How long does the captain take to reply to my request?
Most captains reply within a few hours, and nearly all within a day. Captains are often at sea with no signal, so a reply that arrives in the evening is normal rather than a bad sign.
A request goes straight to the captain, who confirms or declines it themselves. Because most of them are running trips during the day, replies often land in the late afternoon or evening once the boat is back in and they have signal again.
If you are booking for a date that is only a day or two away, it is worth having a second trip in mind. Peak weeks in the bay fill quickly and a captain may already be booked by the time your request reaches them.