Fishing Charters in Two Rivers, Five Captains Compared

The fishing charters Two Rivers sends onto Lake Michigan leave from the same river banks where commercial fish tugs have worked for generations. Rogers Street Fishing Village calls the East Twin River the traditional headquarters of the town's commercial fleet, and five charter captains tie up within about 0.2 miles of the museum. Below: who they are, how the trips are built, what to pack, what the license rules ask of you, and when the water and the calendar line up.

Who runs the boats and where they tie up

The boats work from the stretch of Rogers Street and the East Twin River around the fishing village, so you can walk between them. Visit Two Rivers lists 16 operators and says they chase king salmon, coho salmon, rainbow trout, brown trout and lake trout. Five of them are covered here, each with something different to offer.

Reel Persistence Charters is the fourth, run by Captain Rick Juedes out of 2010 Rogers Street, and it targets king and coho salmon along with rainbow, brown and lake trout. Google shows a free parking lot, wheelchair accessible parking and card payments, and the crew bags your catch at the dock. An August 2025 reviewer wrote that Rick and his mate stepped up at the last minute to get a family out, including a seven-year-old grandson.

Doubled-Up Charters departs from Jackson Street and targets chinook and coho salmon, with Captain Brad bringing more than 20 years on the water and a crew that guides the lines and explains the methods. A FishingBooker profile, which carries no date, lists a 31-foot Baha Sportfish and five-hour morning or afternoon trips, so confirm both with the captain. A July 2026 reviewer fished with two boys aged nine and seven, who reeled in fish, and the crew cut and prepped the catch.

How a charter trip is built

Most trips are priced by trip length and party size, with a cap of six anglers on a boat. The shorter option runs about five hours at Shur-Katch and High Life and six at King Cob and Reel Persistence, and the longer day runs eight, with some skippers ending the day early if the limit comes first.

Prices are the question everyone asks, so here is what the captains post, with the caveat that you should confirm before you book. Shur-Katch's site shows 2026 pricing of $600 for a five-hour half day for one to four people and $900 for an eight-hour day for one or two, with tax included. High Life's site shows 2026 rates of $600 for a five-hour half day for one to four people and $900 for an eight-hour day, tax included, plus a 4 percent surcharge on cards and PayPal. Shur-Katch's site calls a tip of 18 to 20 percent for the crew the industry standard.

Bring what the captains ask for. High Life's list is a large cooler for the fish, tennis or deck shoes with no boots, food and drinks, sun protection and clothes for the weather, including rain gear. King Cob asks guests to bring weather gear and snacks. Weekends and holidays fill up fast, according to Shur-Katch, so book those dates early. Reel Persistence's rates page, which carries no date, lists a deposit to hold a date and a full refund when weather cancels a trip with no chance to reschedule, so read the terms with your captain.

License, limits and what you can keep

Anyone 16 or older needs a Wisconsin fishing license, and Lake Michigan trout and salmon fishing also needs a Great Lakes trout and salmon stamp. High Life's site says a two-day license that covers both can be bought on the boat the day of the trip, and its captain will help you get one.

Bag limits change, so the Department of Natural Resources is the place to check. The DNR links its 2026-2027 trout fishing regulations guide from its regulations page, and says the possession limit is twice the total daily bag limit. It also says that once you reach the limit for a species you must stop fishing for it, catch and release included. Ask your captain how the day's limits work before the lines go out, and check current regulations on the DNR site.

The DNR calls Lake Michigan the most frequently visited water in Wisconsin and posts weekly fishing reports compiled by creel clerks. A report dated November 2, 2026 says the open water creel season has ended for northern Lake Michigan, a reminder that the season has a clear end, so look up the latest report before you plan a trip.

When to go and what the calendar offers

The recent reviews cluster in summer. Recent reviewers on these five boats describe trips in June, July and August 2026. In a July 2024 NBC 26 story, Captain Paul Monk said the charter season starts June 1, and a DNR fisheries biologist said salmon numbers looked strong that year. That was one season, so ask the captain what the water is doing now.

The Two Rivers Fish Derby and Festival is the town's big fishing weekend. The derby runs from just after midnight Friday until noon Sunday, with awards at 3 PM Sunday and more than $10,000 in cash and prizes, according to Travel Wisconsin's event page. The page lists the festival at Walsh Field, 2201 Polk Street, with free admission. The Travel Wisconsin page marks its latest edition as ended, so check this year's dates before planning a trip around it.

The same NBC 26 story said Two Rivers had 16 registered charter boats, and that owner Ed Kakes of Shur Catch tries to send guests to local motels, supper clubs and diners. When a trip means an overnight, the lodging guide is the place to start for a bed near the water.

Before or after the boat

Rogers Street Fishing Village is the natural stop, because the charters tie up beside it. Rogers Street Fishing Village lets you board the 1936 wooden fish tug Buddy O and climb the 1886 North Pierhead Lighthouse. Its site lists a May through October season, and says fish tugs still bring in the daily catch, so call before you go in the off months. A June 2026 visitor praised the guides on the tug and in the lighthouse.

If the lake is rough or the trip sells out, the rest of the town has plenty to fill a day. Pair the boat with a walk on the Lake Michigan sand at the state forest about 2.7 miles northeast of Rogers Street. Its beach, lighthouse and campsites are worth a day of their own.

Woodland Dunes Nature Center & Preserve is about 1.4 miles west and gives a quiet walk on boardwalks.

The Hamilton Wood Type Museum is another dry-day option.

The rest of a dry day can be filled from the full town rundown.

Walk back along the East Twin River after the boat and you are on banks where, the museum says, commercial fishing goes back more than 185 years and fish tugs still bring in the day's catch.