By researching our boats thoroughly, you are afforded a sense of familiarity and consistency throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Similar to driving across the country and tending to stop at the same gas stations and restaurants, using a reputable agent who has done their homework should give you a level of confidence in your charter. When a trip is direct booked by a skipper that does not utilize an agency network, there is no quality control and you must trust the individual you speak with. Since most everyone feels he or she is the best, you never truly receive an objective opinion, thus facing a higher degree of risk than if you use a service or agent. Though every boat in the harbor must be operated by a licensed captain, must meet requirements for the state prior to obtaining a slip, and will work hard to catch you fish, beyond this you have no idea what you are buying.
Some operations are excellent and run from their reputations without needing any help from agents.
But some are not so excellent. Deciding which is which is where agents can help. If the skipper is not willing to comply at all with your requests, it may be a sign that customer service is secondary to catching fish. Some skippers get hung up on a single fish they got 5 or 10 years ago and use that as their pitch, while others may not have caught as large a fish but maintain a consistent production rate throughout the year. Remember, granders don't happen every day, so while the dream is important, so is a comfortable boat, a friendly skipper, and a chance to enjoy working on that dream.