LEGAL · TERMS

Terms of Service

LAST UPDATED · April 16, 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service (the “Terms”) are a binding agreement between you and Following Seas Guide Service (“Following Seas,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). By using followingseasguideservice.com (the “Site”), submitting an inquiry, or booking a charter with us, you agree to these Terms and to our Privacy Policy.

If you do not agree, do not use the Site or book a trip with us.

2. Our Service

Following Seas is a licensed inshore and nearshore fishing charter based in Ocean City, Maryland, operating aboard the Miss Joyce II. We offer scheduled trip packages for private groups of up to four (4) guests. Trip lengths, departure times, target species, and included gear are described on the Site and may change based on season, weather, and fishery conditions.

You must be physically able to board, ride in, and safely remain on a small charter vessel. If you have a medical condition, mobility limitation, or concern, tell us before booking so we can advise you honestly.

3. Booking & Payment

Bookings are typically taken through FishingBooker or directly with Captain Cole by phone, text, or email. A booking is confirmed only when you receive written confirmation from us (or the booking platform) with a date, time, and trip type.

  • All published prices are per boat, not per person, unless otherwise stated.
  • Prices, availability, and trip offerings can change without notice. The price confirmed at the time of booking is the price that applies to your trip.
  • Payment, deposit requirements, and payment processing are handled by the booking platform you use. We do not collect or store payment card information on the Site.
  • Gratuity for the captain and mate is appreciated and customary but not required. Industry standard is 15–20%.

4. Cancellations & Weather

Customer cancellations

Unless stated otherwise at the time of booking, you may cancel with at least 3 days’ notice for a full refund of anything you have paid. Cancellations made with less than 3 days’ notice may be non-refundable. If you booked through a third-party platform, that platform’s cancellation policy controls.

Weather & safety cancellations

Captain Cole monitors weather, sea state, and small-craft advisories. If he determines that conditions are unsafe or that the fishery won’t produce a reasonable trip, we will contact you to reschedule or refund. Safety decisions are at the captain’s sole discretion and are final.

Late arrival & no-show

Trips depart on time. If you are more than 15 minutes late, we may shorten or cancel the trip without a refund. No-shows are non-refundable.

5. Passenger Conduct

While aboard, you agree to:

  • Follow all instructions from the captain and mate at all times.
  • Wear personal flotation devices when required or requested.
  • Refrain from illegal drug use on the vessel.
  • Drink alcohol only in moderation, if at all. We reserve the right to refuse or end service to anyone we reasonably believe is impaired to a level that endangers themselves or others.
  • Not harass marine wildlife or other vessels, and not violate Maryland or federal regulations.
  • Treat the crew, the vessel, and other guests with respect.

We reserve the right to refuse or end a trip at any time if a passenger is behaving unsafely, unlawfully, or in a way that threatens the crew, the vessel, or other guests. In that event, no refund is owed.

6. Assumption of Risk

Fishing charters involve inherent risks, including but not limited to: slips, trips, and falls aboard a moving vessel; exposure to sun, wind, rain, and cold; wave action and sudden boat movement; contact with hooks, knives, bait, fish teeth, spines, and other sharp objects; allergic reactions; seasickness; and the general unpredictable nature of the marine environment.

By booking a trip with Following Seas, you acknowledge these risks and voluntarily assume them for yourself and for any minors in your party. You agree that participation is at your own risk and you are responsible for your own physical condition and ability to participate safely.

You are responsible for disclosing any medical conditions that could be affected by the trip. If you are pregnant, have a heart condition, recent surgery, or other concern, please consult your doctor before booking.

7. Fish & Game Regulations

All fishing is subject to current Maryland Department of Natural Resources and, where applicable, federal regulations, including size limits, bag limits, closed seasons, and protected species rules. These regulations can change at any time. The captain’s call on whether a fish is legal and whether it can be kept is final. You agree to comply with any direction from the captain or mate relating to legal harvest.

Fish cleaning is provided at no extra charge for legal, kept fish. You are responsible for transporting and storing your catch after the trip.

8. Photos & Media

We may take photos or short video of the day on the water, which we may use on our Site, in marketing materials, and on social media. If you do not want your likeness used, tell us before the trip and we will respect that request.

You retain rights to photos or video you capture yourself.

9. Intellectual Property

All content on the Site — including text, photographs, logos, trademarks, icons, audio, video, and layout — is the property of Following Seas Guide Service or our licensors and is protected by U.S. and international intellectual property laws.

You may view and share the Site for personal, non-commercial use. You may not copy, reproduce, modify, resell, or commercially exploit any content from the Site without our prior written permission.

10. Prohibited Uses of the Site

You agree not to:

  • Use the Site for any unlawful purpose or in violation of these Terms.
  • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Site or its underlying systems.
  • Interfere with, disrupt, or probe the Site, its hosting infrastructure, or our bot-prevention systems.
  • Submit false, misleading, or spam inquiries through the contact form.
  • Scrape, harvest, or mirror the Site, its photos, or reviews, whether manually or with automated tools, except as strictly permitted by robots.txt for legitimate search indexing.
  • Use the Site or its content to train machine-learning models without our prior written permission.

12. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Site and our services are provided “as is” and “as available.” To the fullest extent permitted by law, Following Seas disclaims all warranties, whether express or implied, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, and any warranty arising from course of dealing or usage of trade.

We do not guarantee a specific number or type of fish on any trip. Fishing is a sport. Success depends on weather, tides, water temperature, forage, and factors outside our control. Our “99% catch rate” reflects historical outcomes across many trips and is not a promise of results on any individual trip.

13. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Following Seas, the captain, the mate, and our owners and affiliates will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Site or participation in a trip, including but not limited to damages for lost enjoyment, lost profits, missed connections, or lost property.

Our total aggregate liability for any claim arising out of or relating to a trip or the Site is limited to the amount you actually paid us for the trip at issue. Some jurisdictions do not allow the limitation of certain damages, so the above limitations may not apply to you.

Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be limited under applicable law, including for gross negligence or willful misconduct.

14. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Following Seas, the captain, the mate, and our owners and affiliates from any claims, damages, liabilities, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of: (a) your violation of these Terms; (b) your violation of any law or the rights of a third party; or (c) your conduct aboard the vessel, including damage you cause to the vessel or its equipment.

15. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules, and, where applicable, by the general maritime law of the United States. You agree that any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms, the Site, or a trip will be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Worcester County, Maryland, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of those courts.

16. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will post the revised version on this page and update the “Last updated” date at the top. Your continued use of the Site or booking of a trip after changes become effective constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

17. Contact Us

Questions about these Terms? Reach out:

Following Seas Guide Service
Ocean City, Maryland 21842
Email: Colevns@gmail.com
Phone: (410) 708-4139