Sportfishing charters further north
The old man and I are planning a trip further north on a general 3-4 day (maybe even longer) sportfishing charter (chasing anything hard and fast - typical northern species) but have no idea on where with all the options we have here in WA and possibly even the NT. Places that spring to mind are the Mackerel Islands, Monte Bellow Islands, Rowley Shoals, of course most parts of the Kimberley and so on. Preferably we, well I am after a charter that is based around a camp or mothership and offering smaller boats for the fishing and exploring side of things. We're planning the trip around Jan-Feb due to work commitments but so far I've found a lot of charters aren't operating around then due to the wet season. Now I know this is not a good time to be heading north but these are the cards we've been dealt. So, I'm pleading to all FW folks to help me out on possible charters that you've experienced or heard of with a budget of around 10k for both of us including flights etc... if need be or we're willing to drive to save on costs depending on distance.
Thanks in advance,
Damo
.thumbnail.jpg "5 Days in a row!")
sunshine
Posts: 2600
Date Joined: 03/03/09
Three options you might want to consider
Damo
Two I would recommend
Monties .................amazing fishing, like stepping back 100 years with spanglies to 7kg, trout and reds of huge ppns .........cost is around $3000 for a five day (it's actually really four as the first day starts late and spends a lot of time getting there) Blue Lightning operate out of Dampier .........with cheap airfares easily within budget
There is another I have not been on but comes with glowing reports and it leaves from Derby - small groups and operates in the archipeligo so much of it virgin fishing
Finally (and it will stretch the budget but once in a lifetime) Barra Lodge - I know they had some super specials - exclusive charter either Liverpool River (barra jacks salmon) and on the coast so black jew, golden snapper queenies etc - darwin airfares and flight into Madingrida might just push it over the top but they do have some half price specials for november (and it includes accom, all food standard wines and beers and use of top top quality gear and your own personal guide
Lucky Tim
Posts: 2536
Date Joined: 28/11/07
I know Blue Lightning and
I know Blue Lightning and Monties Charters (Kylin) have packed up for thr season and come home so can't imagine they'll be back by Jan/Feb.
Maybe try Cape Don lodge. A mate used to guide there- barra and bluewater (mackies, GT's etc) and a great location that no one else can get to easily. Not too sure if they are open year round though.
sunshine
Posts: 2600
Date Joined: 03/03/09
Barra Lodge specials
Got an email this morning, they have some half price specials for the end of the season - makes it well and truly in budget
Am told you can expect 100+ barra a day, salmon and jacks as well as great muddies.............cant wait till next September when we are booked (at full price but a free day)
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
100+ barra a day? I presume
100+ barra a day? I presume this is for the whole lodge, not one person (otherwise it'd be only about 5-10 min til the next barra fishing all day...). Would love to catch some barra, but the per day price keeps putting me off :p If i'd pretty much get say 5-10 a day, it would probably be worth it though...
PilbaraBrad
Posts: 3628
Date Joined: 16/05/07
some of those remote places
some of those remote places are pretty special, could pretty much guarantee you would get your 5, had many sessions with the old man in Gove when the oldies lived there and we would pull 30 fish out in a session no worries at all.
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
If you can pull 30 in a
If you can pull 30 in a session, that gives me hope in getting one or two :p. I guess my worry is paying a fair bit of money and ending up a "oh, we dont normally catch this few. I dont even remember the last time we caught so few". Bit easier to swallow when its a cheap trip.
Lucky Tim
Posts: 2536
Date Joined: 28/11/07
Matt if you're after a cheap
Matt if you're after a cheap trip for barra get a cheap flight to Darwin, book a hotel and ask for local rates and then do a day charter out from Darwin. That's how I got my first barra, day rates start around $250pp then if you don't like one operator or area just book with another one for the next day. Now is the cheapest time to go to Darwin and the fishing is pretty good too. I went with Darwin's Barra Base and they have a B&B they do deals with too.
The upside is the saving over a lodge, the big downside is you don't get anywhere near the remote locations the lodges access. There's so many guides in the NT that prices should be pretty competitive.
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
If anyone is really keen to
If anyone is really keen to catch their first Barra you might want to consider Karratha as a cheap option... no need to go all the way to Darwin/top end. Simon Tocas from Aqualand Charters uses 5m centre consoles to fish the creeks and he knows his stuff... If you're on good tides and you put in a good effort there's no reason you couldn't get your 5 barra in a day (Matt). Plus if you fish during the week and you ask to fish some more remote creeks there's a good chance you won't see any other boats. I know crews that regularly get 20+ barra in a day throughout the season.
PilbaraBrad
Posts: 3628
Date Joined: 16/05/07
second that, if you dont
second that, if you dont know who simon is check out the lates ed of Fishing Wild... I had the pleasure of fishing with him once, a genuine nice guy. not much he dosnt know about this place
Webby
Posts: 835
Date Joined: 24/09/08
Ssshhhhh! there are no fish
Ssshhhhh! there are no fish here haha
I live with fear every day... sometimes she lets me go fishing.
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
haha had a similar thing
haha Matt had a similar thing happen when we were at the Rowley Shoals... we were there in 'peak' sailfish season and their record is something like 60 sails in a day and they regularly get totals over 20... and they were like 'oh I can't beleive how quiet it is, where's all the fish?'... we ended up with 3 sails in 5 days. Didn't worry me though, I didn't give a crap about sails, the GT popping, jigging and light tackle sport fishing blew me away :)
damo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
couple of mates pulled 2000 fish in a week
Tiwi Island charter.
after a cyclone few years back.
WODF
Posts: 553
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Take me back!
Well, it looks like we'll be heading up to Cape Leveque/One Arm Point early Jan and hooking up with an old mate from FishBroome charters for a few days fishing the Sunday Island Group. Bring it on!
Thanks all.