Carpentaria Seafaries Australia

If diverse, remote, adventuresome saltwater fisheries spark your interest, consider this live aboard safari in the exceedingly rich waters of Northeastern Australia’s Gulf of Carpenteria.  Your base for the week will be the custom built, fully air conditioned, 73ft. Tropic Paradise.  With seven skiffs in tow, the mother ship will typically complete a 180 mile circuit, anchoring in at least three separate protected river mouths. From there anglers will venture out to tap the riches of the gulf, widely considered the World’s most diverse and prolific inshore fishery. Anglers will be guided half of their days and independently “shadow” the other guide boats on the non-guided days.  Depending on tides, weather conditions and personal preferences, anglers will divide their time between three distinct venues. The first entails sight casting to schools of super charged tuna as they crash bait in shallow water. The next has anglers exploring the jungle rivers, creeks and estuaries for numerous species including queenfish, giant trevally, and barramundi, and the last venue entails sight fishing beautiful flats and beaches for numerous golden trevally and the spectacular Indo-Pacific permit. A must do adventure for the serious saltwater angler.
 
Carpentaria Seafaries Travel:
To get to the vessel “Tropic Paradise” you will need to make travel arrangements to and from Cairns, Australia. Keep in mind that on your flight from the states you will cross the International Date Line, gaining a day as you travel to Australia and losing a day as you travel home. Fly Water Travel will assist you in making arrangements to overnight in Cairns. (Your accommodations, transfers and meals in Cairns are not included in the package price of your trip.) The next morning the hotel will help you arrange a shuttle that will transfer anglers to the airport for a 350 mile flight to Bamaga.  You will arrive at the Cairns Airport at 7:30 AM for the 8:15 AM flight and check in at the Regional Pacific Airlines desk between the Virgin Blue and Jetstar counters in the main Domestic Terminal. The flight is included in the package price so no additional ticketing is required, all that is needed is a photo ID. Do not carry liquor of any kind on this flight as you may be subject to strict fines! The flight to Bamaga takes just under 2 hours and has strict baggage restrictions (55 pounds per person). When you land in Bamaga, you will be met by your host and Captain, Greg Bethune. He will take you on a 20 minute road trip to Seisia where the mothership, “Tropic Paradise”, will be waiting at the Seisia Pier. Regional Pacific Airlines will transport you back to Cairns at the end of your fishing week. You will arrive in Cairns at approximately 12:15 PM and overnight before catching your flight to Sydney and then home.For your international ticketing you might consider calling Business and Leisure Holidays in Hawaii at 808-949-8100 ext. 224.  If you would like to extend your stay in Australia we recommend contacting Martin Keatin, an Australian travel agent. He can be reached at 011-61-740-31-5747 or by email at martin@blt.com.au .
 
Carpentaria Seafaries Documentation:
A valid non-expired passport is required to enter Australia. Extra Xerox copies of your main page should be carried in each of your bags in case you lose your passport.  You will also need an electronic Visa known as an ETA. Please request that your ticketing agent takes care of this at the time of issuing your tickets. Alternatively, these visas can be issued on line by going to www.eta.immi.gov.au.   The cost for the visa is roughly $20. Please note that you will not receive any paperwork or documentation verifying that this transaction has occurred as the visa is electronic.
 
Carpentaria Seafaries Fishing:
During the fishing week, the “Tropic Paradise” is piloted along the Western Coast of Cape York, anchoring in calm, remote river mouths at night. The fishing program is based on the tides of each day. Every morning and evening the fishing options for the coming days are discussed. For instance if the tide is falling the next morning, the Captain may suggest that some anglers go up river and cast to the fallen trees for barramundi, mangrove jacks and others, while other anglers run up the coast looking for birds and busting tuna or alternatively try fishing over the shallow reef offshore. Following these activities the flooding tide is just right for queenfish in the river mouth which could be fished for a couple of hours prior to lunch. After a couple of days the various options will be understood, allowing anglers to choose what to pursue in a given session.  There are a number of fishing situations with rivers, flats, estuaries, beaches, shallow reefs and schooling fish busting bait offshore. On the beginning of the incoming tide, anglers can station themselves on the flats outside the river mouth to sight fish for permit, giant herring (monster ladyfish), several species of trevally, blue salmon and more. There are over 50 species available to be caught on fly rod and/or light tackle.  Anglers will navigate and fish from 14-16 foot skiffs with a casting deck on the bow.  Some of the time anglers will drive their own boats, never far from the guided skiffs. All boats have VHF radios for staying in touch and calling each other into fish. Over the course of the trip, anglers will spend about half of the days with a guide and the rest of the trip driving the skiffs in easily navigated waters.
 
Carpentaria Seafaries Accommodations and Meals:
The “Tropic Paradise” is a fully fitted brand new 63’ x 21’ catamaran vessel, housing up to 12 guests and 6 crew members in air-conditioned double bed and twin cabins. The dining saloon and galley is roomy and comfortable and there are 4 hot fresh-water showers with full sized flush toilets and a large shaded upper relaxation deck. All meals are professionally prepared using fresh local seafood and meats with seasonal salads and vegetables. Top quality Australian wines are served with dinner. Beer, spirits, soft-drinks and extra wines are available from the ship’s self-serve bar on an honor sheet system to be redeemed at the end of your trip. Angler’s are not permitted to bring their own beer on board, but are welcome to request special booze well in advance.
Note: No food of any sort can be brought into the country. If you want to bring pre-packaged food (like Power Bars) they must be claimed and are subject to confiscation.
 
Carpentaria Seafaries Climate:
Temperatures range from 65 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the season, December to March, getting a little warmer on either end. The long cape is so close to the equator that variations in temperature are less than at other latitudes.
 
Carpentaria Seafaries Season:
May - September
 
Carpentaria Seafaries Fish Species:
More than 50 available species
 
Carpentaria Seafaries Capacity:
12 anglers
 
Carpentaria Seafaries 2008 Rates:
$5490 per week
 
Included:
Flight from Cairns to Bamaga, guiding, lodging, meals aboard “Tropic Paradise”, limited wine with dinner.