CAPTAIN BRENDON HAWKER

Innkeeper Sport Fishing Charters owner/operator, Captain Brendon Hawker has always had an incredible passion for billfishing, which ultimately brought him to the world class game fishing grounds of Exmouth.

Brendon was born and raised in New Zealand’s game fishing heartland, the Bay Of Islands, where as a child he became hooked on the exciting sport of game fishing chasing striped marlin, blue marlin, yellowfin tuna and yellowtail kingfish. This passion for game fishing had Brendon wanting to catch more and learn more; not just in his home waters but around the globe.

After achieving his maritime qualifications, Brendon spent years traveling to and fishing some of the finest game fishing destinations on the planet, including Cairns, Tonga, Minerva Reef and the Wanganella Banks.

These years of experience allowed Brendon to hone his game fishing skills, both as a crew member and later as a skipper, achieving numerous billfish records in New Zealand, Tonga, Australia. And now numerous tournament wins under his belt in Exmouth including Gamex 2021.

The urge to find even better game fishing grounds eventually led Brendon to visit Exmouth, Western Australia which at the time was largely unexplored and relatively unknown as a billfish destination. After experiencing mind-blowing action on blue, black and striped marlin, plus sailfish, yellowfin tuna, wahoo and a long list of others, the potential of Exmouth’s fishery to develop into a world-class year-round destination was obvious to Captain Hawker. Brendon decided to settle in Exmouth, setting up Innkeeper Sport Fishing Charters to allow other like-minded visitors to enjoy Exmouth’s extraordinary sport and game fishing.

Experienced in all methods of billfishing with lures, switch baits, live baits, dead baits and even catching billfish on fly, as well as all manner of other game and sport fishing techniques for the incredibly diverse range of fish species found in Exmouth waters, Captain Hawker prides himself on his ability to put his clients onto unforgettable fish.

Captain Rhys Clatworthy “Clatty”

Rhys has called Exmouth home since 1999, and the incredible waters of the Ningaloo Coast have shaped my life both on and off the water.

Like many locals, Rhys grew up bottom fishing. Learning the reefs, tides and seasons from a young age. As his knowledge and experience grew so did his passion for every aspect of sportfishing. What began with targeting reef species evolved into tournament fishing across a wide range of gamefish, before eventually leading Rhys to his greatest passion, billfishing.

Today, I have a deep appreciation for every style of sportfishing. Whether it’s light tackle, heavy tackle, jigging, popping, stickbaiting, trolling, saltwater fly fishing or sight casting, I love the unique challenge that each technique brings. While billfish and saltwater fly fishing are where my heart truly lies, I enjoy pursuing everything from reef fish and pelagics to inshore and offshore gamefish.

I’ve been fortunate to spend decades exploring the waters around Exmouth and continually learning from one of Australia’s most diverse fisheries. Tournament fishing has played a major role in that journey, refining my skills and deepening my respect for the fish, the ocean and the pursuit itself.

For me, guiding isn’t just about catching fish. It’s about sharing the excitement, knowledge and unforgettable experiences that make Exmouth one of the world’s premier sportfishing destinations. Whether you’re chasing your first fish, a trophy reef species, a hard-fighting pelagic or the billfish of a lifetime, I’m committed to making every day on the water one to remember.

Innkeeper Sport Fishing Charter Exmouth

The Skippers

CAPTAIN BRENDON HAWKER

Captain Rhys Clatworthy “Clatty”

The Best Fishing Experience in Ningaloo