Indiana’s “North Coast” Offers More Than Fishing

Lake Michigan is shared by Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana, with Indiana’s portion of the lake being the smallest. Members of Indiana's North Coast Charter Association know this, but are quick to point out Indiana’s portion is also the most important part for many reasons, especially for the quality and quantity of salmon, lake trout, steelhead and other species of fish available to visiting anglers.

Thousands of fishermen from across the country and around the world come to Indiana’s portion of Lake Michigan to fish each year. But wait, there’s more!
 

Lighthouses on Lake Michigan

I got a phone call one day from a couple with a passion for lighthouses - not just any lighthouses - but specifically lighthouses along Lake Michigan’s shoreline.

The gentleman explained, “My wife and I will be completing our quest to visit every lighthouse on Lake Michigan in late June, but we need to visit four lighthouses in Lake County, Indiana, that cannot be accessed on foot. All the other lighthouses along the lake are on shorelines, at harbors or on breakwaters that are open to the public. Public access to the lighthouse at Calumet Harbor, the Indiana Harbor, Buffington Harbor and the US Steel Harbor at the USS Gary Works is prohibited since access would have to go through heavily industrialized areas.”
 

Calumet Harbor Lighthouse

 “I’m certainly aware of all these lighthouses,” I said. “I’ve caught fish literally in the shadow of each of those structures many times. I never considered how inaccessible they were to the general public, especially compared to all the other lighthouses on Lake Michigan.”  

 “We’d like to book a charter with you, but we really don’t want to fish. Just take us to each of these lighthouses so we can see them up close and take some photos,” he said.

I made a counteroffer. "I’ll be taking people fishing the mornings of the weekend dates you mentioned, but I’ll be done by 12:30. Give me a little time to stow some of the fishing gear and clean up the boat a bit. Can you meet me at the docks at the East Chicago Marina at 1 PM?"

I did some mental math and guessed the route to each of these lighthouses and back to the marina would be about 20 miles; so realistically, we’d be able to make the voyage in less than two hours, depending on waves. There would be no pressure to produce fish or fish to fillet at the end of the trip, so I quoted him a price far less than what I’d charge for a normal fishing trip, but would compensate me for my fuel and time. He eagerly accepted! There’s no better deal than one when both sides are satisfied.

More Than Fishing on Charters

This is just one of the experiences, other than the usual fishing trips, I’ve been operating on Lake Michigan for the past 25 years. Others include happy occasions – two weddings on my boat – as well as solemn occasions where family members scattered the ashes of departed loved ones.

Most recent was a couple with three young children, too young to take fishing – especially on an early spring trip when morning temperatures were chilly. “Could we return to the marina early, have my parents meet us with our children, and then take the kids out for a short boat ride?” asked the husband.

 “Sure thing,” I said. “As it turned out, the fishing was fast and furious that morning. Mom and dad quickly caught their limits of salmon, and by the time the fish were cleaned, the parents had delivered the children. We bundled them into child-sized lifejackets and took them out on the lake for their first boating experience. I’m sure from the parents’ point of view, the smiles and squeals of delight from their youngsters were as fulfilling as the fish they’d caught earlier.

The point is, there are many reasons for individuals to want to go boating on Lake Michigan. The members of Indiana’s North Coast Charter Association are all fully licensed and insured to carry up to six passengers – for whatever reason. Though their boats are set up and equipped as fishing vessels, they are certainly capable of safely making excursions for a wide variety of experiences.
 

Plan Your Charter

If this appeals to you, contact any of the members of INCCA through their website at www.charterfish.org and explain what you have in mind. The motto of one popular tourist venue in the Hoosier state is, “There’s more than corn in Indiana.”  When it comes to INCCA, one of their mottos could be, “There’s more than fish in Lake Michigan.”