If you're anything like me, you would have to agree that its great owning a boat! Not just for fishing, but to take family and friends out for a cruise, or for a touch of water skiing. But, of course the main reason l bought a boat is to get out among some decent fish. I will show you pictures of my boats and also friends boats that l have fished out from, and would love for you to do the same. The most popular boats my friends own are trailer boats ranging from 4.7 metre up to 7metre. Most of them have outboard motors on them, but my brothers both own boats with inboard V8 'Merc cruisers' in them. Fibreglass hulls are the most common, but there is also a big range of Aluminium boats around. I'll start off with pictures of my brothers boats. Both are fibre glass. Anthony's boat is a 7.4 metre 'Sea Ray' weighing in at about 3000kg, and Michael's boat is a 6 metre 'Bertram' which is only 2000kg, both with inboard motors.
Both my boats are fibre glass with outboards on them....My smaller boat is a 4.7 mere 'Stejcraft' Cuddy Cabin (1200kg) which l just had a new motor put on. It use to have a 40hp Mariner, but l burnt it out with to much trolling for marlin, so l upgraded the motor to a 70hp Mercury. My second and larger boat is a 6 metre 'Eden craft' (2500kg) which has a larger 225hp Yamaha outboard on it. In the right conditions it will get up to 100km/h. You can really feel the wind blowing through your hair!!! I use this boat for marlin fishing now because it can really handle the rougher water much better, letting us stay out longer when fishing for marlin
wow your boats are very nice you must be very proud of them
Yes l am. Thank you!!! It is very important to keep up the maintenance on a boat. Your life could depend on it. It's not like you can just get off and walk home. My boats have been apart of some happy moments for me, with some good captures. I would like to see some boat models that you guys use over there.
Here is another boat that l have fished out of which belngs to my mate Norm Scicluna. Its a 'Haines Hunter' 580 SF with a 110hp Johnson outboard on it. It's 5.8 metres long with a fibreglass hull, and about 2000 kg. This is a very good boat to fish out of and is very stabe under power, but tends to rock a little more than my Edencraft while trollong, l thinks thats because l have a wider beam. GREAT BOAT!!
I think for the majority of offshore fishing to be done around Malta, something in the region of 18-21 feet, Center Console fishing spec'd boat is the answer. Keep costs down with a single 150 and perhaps a backup engine on a liftable bracket. Fuel costs are kept low as well and you have the strength in these boats to head out in a Force 3 and get back no problems.
Boats from the like of Seaswirl and Hydrasports.
Centre consoles are great when it comes to playing a fish, as you can walk or run right around the whole boat......But no protection from the elements when it picks up a bit. l can imagine waves breaking over the bow in 20 knot winds here. To me they don't seem to be a very dry boat. Not very popular here for blue water fishing, but quite a few people are using them now for fresh water fishing in lakes. Cuddy Cabins and Half Cabins l believe give you some protection.
Very valid points, but the American boats especially 20ft+ all tend to have flared Carolina style hulls and in fact give a very dry ride. I don't normally fish in 20 knot winds, too uncomfortable rolling around when trolling but the issue of the elements is very valid. For me the issue is that Walkarounds or half cabins being somewhat heavy also aren't as good on fuel consumption. Around Malta one would want something that gives you a very economicial cruise and good troll. To me 50 litres an hour or even 40 isn't good enough. Max 20-25.
Skip
As they say,'Horses for courses'. You make a good point about the flared carolina style hulls. Yes they do deflect water away from the bow, and l believe that some also have a canvas awning fitted between it and a bow rail to give it added protection. as l mentioned great boats with room to move around the whole boat, but l still think that it would not suit my type of conditions here. How ever a friend of mine uses this really nice boat which he can walk around for fighting fish and also gives good protection from the elements...not sure of the make though........
Nice machine, and I see he has the same fish bag as me from Reliable Fishing! Looks like a sweet boat with big downriggers, outriggers and a small tower. Would be interested to know what boat it is.
Was just looking at the 2301 Walk Around Half Cabin model from Seaswirl to try and check consumption figures.
Skip
There are many different types of boats out there, and it takes quite a bit of home work to work out which one suits your needs, conditions and desires, but as you know they can be quite costly. Check out this boat we fish from in Cairns on The Great Barrier Reef for big black marlin...it cost the owners $1,500,000 Australian dollars (About 370,500 Lm). They have got their old boat up for sale for just $300,000 (75,000Lm)....What do you think???
If you like a lighter boat, alloy boats are the go. They are usually made from 3-5mm plate. We fished from one a while back and found it to be very good. The whole boat only weighs 1400kg, with a 150 Yamaha outboard on it. Another really nice boat
One thing that l really like about my 'Eden Craft' is that it is set up really well for game fishing. Under floor Stainless petrol tanks and 'Kill Tanks' allow for unclutered floor space. My 'Live Bait Tank' is built into the back of the boat with even a viewing glass to check out the condition of the bait. I run it with the use of a large pump which also accomidates a 'Deck Wash'. You may also notice in the picture attached a section of the side of the boat that lifts off. This comes in really handy when we're taking a swim or hauling in a large fish.
There's nothing better than coming home from a good days fishing to your other luxury boat!!! Boy some people really do have it tough, don't they???
im very jelous now and the more summer comes the less places there are to fish so i would even settle for a inflatable on !!!! sure is a hard life lol
Hang in there... Why is it getting harder to fish? Are all the good spots crowded?
well were going to loose fishing from the freeport as its been sold off to make way for some cranes.... and another good site has also been bought for the boat races hq and the rest of the beach this time of year is full of swimmers and bbq
Well thats progress l suppose. Too bad about loosing good fishing spots. Thats where having a boat, big or small can let you fish many more locations. I have seen people here fishing out of cannoes, and fishing under jetties and other strucres that you can't fish out of a boat. The main thing is that you can dangle a line!
......and when you just want to get away, just lower the hydrolic platform and drive your speed boat out from your luxury yatch and escape.
twoutes...
TELL ME THIS IS NOT YOUR BOAT (If it is when we meet up in Malta - YOU are definitly buying the drinks)
djc
Yeh!!! Sure thing!!!! We'll take it for a cruise around the island with a few lures hang'in out the back, while sipping on some cool drinks with fresh ice from the ice machine.....I WISH!!! Leaving for my trip in a few hours. Hope to catch up with you in Malta. Regards. Joe
Some of the nicer Cairns boats for Game Fishing. Serious stuff!!!
Joe,
Are these privately owned or charter boats?
Skip
All Privately owned, but leased out to differnt skippers through out the season to do Charters. 'Real Chase' is owned and run as a Charter by Captain Jim Dailing. Nice Bloke!!!
how much is the cost for a day fishing
Ranges from $2500 to $4000 per day including another $2000 per day for mother ship. That is the lower scale of the market. Some of the big boys are charging upward from $5000 per day. Big bucks just to go fishing, Yeh?
Quote from: twoutes on November 15, 2007, 22:10:36 CET
Ranges from $2500 to $4000 per day including another $2000 per day for mother ship. That is the lower scale of the market. Some of the big boys are charging upward from $5000 per day. Big bucks just to go fishing, Yeh?
Crap that's like Lm650 - Lm1040 and I would imagine you go out for a few days. The only upside to it all is that for that kind of money and trip you can pretty much guarantee returning with a good catch, whereas in Malta there are no such guarantees.
We Normally Charter for four days, and on some trips have not caught marlin or very small ones. Never any guarantees in fishing. We were very lucky on our last trip as we caught two very large Black Marlin. First day we had two hook ups with one of them a double. Second day zero, but had a good session on Giant Trevelly. THrid day 3 hook up with one a giant 1140lb. Last day played with Pilot whales, and whale sharks and hooked up a couple small marlin...but heaps of Big eye Tuna.
i would buy a good boat for Lm12000 instead of going fishing 3 times with them
hi twoutes just saw your videos on you tube they are some serious monster fish!!! well done mate!! Lm650 - Lm1040 is very expensive, although those marlin look incredible! i imagine those prices are to charter the boat and not per head!!!
Thank you Martin B. That's correct that is the cost for a full charter. It Costs me around $3000 Australian dollars about Lm750 for the full trip, about six days including air travel, no other expenses such as hotels or food, we just buy some Drinks beers etc... before we get on the boat. Let me tell you that after working hard to save money...its the best way to spend it... and enjoy it!. As you know 'we are here for a good time not a long time'. I also own two boat from which l also catch small marlin up to 120kg, and that is fun, but you know you are doing some serious fishing when you put a bait out that is 1 meter long. Check out 'Fish Species l have caught in Australia' on this forum.
Wow twoutes you got some amazing fish there! if i was ever to go to oz and catch half of those of fish id rip up my return ticket! ;D As regards the charter well its true Lm750 isn't cheap but then neither are the thrills of catching them monster fish,i could think of worse ways of spending Lm750 than on fishing and
cold beers!
More Big Boy's Toys.....The botom shot is of Ultimate Lady from New Zealand, they kindly weighed our 1140lb marlin for us while we were 80 miles out. I spoke with her owner when we got back in Cairns. They only Charge $5000 a day maximum four people.
hey twoutrs
next wensday its super 5 here in malta and the pot is now lm300,000 if i win it please book for me for a week with shanook and another guy from this forum ;D
What's the matter with you man!!!! Only a week! I'II do it for three for you, and only if l can come along to. DEAL???
Twoutes u think that he will come back from that trip with a penny heheh got to be kidding we will definetly make him spend most of it anyway..........thats a lot of money to spend at one go wishful thinking.....
No not in one go.We can make that $1,200,000 Australian last a whole year fishing all around Australia.Australia is a big place you know, and l can be your fishing Guide ;D ;D ;D
one week will be enough for me then the grand tour and then a hoilday with the wife and kids and if anything left we start paying the bills haha ;D
Fair enough.Well. Good Luck. Hope you win the lottery. 8)
Hi this is my boat.......
Nice Boat Shanook. Good protection from the weather while ample fishing space at the back. Looks like a nice hull too. I think that she will handle very well in rough sees. Hope you've been getting out there and getting some good catches.
Thanks Twoutes. Yes u have a good eye on boats. Its a very safe boat and handles very good in rough weather. I got caught twice out there in rough weather and the type of hull makes the difference. Its not as fast as similar boats but it keeps its head up and doesnt dip head and scoop water. this year didnt do a lot of offshore fishing as i like to. When you hear of bad catches you dont go out far because of gas costs. I just go because i like it out there in the middle of nowhere.