Captain
Jim Hirt

Member since April 2016 Milwaukee, United States
Background
Captain Jim Hirt has more than 30 years experience fishing for Salmon and Trout on Lake Michigan. He works with his wife Anita to provide exciting fishing adventures from Milwaukee as well as relaxing cruises around the local area. The couple make every effort to ensure that your trip is both safe and enjoyable. Blue Max Charters’ claim to fame: a line class world record of the somewhat rare Atlantic Salmon was caught during a fishing tournament with this outfit!
Techniques
Motor Trolling

Hey, I'm Captain Jim Hirt

Milwaukee, United States
Background
Captain Jim Hirt has more than 30 years experience fishing for Salmon and Trout on Lake Michigan. He works with his wife Anita to provide exciting fishing adventures from Milwaukee as well as relaxing cruises around the local area. The couple make every effort to ensure that your trip is both safe and enjoyable. Blue Max Charters’ claim to fame: a line class world record of the somewhat rare Atlantic Salmon was caught during a fishing tournament with this outfit!
Techniques
Motor Trolling
Anglers Choice
Verified

My Charter Listing

Excellent
4.9 / 5
(118 reviews)
Angler's choice
Milwaukee
 Instant Confirmation
Trips from US $540

Fishing Reports

Milwaukee, Fishing Big Kings Out There!!
Milwaukee, Fishing Big Kings Out There!!
Aug 14, 2017 Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Fishing Big Kings Out There!! By Milwaukee Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt Lake Michigan Salmon Fishing Report 8/14/2017! Austin Lamb of Stevens Point triumphed over this 38.5 inch that weighed in at 24.6 pounds. Congratulations Austin hope to see you again next season. Join us in Milwaukee! How When you find them stay on them. The fishing is improving. We are finding pockets of colder water and schools of baitfish in 100 to 180 feet of water. When you pick up a fish head back over that area as you will likely find more action in that spot. Chinook numbers were up the last two days with some large Lake Trout also active on the bottom. We have good days and difficult days. Chinooks went for Magnum Reaper spoons in blue/silver or green/silver. White or green Howieโ€™s flies also working well run behind a white flasher. The big 20 pounds plus Chinooks are more frequent part of the catch. We had some excellent days fishing them in the warm water with spoons or flies. Downriggers on the bottom with size 0 dodgers and Spin n Glows are taking the Lakers. Reapers and Vulcans made by Badger Tackle have been working for us. The small silver Vulcan in green or blue has also been good on the lead cores for exciting Rainbows. I hope this helps. Slide Diver are producing with #3 silver J plugs set at 2 with small ring. Run them 70 feet of line out 70 behind the diver . Lake Trout action was some what improved all week on magnum spoons on the bottom. Brown Trout action was just ok on the bottom small spoons. One here and there. Rainbow Trout were hitting Vulcan Dolphin Green and Silver spoons in the top 40 feet. Speed For all fish speed has been very critical with the warmer 68 degree water. The temp break to 55 is down 100 feet. I use the Depth Raider to measure speed and temp at the ball. The boat speed of 2.0 to 2.2 has been best. The faster speed triggered the Chinook action. Where! I fished anywhere from 100 to out over 180 feet. Follow the temperatures and fish the zone. Near shore action on McKinley pier has been very slow with only a few Browns being caught. Head north in Whitefish Bay and set lines in 100 feet. Troll north east have a great fishing season. Let's go fishing! Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters. Fish, report, salmon, lake, michigan, Milwaukee
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Milwaukee, Mixed Bag Continues!
Milwaukee, Mixed Bag Continues!
Jul 23, 2017 Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Mixed Bag Continues! By Milwaukee Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt Lake Michigan Salmon Fishing Report 7/24/2017! Join us in Milwaukee! To get my fish reports and how to videos first go to **hidden content** By subscribing you will keep ahead of the other anglers. When I post you will get it fast! How Mixed bag all week. Hot and cold action this past week has lead to inconsistent catches. We still had lots of fun. Chinooks and Coho numbers were down the last two days with Lake Trout picking up the slack. We have good days and difficult days. Chinooks went for Magnum Reaper Peacock spoons in blue/silver. White or green Howieโ€™s flies also working well run behind a white flasher. The big Chinooks are a guess however we had some excellent days fishing them in the warm water with spoons or flies. Downriggers on the bottom with size 0 dodgers and Spin n Glows are taking the Lakers. Reapers and Vulcans made by **hidden content** have been working for us. The small silver Vulcan in green or blue has also been good on the lead cores for exciting Rainbows. I hope this helps. Slide Diver are producing with #3 silver J plugs set at 2 with small ring. Run them 70 feet of line out 70 behind the diver . Lake Trout action was some what improved all week on magnum spoons on the bottom. Brown Trout action was just ok on 2 color lead core with small spoons. One here and there. Rainbow Trout were hitting Vulcan Dolphin Green and Silver spoons in the top 40 feet. Speed For all fish speed has been very critical with the warmer 68 degree water. The temp break to 53 is down 100 feet. I use the Depth Raider to measure speed and temp at the ball. The boat speed of 2.0 to 2.2 has been best. The faster speed triggered the Chinook action. Where! I fished anywhere from 70 to out over 150 feet. Follow the temperatures and fish the zone. Near shore action on McKinley pier has been very slow with only a few Browns being caught. Head north in Whitefish Bay and set lines in 80 feet. Troll north east have a great fishing season. Let's go fishing! Note We are offering an extra hour for $35 when added to a five hour fishing charter. Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters. Fish,report,salmon,lake,michigan,Milwaukee
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Milwaukee, Coho down Lake Trout up!
Milwaukee, Coho down Lake Trout up!
Jun 25, 2017 Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Coho down Lake Trout up! By Milwaukee Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt Coho and Chinook Report 6/29/2017! Join us in Milwaukee! To get my fish reports and how to videos first go to **hidden content** By subscribing you will keep ahead of the other anglers. When I post you will get it fast! How Mixed bag all week. Very inconsistent, still lots of fun. Chinooks and Coho have been playing their games. We have good days and difficult days. Chinooks went for Magnum Reaper Peacock spoons in blue/silver. White or green Howieโ€™s flies also working well run behind a white flasher. The big Chinooks are active 90 down on downriggers. Reapers and Vulcans made by **hidden content** have been working for us. The small silver Vulcan in green or blue has also been good on the downriggers. Run them 50 feet behind the ball 55 feet down to the bottom. Six inch flashers or dodgers with green or blue Howieโ€™s peanut flies have been my go to bait for Coho. Tie your flies 16 inches on 6 inch dodgers, 20 inches for 6 inch flashers. All orange dodgers and flashers. I hope this helps. Slide Diver are producing with flies set at 2 small ring 60 feet of line out. Lake Trout action was okay all week on magnum spoons 8 color lead was best. Brown Trout action was just ok on 2 color lead core with small spoons. One here and there. Rainbow Trout were hitting Vulcan Dolphin Green and Silver spoons in the top 15 feet. Speed For all fish speed has been very critical with the warmer 60 degree water. The temp break to 53 is down 50 feet. I use the Depth Raider to measure speed and temp at the ball. The boat speed of 2.0 to 2.2 has been best. The faster speed triggered the Chinook action. Where! I fished anywhere from 30 to out over 100 feet. Follow the temperatures and fish the zone. Near shore action on McKinley pier has been very slow with only a few Browns being caught. Head north in Whitefish Bay and set lines in 50 feet. Troll north east have a great fishing season. Let's go fishing! Note We are offering an extra hour for $35 when added to a five hour fishing charter. Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters. He can be reached at **hidden content** or visit his web site at **hidden content** Copyrightยฉ 2016, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved. Fish,report,salmon,lake,michigan,Milwaukee
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Coho Are Still King Out Of Milwaukee
Coho Are Still King Out Of Milwaukee
Jun 13, 2017 Milwaukee
Coho Are Still King Out Of Milwaukee By Milwaukee Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt The lake is warming and a thermo cline is setting up. The surface action has slowed and the temperature break is at 35 feet to 50 degrees. Rainbow Trout action has been best in the warmer water just above the break in sizes of 4 to 14 pounds. All our action on Rainbows has been on Reaper Magnum Fish N Chip Silver spoons presented on 5 color leadcore or Slide Divers with 60 foot leads set to #1 with 35 feet of line out. 80 to 120 feet of water has been best with depths of 100 to 150 feet later in the day. We have had some issues with wind and waves the last week and I had to cancel some trips. However when we could get out to the deeper 70-150 water action has been great. Chinooks Coho are at or below the break from 20 to 45 feet down. We are still getting Coho on 6-inch flashers or OO dodgers with Howie peanut, small hair cut or Mylar flies tied 12 inches long. The Coho are steady with green or blue flies. Reaper Magnum Fish N Chip, Peacock and Vulcan Magnum Silver Lizard, Silver Sky spoons on the downriggers are taking Lake Trout 8 to 15 pounds 45 to 65 down eighty feet behind the ball. The only place you will find Reaper and Vulcan spoons is on their web site at **hidden content** The wind has brought the temperatures near shore is up to 61 degrees on the surface and that action in has slowed. Start your trip in 70 feet of water and fish out to deeper water. Look for 52-degree or colder water. Our best presentations are planer boards with 4, 5, 8, or 10 color lead core and downriggers 30 to 65 feet down. Slide Divers are also producing set to #3 with 40 feet of line out. Our best speed was 1.7 to 2.0 mph. Have a great fishing season. Let's go fishing!! Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters.
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Milwaukee, Deep Water stacked with fish
Milwaukee, Deep Water stacked with fish
May 14, 2017 Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Shallow or Deep Water stacked with Fish! By Milwaukee Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt Coho and Chinook Report 5/14/2017 Salmon are here! Join us in Milwaukee! Great fishing morning for the Madison graduation party ! We had a great time. How It was mostly a spoon bite with a few fish on flies. The pattern hasnโ€™t changed. A mixed bag of Coho, Chinooks, Browns and Lake Trout are filling the box with limits possible. The big Chinooks are also in. Chinook are coming on small or magnum size spoons. Reapers and Vulcans made by Badger tackle have been working for us. The small silver Vulcan in green or blue has been hot on the downriggers. Run them 50 feet behind the ball 15 feet down to the bottom. Six inch flashers or dodgers with green or blue Howieโ€™s peanut flies also caught fish. Tie your flies 14.5 inches on 6 inch dodgers, 24 inches for 6 inch flashers. Use all orange dodgers and flashers. I hope this helps. Slide Diver are producing with flies set at 3 no ring 35 feet of line out. Lake Trout action was great today they are 30-40 down. Speed For all fish speed has been very critical with the warmer 51 degree water. I use the Depth Raider to measure speed at the ball. The Chinook are hitting Reaper Magnum Glow spoons at first light and blue or green with silver back all day. The boat speed of 2.2 to 2.4 has been best. The faster speed triggered the Chinook action. Where! Fish are hanging in close to shore or the break wall. We did not get out over 50 feet of water yesterday. Follow the shoreline working 40 feet of water. Some reports of Coho in 150 feet or more on the surface. Have a great fishing season. Let's go fishing! Note All alone we put together groups at $125 per person. Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters. Copyrightยฉ 2017, James J. Hirt All Rights Reserved. Fish,report,salmon,lake,michigan,milwaukee
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Milwaukee, Chins in Chins out Fishing!
Milwaukee, Chins in Chins out Fishing!
Sep 11, 2016 Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Chins in Chins out Fishing! By Milwaukee Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt Chinook Report 9/12/2016! Join us in Milwaukee! Hard fighting three year olds or harbor four year old Kings take your choice. Headed out to deep water with the Hutchins family to wrestle a nice mixed bag of Chinook, Rainbows and Lake Trout. How West wind has not changed the report or fishing. The key right now is to find the break to cold water. Let your locator tell you if the bait fish are around. Your reward will be a steady bite on all size and types of fish. Howie flies are my go to on the wires and Reaper or Vulcan spoons on 8 color lead core are taking the Rainbow Trout. The big three year old Chinooks are active every trip. The action and location has been from **hidden content** feet of water. Chinooks went for regular size Vulcan spoons in silver or green/silver. Many Chinooks over ten pounds this week most averaged 8-13 pounds. White or green Howieโ€™s flies also working well run behind a white flasher. The big Chinooks are active 100 down on downriggers. Reapers and Vulcans made by Badger Tackle have been working for us. They have a Buy Four get one free special this season and free shipping. The small or magnum silver Vulcan in green or blue has also been good on the downriggers. Run them 50 feet behind the ball 100 feet down to the bottom. Running all wire divers now with a 2.0 set at 155 feet of line out. Lake Trout action is great they were hitting the Chinook tackle. Brown Trout action was slow in deep water with reports of some being caught in the harbor on Magnum Reaper spoons. Rainbow Trout were hitting Vulcan Dolphin Green and Silver spoons in the top 40 feet. Speed For all fish speed has been very critical with the warmer 75 degree water. The temp break to 57 is down 100 feet in 150 feet of water. I use the Depth Raider to measure speed and temp at the ball. The boat speed of 2.0 to 2.2 has been best. Where! I fished mostly out over 100 feet all week. Action for us has been in 100 to 160 feet. Near shore action on McKinley pier has been improving. Some browns or kings being caught on Magnum Vulcan spoons. Boat anglers are getting four year old Chinooks as they come to the end of there life. Itโ€™s a zoo inside the harbor and not for the faint of heart. We did not get out over 160 feet of water yesterday. Head 70 degrees north in Milwaukee Bay and set lines in 100 feet. Troll north to south have a great fishing season. Let's go fishing! Note We are offering an extra hour for $35 when added to a five hour fishing charter. Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters.
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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.9 / 5
out of 5 stars from 118 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (121)
Will book again
Good trip
Rewarding trip
+118
Angler rating
107
5
5
0
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
90%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
95%
Appropriate for children
97%
Satisfied with the boat
99%
Caught fish
87%
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5 of 118 reviews
Soukanya S.
Wauconda, IL
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

August fishing trip

VERIFIED   7 Hour Trip โ€“ Weekend (AM) on August 4, 2019
Soukanya S. recommends Blue Max Charters Salmon Fishing
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Soukanya S. recommends Blue Max Charters Salmon Fishing
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Dae S. L.
Milwaukee, WI
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing with Jim

VERIFIED   7 Hour Trip โ€“ Weekday (AM) on June 17, 2019
Dae S. L. recommends Blue Max Charters Salmon Fishing
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Dae S. L. recommends Blue Max Charters Salmon Fishing
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful

Al M.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Half Day Trip

VERIFIED   Weekend Trip โ€“ 5 Hours on August 12, 2018
Very knowledgeable and hard working crew. Very nice as well. We caught large trout and aalmon on a bright sunny day when other...
Al M. recommends Blue Max Charters Salmon Fishing
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Artom A.
Chicago, Illinois
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing with Jim

VERIFIED   Weekend Trip โ€“ 5 Hours on July 29, 2018
Thank you for the good time, Jim and Anita!
Artom A. recommends Blue Max Charters Salmon Fishing
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Thomas J. B.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing Lake Michigan (7/8/2016)

VERIFIED   7 Hour Trip โ€“ Weekday (AM) on July 7, 2016
Capt. Jim extremely knowledgeable taking time to explain the different types of equipment and techniques he would use on our...
Thomas J. B. recommends Blue Max Charters Salmon Fishing
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Thomas J. B. recommends Blue Max Charters Salmon Fishing
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