Saturday, August 22, 2009

A Gold Coast Fishing Charter: What You Can Expect

By Kim Raymond

Hey, whose been to the Gold Coast in Australia? It's an absolute mecca for any serious international travel ling tourist. It's a place where man and nature meet. One of the best ways to experience the Gold Coast is to go on a Gold Coast fishing charter. So what do you get when you go on a Gold Coast fishing charter? Read on.

Before saying anything I want to hasten to say that Gold Coast fishing charter operators cater for the absolute novice when it comes to fishing whilst at the same time, they welcome the expert. Don't be trapped into thinking that you have to fish anyway. Most do but some don't. Those that don't fish have a wow of a time going on the ride, taking in the sights and all whilst being in the company of family or friends.

There are two basic types of Gold Coast fishing charters: calm water and offshore. Both have their attractions. For those who want a more gentle and sedate experience, you might choose the calm water option. For the thrill seeker type that wants it all, choose the offshore option.

Gold Coast fishing charters offer half day and full day charters. The prices vary from $85-$140 for a half day charter to $140-$190 for a full day. Other things to consider include size of boat, comfort, styles of fishing and area's that are visited.

What is provided on a Gold Coast fishing charter? All the fishing gear, bait, food and drink. It's against the law for a charter boat operator to dispense motion sickness tablets. It's advisable that you bring your own motion sickness tablets. If you want you may bring your own fishing equipment.

Gold Coast fishing charters operate from the Tweed River area in the south as well as the Broadwater area at the northern end of the Gold Coast. Weather conditions, boat size, type of fishing all impact the kind of fishing experience you can expect to have. Mostly though, reef fishing is the norm at depths of 20-90 meters. Boats either drift over the reefs or they anchor up.

What type of fish should one expect to bring in whilst on a Gold Coast fishing charter? snapper, pearl perch, teraglin, cobia, spotted mackerel, tailor, amberjack and kingfish. Having said that, you could very well catch a dozen or more different species on the same day including the fast swimming pelagic fish that occupy the surface areas of the ocean. These include: sharks, mahi mahi, marlin etc.

Even though fishing is a seasonal activity, Gold Coast fishing charters operate all year round. Generally speaking, target species are classified as "warm water" and "cold water". During the warmer months of the year, it is a great opportunity to go after the fast swimming pelagic fish which occupy the upper reaches of the ocean. During the winter months, it is best to target bottom or reef fish.

About the Author:

0 comments:

Post a Comment