How to Choose a Gold Coast Fishing Charter

Knowing how to choose a gold coast fishing charter is important. The info below should help.

Choosing the right fishing charter can mean the difference between a memorable day on the water and an uncomfortable, frustrating one, so it is important to put some time and research into picking a Gold coast fishing charter that will provide the best possible deep sea fishing experience for a reasonable price.

Cheapest is not your best option. Operators that offer cheap deals have to cut costs to be able to operate at that price. Cheap charters wont take you as far out to the more productive reefs and sometimes their duration is shorter.

At just about any popular Gold coast fishing location, you will see ads for fishing charter trips. The first thing you want to do is ignore them all. Some of them may be perfectly good charters, but ads are not the way to select a charter.

The first step in charter research is selecting a good quality sea worthy vessel. Be very wary of operators that don’t feature pictures of their boats on advertising materials such as websites and brochures. Be very wary of operators that don’t feature pictures of their boats on advertising materials such as websites and brochures. 

Charter boats

A comfortable ride is critical, particularly if you have a bad back or knees. Many operators advertise super fast boats, but they fail to mention that when the wind and seas pick up a little bit, the ride in a small catamaran or plate alloy boat becomes bone jarring.
A larger mono hull fibreglass vessel may take an extra 5-10 minutes to reach the fishing grounds. But you will arrive dry with all of your bones and joints intact.

Bigger vessels are more stable to fish from, they feature walk in flushing toilets (very important if you plan to take the wife and kids along) and an enclosed wheelhouse/cabin where you can safely store valuables and personal belongings without worrying about them getting wet.

Another consideration is also the departure point, while commercial marinas do offer good facilities, they usually feature shops and cafes, parking close by can be hard to find. Regardless of which charter you choose, be sure to make sure you park legally. (Gold coast council rangers do regular patrols and do issue fines).

For your own safety and comfort, ensure you book on a vessel that leaves from a good quality pontoon or jetty. 

Where do I book my Gold coast fishing charter?

It is best to call the operator directly, while local tour desks are convenient, they cant always answer all of your questions. If you call the operator directly you will speak to someone who is involved with the business and can efficiently answer all of your questions.

Happy fishing!

How to choose a Gold Coast Fishing Charter