a quick trip recap or seasonal fishing tip, a personal touch makes emails feel more authentic.
• Clear Call to Action (CTA)
  Directly link to fishing reports, available dates, or your booking page so readers can take the next step easily.
• Contact Information
  Always make it easy for readers to call, email, or visit your website right from the email.

Pro Tip: Mobile-friendly design is critical.
Most of your subscribers will open your emails on their phones, so your email should use a
single-column layout, large, easy-to-tap buttons, and
clean fonts that are readable at a glance.

Step 5: Consistency & Timing – How Often Should You Email?

One of the biggest mistakes fishing guides make with email marketing is inconsistency.
They send one email, maybe two, then forget about it — often until they have open dates to fill.

The reality is, consistent, helpful emails are the best way to stay top of mind with your past guests and future customers.
Whether someone fished with you last year or just found your website yesterday, regular updates
keep them connected to your business and thinking about their next trip.

How Often Should You Email?

For most charters, a monthly email works best — frequent enough to stay relevant, but not so often that you feel like a spammer.

• Monthly Fishing Reports – Recap recent trips, highlight what’s biting, and share photos.
• Seasonal Updates – As the seasons change, let your list know what’s coming up and the best times to book.
• Special Announcements – Occasionally, you can send a bonus email if you have a last-minute opening or a big event, like tarpon season kicking off.

Pro Tip: Don’t overthink it!
If you’re already writing fishing reports for your website, you have content for your emails.
Each email doesn’t need to be long — a couple of photos, a quick update, and a clear link back to your website is all you need.

Step 6: How Email Helps Drive More Bookings

At the end of the day, email marketing isn’t just about staying in touch — it’s about filling your calendar.
When done right, your email list can become one of your most reliable sources of direct bookings,
especially from past clients and people who’ve been following your reports and updates.

How Email Drives Bookings for Fishing Charters

• Keeps Your Charter Top of Mind
  Even if someone doesn’t book right away, regular emails keep your name in front of them so they remember you when they’re ready.
• Brings People Back to Your Website
  Every email should include links to your website — whether it’s a new fishing report, updated photo gallery, or your trip availability page.
• Encourages Repeat Customers
  Past guests who had a great time are some of your best future customers.
  Regular updates remind them why they need to come back for another trip.
• Increases Referrals
  Happy customers often forward your emails to friends and family planning trips —
  a simple way to spread the word about your charter.
• Creates Urgency for Seasonal Opportunities
  Special seasonal fisheries — like tarpon migration, redfish runs, or peak offshore seasons — are
  perfect reasons to email. Reminding your list about these windows often leads to quicker bookings.

Pro Tip: Don’t treat your email list like a billboard.
Keep your emails focused on value — trip reports, fishing tips, seasonal updates — and sprinkle in booking reminders naturally.
When people know your emails are worth opening, they’ll stick around (and book more trips).

Need Help Getting Started with Email Marketing for Your Charter?

Email marketing is one of the most overlooked tools in the fishing charter business — but it doesn’t have to be complicated.

At Thrive, we help guides and charters just like you set up email platforms, design professional templates, and create content that keeps your list engaged — so your emails help you book more trips without feeling like a chore.

Our Email Marketing Services for Fishing Charters Include:

• Custom, on-brand email templates designed to look great on phones and desktops.
• List setup and management, including segmentation for past customers and new leads.
• Content strategy and writing — trip reports, seasonal updates, and email-friendly blog content.
• Performance tracking to see how your emails are working and what’s driving traffic to your site.

Want to put your email list to work?
Let’s chat!