Yes, we cater for both individual and group bookings. You do not need a minimum to book. Careel can cater for up to 12 passengers, however we can make up numbers for individual trips also.
Our weekend bookings book out about 4-6 weeks in advance, and 6-8 weeks in advance during winter. Our midweek bookings generally book out 2-3 days in advance. These are general estimates only. During December and Christmas holidays and School holiday periods, you will need to book at least 7-10 days in advance for a midweek booking. At times we do have cancellations and availability for smaller groups or individuals within these periods.
Follow this link to see where the boat departs from – Departure Location page.
Yes, we do both full-day and half-day charters. Our half-day charters are 5 hours and our full-day charters are 9 hours. Whoever books first on a date decides if the fishing trip on that day will be a half-day or full-day trip.
Our charters are all-inclusive however we have a few hints of what to bring & wear. Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, camera, and shoes are optional, sensible clothing. There is a lot of water on the deck throughout the day so if decide to wear shoes, wear some you don’t mind getting wet. You can BYO alcohol if you wish. If you have a long drive home you may want to bring an esky to keep your fish in. Please keep esky’s in your car as we do not allow esky’s onboard the vessel, they take up deck room. We cannot supply seasickness tablets or any other medications on board. We recommend all passengers take seasickness tablets which you can purchase from a chemist over the counter at a minimal cost.
Also, please bring a snack to eat as there is no food provided on the charter.
Yes, You are quite welcome to bring some alcohol with you. Please keep esky’s in your car as we do not allow esky’s onboard the vessel, they take up deck room. We have a large icebox on deck in which you can store your drinks. Smoking is allowed onboard our vessel and we ask customers to be considerate of non-smokers.
It takes about 15-20 minutes to get to the half-day fishing grounds and about 35-40 minutes to get to the full-day fishing grounds, however, we stop on the close reefs to collect live bait, approx 10 minutes from our departure point, on the full-day trips. During summer we start fishing immediately after leaving the seaway to target species like marlin, mackerel, and sailfish.
Yes, there is plenty of accommodation close to the departure location. Surfers Paradise is only 7 mins by car. If you are considering staying in a hotel please bear in mind when booking these hotels that we are very dependent on the weather and confirmation of the boat departing takes place the night prior to your booking. If your intention to come to the Gold Coast is based purely on fishing it’s best to wait until we have confirmed the weather to book your hotel.
No, we cater to both experienced anglers and novices alike. We assist you in learning techniques of fishing and our friendly crew can answer any of your questions and are on hand to help throughout the day.
‘Careel’ can take up to 12 passengers. If you wish to cater for more than 12 passengers we can arrange more vessels for your group.
Yes, to secure a booking we require a deposit of 50%. Without a deposit, we cannot make a booking.
On the half-day charters, we fish approx 10km from the Seaway entrance in depths of approx 33 – 50 meters (18-27 fathoms). On the full-day charters, we fish between 10km-30km from the seaway entrance in depths of 50 – 90 meters (27-50 fathoms). During our summer season, the offshore water currents can prevent us from fishing the full-day grounds therefore we will fish the half-day grounds on these days.
Yes, you get to keep your catch. Recreational bag limits do apply. We do NOT gut, gill, or clean your fish, and we legally cannot fillet any species. We recommend you bring an esky to take your fish home if you have a long journey. Eskies are not allowed onboard so please leave them in your car.
No, in Queensland you do not need a recreational fishing license.
No, we do not do whale-watching charters, however, during the months from June to October we often see whales migrating with their babies while fishing. At times these beautiful mammals became curious about the boat and come for a closer look.
Yes, we do have discounts for group bookings. When you book an exclusive boat booking charter you can take up to 12 people saving you up to $120 on a half-day charter & up to $240 on a full-day charter.
To confirm your booking, please contact Fish The Deep between 4:30 PM and 5:00 PM the evening before your charter at either 0755 289 578 or 0416 224 412. This call is essential to confirm your booking and check the weather and boating conditions.
Yes we supply all your fishing equipment and bait. We supply Penn Senator overhead reels and Penn 15kg Mariner Plus series rods.
Yes, you can bring your own rod & reel. The boys can rig it up to suit offshore fishing for you. We do not allow winches onboard.
In most cases, seasickness tablets can prevent you from getting sick. We cannot supply seasickness tablets or any other medications on board. If you wish to take seasickness tablets to reduce the risk of being sick you will need to purchase these tablets from a chemist before the charter and read the directions in regard to taking them. We recommend you take one tablet the night before and another tablet 1 hour before boarding the boat. Please contact your physician to check if these tablets interfere with your other medications. We do not come back to shore to drop off passengers that are sick. Sick passengers will need to wait until the charter finishes or arrange for the Coastguard to come get them for a fee.
NO. We advise our customers, for the safety and well-being of mother and child, not to go offshore during pregnancy. If you do decide to go then you are putting both mother and baby in danger. All pregnant women onboard must sign a waiver of liability.
Our game fishing season runs from November through to February. If you wish to specifically game fish only you will need to contact us in regard to a specialty charter.
