Whether you’re a seasoned fisher person or wanting to get out onto the water for the first time, a fishing charter is an excellent way of seeing some beautiful parts of our country, having some fun with the family, and hopefully catching something exciting, too. Picturesque Broome offers endless tourist opportunities on both land and sea, and here at Absolute Ocean Charters we have tours to suit every individual whether they’re dedicated to fishing, or have never been on a boat before. If you’re thinking of booking a fishing charter, here are some answers to our FAQs:
How long does a fishing charter usually go for?
The length of the charter depends on the option you choose. Rest assured your time will be well spent no matter the charter you choose, with your Absolute Ocean Charters team members knowing the best fishing spots!
Full Day Fishing Charter
For a Full Day Fishing Charter, you can expect to go a bit further offshore, for more potential of different species to be seen and caught. The more serious fisherperson will appreciate the Full Day tour, though in saying that, we’ve had plenty of kids thrive on our full day tours as well!
Half Day Fishing Charter
The Half Day Fishing Charter is well-suited to families with young kids, or if you don’t have much time to spend on the ocean. If you’re only in Broome for a short amount of time, this is a perfect option, so you can squeeze in other tours for the day around your fishing charter.
Night Fishing Charter
We also offer night fishing tours for the people looking for something a little different, so you can enjoy the sunset while out on the water. The night tours are still accessible for any level of fisher – including families with older kids, as the tour finishes around 9pm. The experienced staff will take you to several different fishing grounds throughout your tour. This tour includes everything that the daytime tours do, with the added bonus of finishing the tour beneath the stars! These tours run for around 6 hours.
How much does a fishing charter cost, and what is included?
Per Fisher Person
There are some things to consider before booking your charter. How many people will be coming? For young kids or the unsure fisher person, the best option is a shared line – so that you can have one rod to share with two people.
Adults start at $345 (full day) or $280 (half day) for a single line, and add on a shared line for $145 for another adult to share, or $90 for a child to share. Children start at $325 (full day) or $260 (half day) for a single line. Concession holders are $325 (full day) or $260 (half day), and kids under 4 are free.
Food
Food is included in the price of the booking. On the half day charter and full day charter you will be served complimentary morning tea and lunch. We do our best to cater for dietary requirements – so please let us know when you book. Enjoy unlimited iced drinking water, soft drinks and tea and coffee. You can BYO alcohol if you like (ice and eskies provided), or purchase from our licensed bar. The night tour includes a hot dinner.
Bait and Gear
All the fishing gear you will need is included. This includes rods and reels, bait, buckets, catch bags and hand towels. You don’t need to bring your own esky for your catch, we have you sorted. If you have your own fishing gear you’d prefer to use, you are welcome to bring it.
Transport
Accommodation pick up and drop off is included in the price, so you don’t need to worry about getting to and from the tour. A courtesy air-conditioned broome bus will pick you up and drop you off at the end of the tour. You are welcome to meet at the departure point if you wish.
Reef fishing vs deep sea fishing
Here at Absolute Ocean Charters, we offer Reef Fishing Charters. So, what’s the real difference?
The short answer is – there is none! Broome’s ocean floor has a very slight decline from shore to open ocean, meaning the depth of water you’ll be fishing in won’t be too extreme. We fish at a depth of between 20m to 60m, depending on how far offshore we are, which is why we can offer the use of fishing reels instead of electric reels, meaning the fishing experience is better for you!
Reef fishing offers an opportunity to see a great range of different species – from Coral Trout and Red Emperor, to Black Snapper and Rankin Cod, to GT’s and Spanish Mackerel. We are able to pack a lot of fishing time into the day as we don’t have to travel too far offshore. Reef fishing is fast-paced and exciting – so it’ll keep you interested and engaged! Keep an eye out for any whales jumping out of the water in the distance (July to September), or watch the sea birds flying overhead.
Don’t like fishing?
Not keen on fishing, but excited to get out onto the water and see what else is on offer? Try a whale watching or dolphin cruise instead. These relaxing cruises will take you around Broome’s beautiful coastline, getting up close and personal with the intelligent dolphins, or invite you to experience firsthand the magnificence of the gorgeous Humpback whales. Our qualified Marine Biologist is on board both tours and will provide interesting and informative commentary on the local flora and fauna, and be able to answer any questions you may have.
Whale Watching
Enjoy light refreshments onboard as you relax on one of the daybeds, and have peace of mind knowing the three viewing platforms offer plenty of vantage points in which to gaze upon the majestic whales! Listen to whale song through the hydrophone and top it off with an amazing sunset over the water. Morning and Afternoon tours available as well as the Sunset tour. Appetisers, refreshments and return transfers are included.
Sunset Dolphin Cruise
Be prepared to not only see Snubfin dolphins, but also Bottlenose dolphins, Indo Pacific Humpback Dolphins and sometimes Manta Rays! Keep your eye out for turtles, sea snakes and other sea creatures, as well as an array of shore birds, as Roebuck Bay is home to more than 30,000 migratory birds each year.
This is the perfect time of day to be out on the water enjoying a refreshing drink and complimentary appetisers, and learning about these unique endemic species of dolphin. This tour ends with a beautiful Broome sunset cruise, we also have a morning tour available.
These eco cruises are an excellent option for the nature lovers and time-poor travellers – they each run for about 3 hours in the morning, afternoon and evening, allowing plenty of time for other tours in the day. Both include free pick up and drop off to your accommodation.
Something for everyone
Fishing charters are a spectacular way of seeing Broome and allowing you to explore beneath the surface and get the kids involved. Here are Absolute Ocean Charters, we offer many inclusions in our Fishing Charter packages, so that you don’t need to worry about a thing – just enjoy yourself!
If fishing isn’t your thing, you have to make the most of one of our Broome Whale Watching Cruises, or a Sunset Dolphin Cruise. You’ve never seen beauty quite like this!
*Please note, these prices are current as of the 14th of June, 2022 and we might have lifted prices to account for economic factors since this time. For up-to-date pricing, please refer to the specific tour pages listed in this article!
