Ottawa County charter boat captains take top honors in national rankings

Jessica Denton
·2 min read

OTTAWA COUNTY – Eight fishing guides from the Ottawa County area have been named “Super Captains” from the biggest charter fishing website in the U.S.

FishingBooker, the largest online platform connecting anglers and fishing guides, awards its best captains with the “Angler’s Choice” awards each year.

This award honors the top guides on the platform for their efforts in providing the best possible fishing experience for their customers, a press release stated.

Receiving top charter honors requires top scores

In order to qualify, charter captains must have:

● 4.8+ out of 5-star reviews from at least 10 reviewers

● 98% reliability score

● 98% response rate

● And Full Business Verification.

FishingBooker has been giving the awards since 2015.

Out of 7,610 guides who partner with FishingBooker, only 550 receive this Super Captain award. Eight of them are from the Ottawa County area.

Eight captains receive to honors

Named "Super Captains" are:

● Nick Cook of Vitamin Sea Fishing Charters (Huron)

● James Cramer of Champion Charters (Oak Harbor)

● Mike Dean of Tail Chaser Fishing Charters (Lakeside Marblehead)

● Samuel Downing of Pork Chop Express Charters (Lakeside Marblehead)

● David Faller of BlackH2oDog Charters (Lakeside Marblehead)

● Robert George Of Liberty Charters (Oak Harbor)

● Craig Rothgeb of Reel King Charters (Lakeside Marblehead)

● Frank Sherry of South of Heaven Charters (Sandusky)

James “Jim” Cramer of Champion Charters in Oak Harbor said he gives it his best effort at anything he does. Champion Charters takes a customer-first approach, he said.

“We cater from people who have never been fishing on a boat before to avid fisherman, to everything between,” he said. His boats also have the capacity to accommodate wheelchairs and mobility aids.

Their catches focus on walleye, but also range to Lake Erie perch and smallmouth bass too, Cramer said.

“We’re so blessed with the fishery on Lake Erie,” Cramer said, who started Champion six years ago after being an avid fisherman for many years.

The charter company has two identical 30-foot Island Hoppers, and he named the company after his two sons, Jake and Luke, who are championship wrestlers from Oak Harbor schools and their respective colleges in the NCAA.

“I give God a lot of the credit,” he said of Champion’s success and recognition. “I’m just very blessed.”

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: 'Super Captain' awards given to 8 Ottawa Co. charter businesses