About Michigan Charter Boat Association

The Michigan Charter Boat Association (MCBA) is a nonprofit organization organized and located in the State of Michigan. Individual members are United States Coast Guard licensed for the Great Lakes and all charter boats are state inspected. Michigan is the only state on the Great Lakes that require inspections of their charter boats. Our member Captains are dedicated to establishing a professional charter industry in the State of Michigan.

All Consent Decree information can be found www.mcbamembers.com

Since 1985, the arrangement between the Tribes, the State of Michigan and the federal government to share the fisheries of the Great Lakes has been contained in two agreements that were negotiated by the parties and then put in place by the Federal Court in West Michigan as a “Consent Decree.” The first decree was implemented in 1985. It had a 15-year term. In 2000, a second decree was put in place by the court. It had a 20-year term. It expired last year but has been extended by the court while the parties negotiate a new agreement. A critical issue to the past two agreements, and one that will be critical to a new agreement, is the division of the Great Lakes fishery between the Tribes and those fishers who are licensed by the State of Michigan. The 1985 agreement allocated the Great Lakes fishery among the parties by lake, zones, species and catch limits. It was premised on a roughly 50-50 allocation of the fishery between the State of Michigan and the Tribes. The Tribes were principally allocated whitefish stocks and the State of Michigan was principally allocated salmon stocks. Lake trout stocks were shared with the allocation to each party differing based on the area of the Great Lakes at issue. Generally, the Tribes were allocated more lake trout in areas where they were pursuing whitefish and state-licensed fishers were allocated more in traditional sportfishing areas. Overall, however, the fishery resources were generally shared equally. Further, the zones created for state- and Tribally-licensed fishers reduced gear conflict between commercial nets, particularly gill nets and traditional sport fishing gear.

2023 Board of Directors

President: Bill Winowiecki
3700 Shomberg Rd.
Cedar, MI 49621
(231) 228-7417
charterfishing@wattabite.com
25’ Campion: Watta Bite

Secretary John Giszczak
9760 Judd
Willis, MI 48191
(734) 787-0030 cell
straycat@straycatsportfishingcharters.com
28’ Cherokee; Stray Cat

 

Vice-President Rich Haslett
292 S. Zimmerman Rd.
Beulah,MI, 49617
248-542-1563
E-Mail: taloncharters@gmail.com

 

Treasurer Larry Lienczewski
Drug Program Administrator
3396 Anna Drive
Bay City, MI 48706
(989) 684-7943
larry@saginawbay.com

Directors/ Term

 

Henry Walters SC&E 2022
7103 St.Clair Ave.
Fair Haven, MI 48023
(586) 725-3678 Home
(586) 206-0626 Cell
sportsmen-charters@hotmail.com
28' Cherokee: Sea Weed

Rick Konecke, NLH- 2023
916 Ford Ave
Alpena, MI 49707
989-255-4524 cell
Rick@wipeoutcharters.com
27” Sport Craft: Wipeout

Karl Burnside SLH - 2022
2073 Bisby Dr.
Mount Morris, MI 48458
(810) 513-6073
thumbsupcharter@yahoo.com
25’ Chieftain: Little Lady

Jim LaBeske – U.P. - 2022
26788 W. 12th St.PO Box 38
Hubbell, MI 49934
(906) 337-4433
jlabeske@gmail.com
21’ Ranger: Hook & Heuver

Holly Engel SLM

George Freeman, CLM- 2022
6888 Illinois Rd.
Ludington, MI 49431
(231) 845-1779, (877)-456-3474
(231) 425-8723 cell
captgeorge@chartermi.net
31’ Tiara: Free Style

OPEN NLM - 2022

Always look for the Michigan Charter Boat Association
logo when choosing your Lake Fishing
Charter Captain from , Michigan



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Michigan Catch and Cook

The Michigan Charter Boat Association represents over 600 professional captains that serve over 100 ports in Michigan. As one of Michigan's largest recreational organizations, member captains operate fishing charters on the Great Lakes, River Guides on Michigan's thousands of miles of steams and rivers, Sail boat charters out of many Michigan ports of call, Scuba Dive charters in Michigan's shipwreck dive preserves, and scenic cruises exploring the beauty of Michigan's shoreline, lighthouses, or a lake vacation adventure. These businesses contribute to Michigan's tourism economy and are vital to the region. Michigan Charter Boat Association Captains and their vessels meet all state and federal laws.

©1998 - Michigan Charter Boat Association

The Michigan Charter Boat Association is a federally recognized not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and recognized for tax-deductible giving by the federal government. Need help? Call 1-800-622-2971