Golden Hour Outdoors

We’re a local fishing charter located in the Grand Traverse Area of Northwest Michigan.

Let’s make memories in the great outdoors!

About the Boat

Our 2024 Angler Qwest 8524 Pro Striper is a decked out piece of artwork in the fishing world. Coming in at just over 26 feet in length guarantees tons of deck space and ample seating for everyone’s comfort. Outfitted with a 2024 Yamaha 200hp outboard helps us get out to the fishing spots quick! A bow mounted 72’’ Minn Kota Terrova trolling motor with 112lb thrust keeps us locked on the fish for excellent jigging and casting opportunities. We have a helm mounted Garmin Echomap 102sv fish finder and chart plotter to help us locate the best spots depending on our targeted species. Best in the industry Magnum Metalz downriggers with a retrieval rate of 200 feet per minute for tournament level fishing! We provide all top of the line rods and reels for our guests to reel in their trophies.

About the Captain

If you’re looking to experience an unforgettable day on the water, look no further! Captain Josh is an avid sportsman pursuing a life long dream of guiding once in a lifetime fishing adventures. Born and raised in Northern Michigan and fishing the local waters for nearly 20 years helps to guarantee a successful trip. Josh has also spent several years fishing the Pacific ocean and inland waters of Northern California, and most recently spending a winter getting a salt water fix in along the Gulf Coast.

Josh loves getting people involved in and excited about the outdoors. On top of making your experience fun and memorable, he believes every interaction with guests provides a teachable moment – all of his trips will be educational and informative. He hopes you walk away having learned something new! Additionally, being a steward of and advocate for the sustainability and conservation of our natural resources is a top priority.

Outside of chartering, Josh regularly participates in local fishing community events and volunteer programs, with a strong emphasis in youth and veteran outreach. He is an active member of the Northwest Michigan Fishing Club and Trout Unlimited, and a volunteer captain for Tight Lines For Troops.

About the Fishing

    • LAKE TROUT – May through October we offer trolling trips for Lake Trout. May through mid June we offer casting/jigging trips for Lake Trout and Cisco. (In the spring time these fish are typically found in similar waters)

    • CISCO – May through June we offer casting/jigging and trolling trips for Cisco/Lake Trout. October we offer extremely effective Cisco trolling trips.

    • SALMON – Sometimes as early as May in other ports (Frankfort or Leland) picking up in late June early July strictly in (Frankfort or Leland) For local Grand Traverse Bay trips salmon fishing picks up mid August and remains good through September. We only fish for salmon if there’s a hot bite going on. Check out our socials or reach out for updated reports and opportunities.

    • JIGGING/CASTING – Jigging and casting are a more hands on approach. We typically combine both methods depending on the current bite and conditions. During these trips you’ll have full control of the rod and feel every bite!

    • TROLLING – With lines set we cruise around anywhere from 1.5 to 3.5 mph. Trolling is a more relaxing and beginner friendly way to fish. We set the lines, you reel in the fish. Trolling trips cover lots of ground to find those trophy fish!

    • GRAND TRAVERSE BAYS – Traverse City, Elk Rapids and other launches bordering East and West Grand Traverse Bays. We tailor out trips to you so it’s more convenient. We also strongly consider where the best bites are going on. Reach out to your captain to build your ultimate charter experience!

    • INLAND RIVERS & LAKES – Torch Lake, Elk Lake

    • GREAT LAKES – Frankfort, Leeland

  • We offer Charter fishing opportunities May through October! Follow our socials to keep up to date on the latest bites and trophy pictures.

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