A family holiday in Exmouth usually means plenty of time around the water. With the spectacular Ningaloo Coast on the doorstep and some of Western Australia’s most productive fishing grounds offshore, it’s only natural to start thinking about getting the family out on a boat.
But if you have children, teenagers or family members who haven’t fished before, you might be wondering what the day will actually be like.
Will beginners be able to join in? Do you need your own fishing gear? What should everyone bring? And what kind of fish might you encounter?
A family fishing charter Exmouth experience can be much easier than organising a fishing trip yourself. With an experienced skipper, fishing equipment supplied and local knowledge on your side, the family can concentrate on enjoying the day rather than worrying about where to fish or what tackle to use.
Here’s what to expect when planning a family fishing adventure in Exmouth.
Why Exmouth Is Such an Exciting Place to Fish
Exmouth is in a pretty remarkable position.
The town sits on Western Australia’s North West Cape, alongside the Ningaloo Coast, while productive offshore waters and the Continental Shelf are accessible beyond the reef.
That combination creates opportunities to encounter an impressive variety of species. Depending on the type of charter, season and conditions, Exmouth anglers may target everything from red emperor, coral trout and rankin cod to Spanish mackerel, tuna, mahi mahi, giant trevally, sailfish and marlin.
For families, though, a memorable fishing trip doesn’t necessarily have to be about catching the biggest fish in the ocean.
Sometimes the best moments are the simple ones: watching a child catch a fish, seeing something unexpected beside the boat, learning how to use fishing gear properly or simply spending a full day together away from screens and everyday routines.
That’s part of what makes an Exmouth fishing charter such a great addition to a family holiday.
You Don’t Need to Be an Experienced Angler
One of the biggest misconceptions about booking a fishing charter is that everyone onboard needs to know how to fish.
They don’t.
A professionally run charter takes much of the complicated work out of the experience. The crew can handle the equipment and help anglers understand what to do when it’s their turn.
That can make the experience much less intimidating for someone holding a fishing rod for the first time.
More experienced family members don’t have to miss out either. Exmouth offers plenty of opportunities for serious fishing, so a charter can be tailored around the group and the style of fishing you want to experience.
When booking, it’s worth explaining who will be coming along, particularly if your group includes younger children or complete beginners. The crew can then discuss the most appropriate charter options for your family.
What Does a Family Fishing Charter in Exmouth Look Like?
The exact day depends on the charter you choose, weather, sea conditions and the fishing plan.
For families interested in catching quality table fish, reef fishing is an obvious option.
Innkeeper Sport Fishing’s reef fishing trips target species including red emperor, spangled emperor, coral trout, rankin cod, scarlet sea perch and goldband snapper across a variety of depths and fishing locations.
Full-day reef fishing charters generally depart at 8:00 am and return at around 4:00 pm.
Private charters can be particularly useful for families because your group has the boat exclusively. Rather than sharing the day with unrelated anglers, you can enjoy the experience together.
Innkeeper operates two fishing vessels for different styles of trip: the larger INNKEEPER, a 44-foot gamefishing vessel, and KEEPERINN, a fast 25-foot Sportsman centre console.
The right choice depends on your group size and the type of fishing you want to do, so discussing your family’s needs before booking is worthwhile.
What Fishing Gear Do You Need to Bring?
Here’s some good news for parents: you don’t need to pack the family fishing gear.
Innkeeper Sport Fishing supplies the fishing tackle required for its charters, and applicable reef fishing packages also include the necessary Western Australian fishing licence.
That saves a lot of preparation, especially if you’re flying or driving a long distance to Exmouth.
Instead of trying to work out which rods, reels, lines, hooks and other tackle are suitable for local conditions, you’ll be using equipment selected for fishing these waters.
It also means newcomers can simply arrive ready to learn and have a go.
What Should Your Family Bring?
Although the fishing equipment is taken care of, there are a few personal items worth packing.
Exmouth gets plenty of sunshine, and spending hours on the ocean increases your exposure to it. Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and lightweight sun-protective clothing are sensible choices for everyone.
Polarised sunglasses are particularly useful on a fishing boat because they reduce glare coming off the water.
You should also wear comfortable footwear with good grip and bring personal medication, a camera or phone and any other essentials you’ll want during the day.
For Innkeeper’s full-day reef fishing trips, water and soft drinks are supplied, while guests bring their own lunch. Confirm exactly what is included when making your booking, as inclusions can vary between charter packages.
Try to keep personal belongings in a compact soft bag rather than bringing bulky luggage onboard.
What About Seasickness?
It’s one of the questions many parents quietly have before booking an offshore trip.
People respond differently to boat travel. Someone who has never experienced motion sickness before may feel completely comfortable, while another person may discover that offshore swell doesn’t agree with them.
If anyone in your family is concerned about seasickness, speak with a pharmacist or medical professional beforehand about suitable preventative options.
It also helps to arrive rested, eat sensibly and stay hydrated.
Most importantly, be upfront with the charter operator about your family and any concerns when making the booking. Sea conditions can vary, and the crew can explain what to expect from the particular trip you’re considering.
What Fish Can Families Catch?
This is usually the question children want answered first.
The exciting answer is that Exmouth supports an enormous variety of fish.
On reef fishing trips, potential target species include:
- Red emperor
- Spangled emperor
- Coral trout
- Rankin cod
- Scarlet sea perch
- Goldband snapper
Exmouth’s wider sport and game fishing opportunities include species such as Spanish mackerel, giant trevally, yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi, wahoo, cobia, sailfish and several marlin species.
Of course, fishing is fishing. No responsible charter operator can guarantee which species you’ll catch on a particular day.
That unpredictability is part of the fun.
Can You Keep Your Catch?
On applicable reef fishing trips, legal fish that are retained can become one of the tastiest souvenirs of your Exmouth holiday.
At the end of Innkeeper’s reef fishing day, the crew fillets the fish you have caught and bags the fillets with the skin on, ready to take with you.
For kids in particular, there’s something pretty special about eating a meal and being able to say, “We caught that today.”
Naturally, all fishing is subject to current Western Australian fisheries rules, including relevant size, possession and species restrictions.
A Fishing Trip Is About More Than Catching Fish
It’s easy to judge a fishing trip by the number of fish that come aboard, but family charters offer something else as well.
They give everyone a reason to spend the day together.
There are no school runs, household jobs or normal weekend distractions. Instead, you’re travelling across the water, watching the horizon, learning something new and waiting to see what happens when the next line comes tight.
Exmouth adds a spectacular backdrop to the experience.
Even between bites, there is plenty to take in when you’re spending a day on the waters surrounding one of Australia’s most remarkable marine environments.
And years later, it may not be the number or size of the fish that everyone remembers.
It might be the excitement on someone’s face when they caught their first one.
Choosing the Right Charter for Your Family
Before booking, think about what your family actually wants from the experience.
If you mainly want an enjoyable day catching reef species, a reef fishing charter may suit you. If your family includes experienced anglers looking for a more specialised sport or game fishing experience, there are other charter options available.
Innkeeper Sport Fishing offers reef fishing, billfishing, Gulf sailfish trips and extended live aboard adventures, with customised charter options also available.
Consider the ages and experience levels of everyone in the group, how comfortable they are spending a full day on a boat and what type of fishing interests them most.
A quick conversation with the skipper before booking can help you choose appropriately.
Ready for a Family Fishing Adventure in Exmouth?
A family fishing charter in Exmouth gives everyone the chance to experience a side of the Ningaloo Coast that you simply can’t see from shore.
You don’t need to arrive as an expert angler, and you don’t need to travel with a car full of fishing equipment. Bring suitable clothing, sun protection, lunch and a willingness to get involved, and let an experienced local crew take care of the fishing side of the day.
Whether somebody catches their first fish, the family takes home fresh reef fish for dinner or you simply enjoy eight hours together on the water, it can become one of those holiday experiences everyone talks about long after you’ve left Exmouth.Planning a family fishing charter in Exmouth? Contact Innkeeper Sport Fishing to discuss your group, experience levels and the charter option that best suits your family.