Floridian David Lohmann developed a passion for fishing as a child and has been devoted to the sport for nearly three decades.
“I’ve been fishing in the Florida Keys with my grandfather and father since I was 5 — backcountry and offshore,” Lohmann says. Now 32, he still fishes whenever he can. “I enjoy kite fishing, trolling, reef — all of it. My favorite international spots are Bimini and Costa Rica.”
That lifelong love of the water inspired Lohmann and his father, Richard, to create a business that makes private charter fishing trips more accessible to recreational anglers. Their company, Share A Fishing Charter (Share aFishingCharter.com), positions itself as the first online booking service to sell individual spots on charter boats around the world, enabling anglers to enjoy private-boat experiences at a more affordable price.
Share A Fishing Charter was established in October 2013. After six months of recruiting qualified captains and boats, the service officially launched in May 2014. The Florida-based company, which maintains a satellite office in Costa Rica, has attracted a mix of fleet operators and single-boat captains. To date more than 500 charter companies have joined the platform, and over 1,000 anglers have booked shared fishing charters through the site. Group charters remain an option as well.
The concept is straightforward: instead of renting an entire charter boat at a high price, anglers can purchase individual tickets for a specific trip. The reservation system divides a charter into individual slots that are available for online purchase. “The best part is once two anglers book, the charter is confirmed to fish, and every additional angler that joins shares the cost and lowers the price for everyone on board,” Lohmann explains. He adds that the company’s booking policy protects each angler against unexpected cancellations by other participants: if someone drops out, remaining anglers will never be charged more than the advertised price.
For captains and boat owners, the platform offers a way to increase visibility and fill seats that might otherwise go unused. For anglers, the benefit is clear: the ability to experience high-quality charter fishing—offshore, nearshore, reef, backcountry, or international—without bearing the full cost of a private charter alone. The Lohmanns initially developed the idea because they were frustrated by the high price point of charter fishing, and wanted a technology-driven solution that would let them fish more often for less money.
SAFC’s early growth was fueled by hands-on research and partnerships. The start-up team fished with and vetted top-rated captains in key markets and invited them to participate. Many captains also discovered the service organically or through referrals from other skippers and customers. Over time the company broadened its offerings to include more backcountry trips and added a non-share option for anglers who prefer to reserve an entire boat for their party.
The platform’s cancellation policy is designed to be fair and predictable. If an angler cancels more than 30 days before the scheduled departure, the deposit is refunded as a credit toward a future charter and there is no charge for the remaining ticket price. Cancellations within 30 days result in the deposit being non-refundable, but no additional charges are applied to the remainder of the ticket price. For cancellations within 48 hours of the trip, the full value of the ticket is charged. These policies help protect captains from last-minute losses while giving anglers clear expectations about refunds and credits.
Looking ahead, SAFC plans to expand its full-service concierge offerings later this year. The company intends to add options tailored to corporate outings, luxury charters, multiday trips and vacation packages, making premium fishing experiences more reachable by allowing travelers to share costs. “Sharing the cost of any premium good or service increases the market for that service,” Lohmann says. “Every angler should experience professional fishing, learn best practices and, most importantly, enjoy our amazing sport.”
The platform’s model aims to grow participation in sportfishing by lowering barriers to entry while supporting reputable captains and delivering reliable, bookable trips worldwide.
This article originally appeared in the August 2015 issue.