Charter boat fishing is a unique date that can take almost a full day.

There are so many companies to choose from in the $30 to $35 range. It’s a cheap date, and the best part is that if you catch anything, you can cook her some dinner.

Flamingo Fishing in Fort Lauderdale was our main boat to charter, but because we are college students, we are never on time. The boat leaves promptly at 1 p.m. After doing some research, we found Fishing Headquarters, which had a boat leaving at 1:30 p.m. A short walk and $35 later, we were sitting on the side panel of the boat ready to leave the Intracoastal.

You’re almost guaranteed to catch at least one fish on this boat, but don’t tell her this — when you reel in a big one, she’ll think you’re the man. If she’s never been fishing before, you can get the opportunity to help her learn how to hold a reel and how the process of fishing works.

If you have never been fishing before, google it. A lady likes it when a man can teach her how to do manly things.

You should encourage her to bait her own hook, but don’t force it on her. After all, dead fish are slimy and gooey, and she may have just gotten her nails done.

There are a few things to do before you even step foot on the boat. Check the weather update on The Weather Channel or www.weather.com. If the swells in the ocean are at least five feet, you may want to reconsider going fishing that day. After all, the best way to woo a girl is to not make her throw up.

Take any kind of motion sickness medicine and encourage her to take it too. If you’re too manly to take medicine in front of your girl, take it in the bathroom or when she’s not around. The last thing you want is to throw up in front of her. For all you broke college students out there, the Walgreens version of Dramamine, Wal-dram, works just as well and costs a lot less.

If she catches a fish, encourage her to reel it in herself. Don’t be upset if she catches a fish and you don’t — although that probably won’t happen.

Remember that you will be on a boat for four or five hours, so try not to make any plans after the boat ride. When you get off, tip the boat hands and they’ll clean and filet your fish so you can take it home and cook some lovely dinner for your girl.

Get her a glass of wine and … yeah.

Fishing Headquarters

301 Seabreeze Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
(754) 214-7863
www.fishheadquarters.com