FishGH – Down Time 

4.7/5 (56 reviews)
 North Harbor Drive 301, Grand Haven, MI 49417, United States

FishGH is a premium fishing charter service operated from Chinook Pier in Grand Haven, MI. We specialize in family-friendly fishing excursions and corporate outings. 

We have been operating since 1984.  Our boat Down Time was completely restored in 2022 and can comfortably accommodate 6 guests in all weather conditions.

Down Time is a 33’ Wellcraft Coastal and was built to fish offshore in any conditions. She is always clean and we have a full-size bathroom on board that is clean and comfortable. Downtime is equipped with the latest fishing gear and electronics including GPS, Radar, VHF radio, and sonar fish finder. 

Our crew is polite and friendly and loves to share our love for fishing with children. No fishing experience is necessary. Guests can bring aboard a cooler with food and drinks of their choice. We ask that you not bring glass bottles, hard liquor, or bananas on board.  We always have complimentary cold water available as well.

We will be trolling, primarily for Salmon and Trout on Lake Michigan. We are typically 1-5 miles offshore depending on several factors like time of the season, weather conditions, and water temperatures. 

When you return from your trip we will take group photos, clean your catch and provide fresh bags and ice. We also participate in the Cook the Catch program where you have the option to bring your fresh fish to a local restaurant and have a full meal prepared (additional fees apply).

FishGH Charters

Charter Operator

FishGH Charters

20 years of experience
 ID & credentials verified
 responds within an hour

Most popular features:

 Live Bait
 You Keep Catch
 Catch cleaning & filleting
 Toilet
 Child Friendly
 Air Conditioning
 Ice Box
 Rods, reels & tackle

Trip availability and prices

Trip Date:
Days:
Group Size:
Almost there...
1 Hour Trip – Lighthouse/Fish Tour
FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
1 Hour Trip, starts at 7:00 PM
Seasonal trip May 6 - Aug 31
Price for up to 6 people
US $250 
2 Hour - lighthouse/fishing tour

 In demand! Last booked: 1 day ago

FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
2 Hour Trip, starts at 7:00 PM
Seasonal trip May 6 - Aug 31
Price for up to 4 people
US $325 
4 Hour Fishing Trip (PM) – Weekday
FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
4 Hour Trip, starts at 1:00 PM
Seasonal trip May 1 - Oct 15 (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu)
Price for up to 4 people
US $645 
4 Hour Trip (PM) – Weekend
FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
4 Hour Trip, starts at 1:00 PM
Seasonal trip May 6 - Oct 15 (Fri, Sat, Sun)
Price for up to 4 people
US $645 
5 Hour Fishing Trip (AM) – Weekday
FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
5 Hour Trip, starts at 5:30 AM
Seasonal trip May 6 - Oct 15 (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu)
Price for 2 people
US $750 
5 Hour Fishing Trip - (PM) Weekday
FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
5 Hour Trip, starts at 1:00 PM
Seasonal trip May 6 - Oct 15 (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu)
Price for up to 4 people
US $675 
5 Hour Trip (AM) – Weekend

 Just booked! Last booked: 9 hours ago

FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
5 Hour Trip, starts at 5:30 AM
Seasonal trip May 6 - Oct 15 (Fri, Sat, Sun)
Price for up to 4 people
US $690 
5 Hour Fishing Trip - (PM) Weekend
FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
5 Hour Trip, starts at 1:00 PM
Seasonal trip May 6 - Oct 15 (Fri, Sat, Sun)
Price for up to 4 people
US $690 
7 Hour Trip – Ultimate Weekday
FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
7 Hour Trip, starts at 5:30 AM
Seasonal trip May 6 - Oct 15 (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu)
Price for up to 4 people
US $850 
7 Hour Trip – Ultimate Weekend
FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
7 Hour Trip, starts at 5:30 AM
Seasonal trip (Fri, Sat, Sun)
Price for up to 4 people
US $890 
There are 14 people looking at this charter.

Customer reviews

Rating summary

4.7/5
out of 5 stars from 56 reviews
Boat
4.7/5
Crew
4.8/5
Experience
4.6/5

Photos & videos by reviewers (69)

May fishing trip
May fishing trip
May fishing trip
+66

Angler rating

47
2
5
1
0

Anglers claimed

Good experience

91%

Appropriate for children

94%

Friendly captain

100%

Satisfied with the boat

100%

Recommend this charter

86%

Caught fish

91%

Showing 1 - 5 of 56 reviews
Robin P.
Robin P.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

King Salmon Success!

VERIFIED

5 Hour Fishing Trip - (PM) Weekday on August 12, 2024

FishingGH took our reservation with less than 24 hours notice after some disappointing weather conditions prevented us from making our originally planned trip. They gave us exactly the experience we were hoping for. Jordan worked hard to find us the best fishing spots and gave us tips and advice on how to reel them in. Parker could see the hit on the lines within seconds and reacted so quickly to make sure we hooked the fish. We caught 3 king salmon, 20 lbs each. What’s more is we had a wonderful time on their boat! It was a great trip and made some great memories.

FishingGH took our reservation with less than 24 hours notice after some disappointing weather conditions prevented us from making our originally planned trip. They gave us exactly the experience we were hoping for. Jordan worked hard to find us the best fishing spots and gave us tips and advice on how to reel them in. Parker could see the hit on the lines within seconds and reacted so quickly to make sure we hooked the fish. We caught 3 king salmon, 20 lbs each. What’s more is we had a wonderful...  

Review media 0
 Robin P. recommends FishGH – Down Time
FishGH Charters
FishGH Charters (The Charter Operator)
Replied on August 14, 2024
Robin, Thank you for taking time to leave us a great comprehensive review. I’m glad we were able to get you out after the bad weather had ruined your other planned trips. Hopefully we will see you again next season. Captain Brian

Adam S.
Adam S.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Bass fisherman goes salmon fishing

VERIFIED

5 Hour Trip (AM) – Weekend on September 13, 2024

Tournament bass fisherman here. My lady and I wanted to give a charter a try, we were looking for fresh salmon! “WOW” did we get exactly what we set out looking for! The captain and the first mate got us on fish well before the sun even came up, we limited out with in hours! Both gentlemen were nice, polite, very interactive with the both of us, we talked about things from fishing to relationships, to religion. Such a great day, we even ate freshly caught fish for dinner. Highly recommend these guys! We will be booking them again.

Tournament bass fisherman here. My lady and I wanted to give a charter a try, we were looking for fresh salmon! “WOW” did we get exactly what we set out looking for! The captain and the first mate got us on fish well before the sun even came up, we limited out with in hours! Both gentlemen were nice, polite, very interactive with the both of us, we talked about things from fishing to relationships, to religion. Such a great day, we even ate freshly caught fish for dinner. Highly recommend...  

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 Adam S. recommends FishGH – Down Time
FishGH Charters
FishGH Charters (The Charter Operator)
Replied on September 14, 2024
Adam, Thanks for taking time to leave us a great review! We will be looking forward to having you back again next time she has a craving for some salmon. Captain Brian

Tim H.
Tim H.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Great afternoon on the water

VERIFIED
NEW

4 Hour Trip (PM) – Weekend on June 7, 2025

Caption & crew did a great job locating fish. We enjoyed the trip and will book again.

Caption & crew did a great job locating fish. We enjoyed the trip and will book again.  

 Tim H. recommends FishGH – Down Time
FishGH Charters
FishGH Charters (The Charter Operator)
Replied on June 9, 2025
Tim, Thanks a lot for the review and for fishing with us! We would love to have you back. Brian

Tenera T.
Tenera T.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Awesome fishing trip!

VERIFIED

4 Hour Trip (PM) – Weekend on August 18, 2024

My family and I traveled ~3 hours in hopes of scoring salmon and we were not disappointed! The waves were a bit intense, some motion sickness, but the captain and crew were extremely kind and understanding. We were able to snag 5 nice sized salmon within the first 2 hours (including 4 we lost as amateurs lol). Excellent company and fun trip!

My family and I traveled ~3 hours in hopes of scoring salmon and we were not disappointed! The waves were a bit intense, some motion sickness, but the captain and crew were extremely kind and understanding. We were able to snag 5 nice sized salmon within the first 2 hours (including 4 we lost as amateurs lol). Excellent company and fun trip!  

 Tenera T. recommends FishGH – Down Time
FishGH Charters
FishGH Charters (The Charter Operator)
Replied on August 21, 2024
Tenera, I’m glad we could get your family out and let you experience salmon fishing. Thanks for the great review! Captain Brian

Bryan B.
Bryan B.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

May fishing trip

VERIFIED
NEW

2 Hour - lighthouse/fishing tour on May 16, 2025

 

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Review media 1
 Bryan B. recommends FishGH – Down Time
FishGH Charters
FishGH Charters (The Charter Operator)
Replied on May 18, 2025
Bryan, Great catch! Thanks again for fishing with us and taking the time to leave a great review! Captain Brian

...

FAQs about FishGH – Down Time

What are the trip rates for FishGH – Down Time?

FishGH – Down Time offers the following trips to customers:

  • US $250 per group - 1 Hour Trip – Lighthouse/Fish Tour (1 hour)
  • US $325 per group, additional US $25 per person after 4 guests - 2 Hour - lighthouse/fishing tour (2 hours)
  • US $645 per group, additional US $50 per person after 4 guests - 4 Hour Fishing Trip (PM) – Weekday (4 hours)
  • US $645 per group, additional US $50 per person after 4 guests - 4 Hour Trip (PM) – Weekend (4 hours)
  • US $675 per group, additional US $75 per person after 4 guests - 5 Hour Fishing Trip - (PM) Weekday (5 hours)
  • US $675 per group, additional US $75 per person after 1 guest - 5 Hour Fishing Trip (AM) – Weekday (5 hours)
  • US $690 per group, additional US $75 per person after 4 guests - 5 Hour Fishing Trip - (PM) Weekend (5 hours)
  • US $690 per group, additional US $75 per person after 4 guests - 5 Hour Trip (AM) – Weekend (5 hours)
  • US $850 per group, additional US $75 per person after 4 guests - 7 Hour Trip – Ultimate Weekday (7 hours)
  • US $890 per group, additional US $100 per person after 4 guests - 7 Hour Trip – Ultimate Weekend (7 hours)
Which amenities are available onboard with FishGH – Down Time?

When you book a trip with FishGH – Down Time, you can expect the following amenities onboard:

  • Toilet We have a full size private and clean restroom available for use anytime during your fishing adventure. We also have hand sanitizer available.
  • Air Conditioning
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Bed
  • Kitchen
  • Refrigerator
  • Multimedia System
  • Ice Box
  • Radar
What's included in the trip price with FishGH – Down Time?

Trips booked with FishGH – Down Time include:

  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live Bait (We typically fish entirely with artificial lures. All tackle is available and included in your trip price)
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting (We hang your catch for a group photo and then clean and bag your catch complimentary at the end of your excursion.)
  • First Mate (We always have a first mate working to keep you safe, happy and most importantly catching fish. It is customary to tip your mate and it is usually 18-25% of your total trip cost.)
What types of fishing does FishGH – Down Time offer?

FishGH – Down Time offers the following types of fishing:

  • River Fishing (We fish primarily offshore on Lake Michigan and depending on the season and trip booked we may be fishing in the Grand River or even Spring Lake.)
  • Lake Fishing
  • Nearshore Fishing
  • Offshore Fishing (During a typical salmon fishing trip we usually fish anywhere from 100 yards to 7 miles offshore depending on on the season and fish location )
What fishing techniques does FishGH – Down Time offer?

FishGH – Down Time offers the following fishing technique:

  • Trolling
Which fish species can I catch with FishGH – Down Time?

Top targeted fish species with FishGH – Down Time include:

  • Brown Trout
  • Freshwater Drum
  • Lake Trout
  • Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
  • Salmon (Chinook)
  • Salmon (Coho)
  • Salmon (Pink)

Your operator

FishGH Charters

Grand Haven, Michigan, United States

18 Fishing Reports
ID & license verified
382 Customer reviews
Response time within an hour
Member since May 2018

Captain Brian and Brenden know these waters like the back of their hand and will be happy to show you everything there is to know. Together with his crew, he works tirelessly to make sure his guests have a memorable time aboard.

Our Team
Brian M.

Brian M.

Captain

Brenden M.

Brenden M.

Captain

Astro W.

Astro W.

Captain

Brady B.

Brady B.

Captain

Soren M.

Soren M.

First mate

Brenden H.

Brenden H.

First mate

Parker B.

Parker B.

First mate

John C.

John C.

First mate

The fish you can target

Brown Trout
Brown Trout
Freshwater Drum
Freshwater Drum
Lake Trout
Lake Trout
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Chinook Salmon
Chinook Salmon
Coho Salmon
Coho Salmon
Pink Salmon
Pink Salmon

What is the boat like?

Boat Image
Boat category
Sportfishing boats
Capacity
6 persons
Boat length
33 ft
Year built
1998
Restored in
2022
Boat manufacturer
Wellcraft
Boat type
Sportfishing

Engine model
Mercury
Powered by
2 x 330HP
Max cruising speed
28 knots

What kind of fishing will you do?

River Fishing

We fish primarily offshore on Lake Michigan and depending on the season and trip booked we may be fishing in the Grand River or even Spring Lake.

Lake Fishing

Nearshore Fishing

Offshore Fishing

During a typical salmon fishing trip we usually fish anywhere from 100 yards to 7 miles offshore depending on on the season and fish location

Which fishing techniques you can try

Trolling

Which amenities are available onboard

Toilet

We have a full size private and clean restroom available for use anytime during your fishing adventure. We also have hand sanitizer available.

Air Conditioning

GPS

Fishfinder

Bed

Kitchen

Refrigerator

Multimedia System

Ice Box

Radar

What’s included in the trip price

Rods, reels & tackle

Live Bait

We typically fish entirely with artificial lures. All tackle is available and included in your trip price

Lures

Catch cleaning & filleting

We hang your catch for a group photo and then clean and bag your catch complimentary at the end of your excursion.

First Mate

We always have a first mate working to keep you safe, happy and most importantly catching fish. It is customary to tip your mate and it is usually 18-25% of your total trip cost.

How cancellations work

Free cancellation up to 14 days prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 14 days before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.

What the listing policies are

Pickup not included

Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.

Child Friendly

We love to take kids out fishing and will offer a safe family friendly atmosphere. We have life vests onboard but they are universal and typically if you bring your own it may be much more comfortable

You Keep Catch

Disabled Accessible

How you can pay

Book with 15% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 15% deposit to guarantee your reservation.

The remaining balance is to be paid directly to the charter operator on or prior to your trip date in one of the following payment methods:

 Cash

 Visa

 Mastercard

 American Express

 Checks

When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 3% charge will apply.

What’s biting in Grand Haven right now

Brown TroutBrown Trout
Lake TroutLake Trout
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
Salmon (Chinook)Salmon (Chinook)
Salmon (Coho)Salmon (Coho)
14 people are looking at this charter.
5 Hour Trip (AM) – Weekend booked 9 hours ago