Optimistic Fishing Charters 

4.9/5 (5 reviews)
 24770 Jefferson Avenue, St. Clair Shores, MI 48080, United States

St. Clair Shores has a fish with your name on it, so let Optimistic Fishing Charters help you catch it!

Bass, Walleye, Perch, Northern Pike, Muskellunge (Musky), and more inhabit these waters. Depending on the species you’re after, you may find yourself light tackle fishing, trolling, or maybe something more specialized in this area.

Any fish within the legal limit are yours to keep.

Families who love fishing together will be glad to know that kids are welcome aboard! If you don't have a child-sized life vest of your own, be sure to ask if there's one on board. You're welcome to bring snacks so that nobody gets grumpy on an empty belly!

Capt. Jim runs a 27' Tiara sportfishing vessel with space for 5 passengers. It comes with everything you need for a productive day on the water. There's a toilet on board for your convenience. Your captain will provide rods and reels, along with lures. Live bait is included, but it's good to ask about this so you know if you'll be catching it yourself.

Before coming aboard, it will be necessary to buy a local fishing license for everyone in your group. This information is usually available online, or you can ask the captain. Some species may be off limits or require a special tag, so make sure you know what to expect.

A few items to bring include sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen (non-spray), and bottled water. If you'd like to bring other drinks, just ask. Alcohol is allowed in moderation, just be sure to avoid hard liquor as well as glass bottles.

Optimistic Fishing Charters will make it easy for you to go fishing in St. Clair Shores. So, how about booking that trip?

Jim Schiller

Captain

Jim Schiller

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

Most popular features:

 Live Bait
 You Keep Catch
 Catch cleaning & filleting
 Toilet
 Child Friendly
 Rods, reels & tackle

Trip availability and prices

Trip Date:
Days:
Group Size:
Almost there...
5 Hour Trip – Multi Species
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
5 Hour Trip, starts at 7:30 AM
Seasonal trip (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun)
US $600 
Entire boat: up to 5 people
There are 2 people looking at this charter.

Customer reviews

Rating summary

4.9/5
out of 5 stars from 5 reviews
Boat
4.8/5
Crew
5.0/5
Experience
4.8/5

Photos & videos by reviewers (13)

Fishing with Jim
Fishing with Jim
Fishing with Jim
+10

Angler rating

4
1
0
0
0

Anglers claimed

Good experience

100%

Appropriate for children

100%

Friendly captain

100%

Satisfied with the boat

100%

Recommend this charter

100%

Caught fish

100%

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Steevi E.
Steevi E.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Great Trip

VERIFIED

5 Hour Trip – Multi Species on June 14, 2025

We went out to celebrate my boyfriends birthday and some great memories were made! Jim was fantastic, super knowledgeable, laid back and helped up catch some hogs! We will definitely come back. Thanks for a great charter!

We went out to celebrate my boyfriends birthday and some great memories were made! Jim was fantastic, super knowledgeable, laid back and helped up catch some hogs! We will definitely come back. Thanks for a great charter!  

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 Steevi E. recommends Optimistic Fishing Charters
Jim Schiller
Jim Schiller (The Captain)
Replied on June 14, 2025
Thank you very much pleasure was all mine

Michiko M.
Michiko M.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Best fishing trip ever!

VERIFIED

5 Hour Trip – Multi Species on July 8, 2025

Such an amazing trip! We had so much fun and caught a bunch of fish. Captain Jim was so knowledgeable and helpful. Kindest man you will ever meet. Would love to do this trip again!

Such an amazing trip! We had so much fun and caught a bunch of fish. Captain Jim was so knowledgeable and helpful. Kindest man you will ever meet. Would love to do this trip again!  

 Michiko M. recommends Optimistic Fishing Charters
Jim Schiller
Jim Schiller (The Captain)
Replied on July 8, 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words

Don K.
Don K.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Optimist Fishing Charter captain Jim was great.

VERIFIED

5 Hour Trip – Multi Species on June 30, 2025

The captain was great. The Fishing booker app is a ripoff. They took $60 for doing nothing. If you are going on a trip with Optimist book it directly with Captain Jim.

The captain was great. The Fishing booker app is a ripoff. They took $60 for doing nothing. If you are going on a trip with Optimist book it directly with Captain Jim.  

 Don K. recommends Optimistic Fishing Charters
Jim Schiller
Jim Schiller (The Captain)
Replied on July 1, 2025
Thanks Don for the great review. Appreciate your thoughts. I feel Fish Booker provides a wonderful service. I wouldn’t have as much business as I do without them.

Kris K.
Kris K.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Fishing with Jim

VERIFIED
NEW

5 Hour Trip – Multi Species on July 19, 2025

 

 Kris K. recommends Optimistic Fishing Charters
Jim Schiller
Jim Schiller (The Captain)
Replied on July 20, 2025
Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

Joseph T.
Joseph T.
4.3/5

Experience:

4.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

4.0/5

Overall

Fishing with Jim

VERIFIED
NEW

5 Hour Trip – Multi Species on August 3, 2025

Jim worked very hard to keep our lines in the water and to find the fish we caught

Jim worked very hard to keep our lines in the water and to find the fish we caught  

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 Joseph T. recommends Optimistic Fishing Charters
1 person finds this review helpful

FAQs about Optimistic Fishing Charters

What are the trip rates for Optimistic Fishing Charters?

Optimistic Fishing Charters offers the following trip to customers:

  • US $600 per group - 5 Hour Trip – Multi Species (5 hours)
Which amenities are available onboard with Optimistic Fishing Charters?

When you book a trip with Optimistic Fishing Charters, you can expect the following amenities onboard:

  • Toilet Enclosed bathroom with a toilet
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Bed
  • Live Bait Well
  • Radar
What's included in the trip price with Optimistic Fishing Charters?

Trips booked with Optimistic Fishing Charters include:

  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live Bait (We supply live bait when preach in bass fishing it’s included in the charter)
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting (Except on perch trips)
What types of fishing does Optimistic Fishing Charters offer?

Optimistic Fishing Charters offers the following type of fishing:

  • Lake Fishing
What fishing techniques does Optimistic Fishing Charters offer?

Optimistic Fishing Charters offers the following fishing techniques:

  • Light Tackle
  • Trolling
Which fish species can I catch with Optimistic Fishing Charters?

Top targeted fish species with Optimistic Fishing Charters include:

  • Bass (Smallmouth)
  • Muskellunge (Musky)
  • Perch (Yellow)
  • Pike (Northern)
  • Walleye

Your captain

Jim Schiller

St. Clair Shores, Michigan, United States

ID & license verified
5 Customer reviews
Response time within an hour
Member since May 2022

I have been fishing since I was 4 with my dad. I caught my first Muskie on Lake St Clair when I was 7 and have been hooked since then.

The fish you can target

Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Muskellunge (Musky)
Muskellunge (Musky)
Yellow Perch
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike
Northern Pike
Walleye
Walleye

What is the boat like?

Boat Image
Boat category
Sportfishing boats
Capacity
5 persons
Boat length
27 ft
Year built
1988
Boat manufacturer
Tiara
Boat type
Sportfishing

Engine model
Crusader
Powered by
2 x 270HP

What kind of fishing will you do?

Lake Fishing

Which fishing techniques you can try

Light Tackle

Trolling

Which amenities are available onboard

Toilet

Enclosed bathroom with a toilet

GPS

Fishfinder

Bed

Live Bait Well

Radar

What’s included in the trip price

Rods, reels & tackle

Live Bait

We supply live bait when preach in bass fishing it’s included in the charter

Lures

Catch cleaning & filleting

Except on perch trips

How cancellations work

Free cancellation up to 3 days prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 3 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

Seven years and up included in the total number

No Smoking

You Keep Catch

Catch and Release Allowed

How you can pay

Book with 10% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 10% 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

 PayPal

What’s biting in St. Clair Shores right now

Bass (Smallmouth)Bass (Smallmouth)
Muskellunge (Musky)Muskellunge (Musky)
Perch (Yellow)Perch (Yellow)
Pike (Northern)Pike (Northern)
WalleyeWalleye
2 people are looking at this charter.