Trust & Safety

Listings start from publicly available business information, so anglers can find charter captains in one place. A captain can claim their listing for free to correct it and keep it current. Claimed listings show an Owner-Managed badge, which means the details come from the captain, not from us.

On coastal and other federally navigable waters, federal law requires a captain taking paying passengers fishing to hold a U.S. Coast Guard license. Some inland lakes and rivers fall under state rules instead. Either way, licensing is set by the government, not something Unreel grants or takes away.

We check what official records can tell us and show it as badges on the listing:

• USCG Verified Captain: the captain’s credential, checked with the Coast Guard National Maritime Center. Available to every captain who claims their listing.
• Verified Vessel: the boat matched to Coast Guard vessel records.
• State License on Record: matched to the state’s charter license roster, in states that publish one.
• Insurance on File: a current certificate of insurance the captain uploaded. It is not checked with the insurer.

No badge is a guarantee, and a missing badge is not a red flag on its own. Before you book, it is reasonable to ask the captain for their license number and whether their boat and insurance are current. For what each badge covers and what it does not, see how we verify.

If a listing looks wrong, such as outdated details, a dead website, a boat that is no longer running, or claims that do not add up, tell us on the contact page. We review reports within 5 business days and correct, mark inactive or remove listings as needed.

If your business is listed, you can claim it for free and fix anything yourself. If you would rather not be listed, reply “remove” to any email from us or ask through the contact page, and we will take the listing down and stop emailing you.

Captains who claim a listing agree to our terms of service. We suspend accounts that break them, for example false claims of licensing, scam listings or repeated complaints from anglers.

We collect only what is needed to connect anglers and captains, and we do not sell your data. For details, see our Privacy Policy.